Kansas State Board approves licensure and credential items, debates special-education funding and embryology video law

The Kansas State Board of Education on June 10 in Topeka approved a string of appointments and administrative items, voted to make the state—s modified emergency substitute license a permanent option and urged school districts to publish clear bullying‑reporting procedures for parents, while spending much of the day on information and debate about special education funding, new state requirements for showing fetal‑development videos, and assessment standard setting.

The board—s most consequential policy discussions centered on money and mandates. Kansas Department of Education staff presented fiscal projections for the 2026–27 budget year and said current law would leave special education funded at an estimated 69.5 percent of statewide excess costs (using the department—s calculation), a decline from recent years. Board members debated several possible phase‑in options for restoring state special‑education funding toward the statutory target the department uses as a planning benchmark. Members also discussed the practical implications of Senate Sub. for House Bill 2382, the recently enacted law that requires a "high‑quality computer‑generated animation or high‑definition ultrasound" of fetal development be shown in any course or instruction "that addresses human growth, human development, or human sexuality." The board did not adopt a statewide mandate for curricular materials but staff said they would prepare guidance and suggested districts weigh age appropriateness and parent permission.

Why it matters: the board controls recommendations the department will carry into the governor—s and legislature—s budget process and its decisions shape implementation choices for all 286 Kansas school districts. The discussion about embryology videos and the legal questions about when and how districts must notify parents have immediate operational consequences; the special‑education conversation affects district budgets and classroom programs across the state.

Actions and votes at a glance - Agenda and consent votes: agenda and minutes approved; routine consent items approved with separate roll calls for items C, D and E (consent item D and continued funding in E passed with recorded tallies). (See actions[] for details.) - Appointments: the board appointed Leona Ecolic and Libby Devon to the Professional Standards Board (each confirmed by roll call). - Licenses: the board voted to make the modified emergency substitute license permanent after debate and amendment. - Bullying guidance: the board "strongly recommended" that districts publish a clear step‑by‑step bullying reporting procedure on school websites and handbooks and the department will prepare model materials. Motion passed. - Credentials: the board approved the lists of industry‑recognized CTE credentials and "high‑value" credentials required by statute. - Professional Practices Commission: the board voted to censure a licensee in case 24 PPC‑17 and denied three licensure applications in related PPC matters.

Major discussion items Special education and the FY27 budget: John Hess, deputy commissioner for finance and operations, and Dr. Frank Harwood walked the board through the department—s baseline and enhancement options. Using the spring consensus forecast the department estimated the statutory base aid per pupil for FY27 at $5,777 and put estimated state foundation aid at about $3.97 billion. Under current FY27 appropriations the department projects special‑education state aid will cover roughly 69.5 percent of statewide excess costs; historically Kansas met a much larger share of excess cost, and the shortfall has been covered by district transfers from local general‑fund resources. The department presented a menu of options the board could recommend to the governor and Legislature, ranging from no new state general‑fund request (maintain current law) to multi‑year phase‑ins that would add from roughly $32 million per year (small phase) up to roughly $197 million in a single year to reach the department—s planning benchmark. Board members asked for clearer district‑level accounting and flagged that parents and local boards often do not see the accounting detail behind transfers to special education.

Kansas School for the Deaf and parent requests: multiple parents of students at the Kansas School for the Deaf pressed the board during the citizens— forum for immediate action after lawmakers added $300,000 to the school—s budget for reading resource positions. Parents said the positions had not been posted and asked the board to create a temporary action committee that would include parents, school administration and a board representative to expedite hiring and oversight. Board members acknowledged the request and the department circulated the candidate qualifications and the parents— proposed committee members.

Modified emergency substitute license: Shane Carter, director of teacher licensure, reviewed recommendations from the Professional Standards Board and district feedback on the modified emergency substitute license, which had been authorized as a temporary measure. After public commentary and email input from districts the board amended the motion on the floor and voted to make the modified emergency substitute license a permanent option; members also discussed directing the Professional Standards Board to review and streamline all emergency substitute classifications and to draft regulatory language for the board—s later approval.

Embryology video requirement: Kent Reid of the department summarized new statutory language (Senate Sub. for House Bill 2382) and read the operative sentence: "Any school district that offers any course or other instruction that addresses human growth, human development, or human sexuality shall include, as part of such course or instruction, a presentation of a high quality computer generated animation or high definition ultrasound of at least 3 minutes in duration that shows the development of the brain, heart, and other vital organs." Board attorneys and staff said the statute is brief and does not specify grade level, method of parent notification, or whether the provision applies only to secondary coursework; staff outlined local considerations (staffing/licensure for the instructor, age appropriateness, and opt‑in/opt‑out procedures) and urged districts to treat parent communications and notice as a priority.

Assessment standard setting: Acting assessment director Dr. Beth Fultz was at the Topeka Center for Advanced Learning and Careers this week leading the standard‑setting panels. Department staff reported that the process brings teachers and assessment specialists together to set cut scores for the new ELA, math and science assessments; the technical advisory committee will review findings and the department will return to the board in July with a formal recommendation.

Bullying reporting recommendation: After discussion and committee work the board voted to "strongly recommend" that districts publish a clear, prominent bullying reporting procedure — who to contact first, expected timing for responses, and the district—s escalation steps — and directed the department to produce model language and sample website/handbook text districts can use.

Professional Practices Commission and licensure actions: The board considered the Professional Practices Commission recommendations. On a PPC‑referenced case the board voted to censure the licensee in case 24 PPC‑17; the board also denied three licensure applications in other PPC matters. The board discussed how discipline appears on credential records and how a censure differs from license revocation.

What the board will do next: Department staff will use the board—s direction to prepare: (1) a FY27 budget packet for the governor—s office that includes options and anticipated costs; (2) a model bullying procedure and parent notice language; (3) guidance to districts about implementing the embryology video requirement focusing on age appropriateness and parent communications; (4) regulatory text to implement the permanent modified emergency substitute license for future board adoption.

Meeting tone and public comment: The meeting included extended public comment on technology in schools (concerns about 1:1 devices and student data), social‑emotional learning and psychometric surveys, and multiple parent appeals for faster action at KSD. The board took public comment during the citizens— forum and incorporated several requests into follow‑up items for staff.

Ending note: The board did not adopt a statewide curricular mandate for any specific video or product; it approved several staff and license actions that will affect how districts staff classrooms this fall and directed the department to return with draft language and budget recommendations in July.