Kansas GOP Ties New School Funds to ‘Choice,’ Other Policies

By JOHN HANNA, AP Political Author

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — State funds for Kansas’ public faculties have been held up as Republican lawmakers push for insurance policies critics say would punish educators for court docket rulings that pressured the GOP-controlled Legislature to spice up its spending.

A legislative proposal ties $6.4 billion in spending to insurance policies pushed by conservative Republicans, together with an “open enrollment” proposal to permit dad and mom to ship their youngsters to any public faculty with sufficient area. One other provision would limit surveys of scholars’ households, their beliefs, psychological well being, or drug or alcohol abuse. A 3rd would develop a state-funded school scholarship program to college students outdoors Kansas.

Republicans drafted the measure earlier than lawmakers started their annual spring break earlier this month, to settle variations between the Home and Senate. When legislators reconvene April 25, they need to determine whether or not so as to add more cash for particular education schemes and whether or not to hyperlink {dollars} to coverage modifications.

Conservatives argue they’re making an attempt to make faculties extra accountable for a way they spend state cash. They have been linking cash to coverage since 2014, when the Kansas Supreme Courtroom issued the primary of seven rulings in an schooling funding lawsuit filed in opposition to the state by 4 faculty districts.

“It’s our accountability to make it possible for pupil outcomes are enhancing,” stated state Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican who chairs a Home committee on schooling spending. “It’s necessary to all the time pair funding with an obligation on the colleges’ half to supply again the accountability that they should.”

However Democratic lawmakers, lecturers and different educators see the invoice combining funding and coverage as imposing pointless new duties that hinder educating. Marcus Baltzell, spokesman for the state’s largest lecturers union, sees coverage proposals because the “heavy toll” that Republicans need faculties to pay for profitable the funding lawsuit.

Kansas is about to spend 57% extra on direct support to its public faculties in the course of the 2021-22 faculty 12 months than it did in 2011-2012, based on price range paperwork. With the pending measure, that determine would enhance once more by greater than 6% for the 2022-23 faculty 12 months, to $5.3 billion, together with funding for educators’ pensions.

“If these people are literally thinking about absolutely funding public faculties, they need to simply try this,” Baltzell stated. “They shouldn’t have to connect particular curiosity coverage to ensure that youngsters to have all of the sources that they deserve.”

Even with the extra funds, some districts count on to have price range shortfalls as a result of state funding is tied to pupil numbers, and people numbers declined in the course of the pandemic.

Additionally, the measure earlier than lawmakers would not hit the objective set in state legislation for funding particular education schemes. The State Division of Training is asking Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to assist one other $155 million for particular schooling — 30% above the $520 million lawmakers had deliberate to spend for 2022-23.

“As a result of particular schooling providers are mandated by federal and state statute, faculty districts should make up this shortfall by lowering funding of their working budgets for different needed academic packages,” Deputy Training Commissioner Craig Neuenswander stated in a letter to Kelly’s price range director.

It is not clear but how a lot coverage will stay tied to funding. Whereas Williams argues that negotiators struck a deal and may hold the package deal collectively, Senate Training Chair Molly Baumgardner, a Louisburg Republican, urged that GOP leaders could separate some proposals from the cash.

Senators would vote first on the package deal, and Baumgardner stated she’s heard from senators in each events who who do not wish to open up the faculty scholarship program to individuals outdoors Kansas, on condition that scholarships are capped at $10 million a 12 months.

Williams stated the objective is to draw individuals to Kansas, however Baumgardner stated, “That could be a actual sticking level for the Senate.”

In the meantime, Republicans argue that it’s a necessity to limit surveys during which college students are requested about their private beliefs and lives, so the surveys do not take time away from classroom classes and oldsters know beforehand what their youngsters can be requested. Educators say such surveys present helpful information and might help faculties discover at-risk youngsters.

The open enrollment proposal break up Republicans sufficient that one model barely handed the Home final month. The proposal would require districts to take college students after figuring out how a lot area they’ve.

Williams and different supporters argue that the proposal would enhance selections for fogeys. Nonetheless, Mark Tallman, a lobbyist for the Kansas Affiliation of Faculty Boards, stated that with selections left to native officers, most districts take outdoors college students and, “That system has labored properly.”

Different critics stated open enrollment might trigger complications for shortly rising faculty districts. And Rep. Jarrod Ousley, a Merriam Democrat, stated better-off households in city and suburban areas would profit most, as a result of dad and mom must present their very own transportation.

“It creates the chance for — for lack of a greater time period — white flight,” Ousley stated.

Observe John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna

Copyright 2022 The Related Press. All rights reserved. This materials will not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.