Revisor briefs Kansas Senate education committee on Article 6 and limits on K‑12 authority

Tamara Lawrence, Revisor of Statutes, told the Kansas Senate Committee on Education that Article 6 of the state Constitution defines separate constitutional roles for the legislature, the State Board of Education and local school boards and that those roles must be harmonized as lawmakers prepare to address school finance.

Lawrence told the committee: "I'm going to provide a broad overview of the constitutional roles and obligations of the legislature, the State Board of Education, and local boards of education with regard to the public education system in this state and how they intersect under their constitution, specifically in Article 6." She said the court and Attorney General opinions inform the application of those provisions.

The Revisor summarized several legal points the committee will need to consider as it works on school finance and related policy. Article 2 vests legislative power in the Legislature to pass, amend and repeal laws;…