Kansas Task Force reviews bilingual weighting in education funding formula

The Special Education and Related Services Funding Task Force convened in Topeka on June 4, 2025, to discuss critical aspects of bilingual education funding in Kansas. The meeting focused on the current bilingual weighting system, which determines state foundation aid for school districts with bilingual education programs.

Nick Myers from the Office of Reviser of Statutes provided an overview of the bilingual weighting, which is established under the Kansas School Equity and Enhancement Act (KISA). The funding is calculated based on either a contact hour determination or a headcount determination, with the school district receiving the greater of the two. The contact hour method multiplies the full-time equivalent enrollment in bilingual programs by a weighting factor of 0.395, while the headcount method uses a factor of 0.185 based on the number of students enrolled in the program.

Myers explained that to qualify for bilingual weighting, students must be enrolled in an approved bilingual education program, and teachers must hold the appropriate licenses. The Kansas State Department of Education outlines specific criteria for both student eligibility and teacher qualifications.

The history of bilingual weighting was also discussed, noting that it was first enacted in 1992 and has undergone several changes, including an increase in the contact hour weighting factor in 2005 and the introduction of the headcount option in 2017. The meeting highlighted the importance of maintaining a bilingual education fund within each school district, which must cover all expenses related to bilingual services.

Additionally, the task force addressed the mandatory transfer of funds from local option budgets to bilingual education funds, a requirement established in 2018. This transfer has been subject to legal scrutiny, with the Kansas Supreme Court ruling that it does not violate equity standards in educational funding.

The meeting concluded with an invitation for questions from task force members, indicating ongoing discussions about the complexities of bilingual education funding and its implications for school districts across Kansas.