Staff brief committee on Article 6, Gannon standards and 2024 education law changes including special education formula and at‑risk accountability

Nick Myers of the Office of Revisor of Statutes briefed the Committee on K‑12 Education Budget on the constitutional basis for public education (Article 6), the Kansas Supreme Court’s adequacy and equity framework in the Gannon litigation, and a set of statutory changes enacted in 2024 that the committee will implement and monitor.

Myers told the committee that Article 6 “requires the legislature to provide for the public education system” and that the legislature’s school‑finance duty has been interpreted by the Kansas Supreme Court to require financing that is both “adequate and equitable.” He reviewed the constitutional roles of the legislature, the State Board of Education and local boards and noted prior attorney‑general opinions and case law that shape the interaction among those entities.

Why it matters: committee decisions must be taken in the context of constitutionally required standards (ROWS capacities) and pending school‑finance litigation precedent. The committee’s budget and any statutory changes are evaluated against adequacy and equity tests the court has applied.

Myers summarized key 2024 statutory changes the committee will work under, including the following highlights from Senate Bill 387 and related measures:

- Education Funding Task Force: SB‑387 established an 11‑member Education Funding Task Force (plus four nonvoting ex‑officio experts) required to review the school‑finance system and submit recommendations to…