Senate Education committee backs funding “per Gannon,” approves several budget recommendations, rejects some targeted add-ons

The Kansas Senate Education Committee on Oct. 27 recommended that the state continue to fully fund K–12 education "per Gannon," including the CPIU increase, and took a series of votes on related budget provisos and additions.

Committee chair (referred to in the meeting as "Madam Chair") opened the committee's budget recommendations by saying the committee would send a consolidated budget committee report to Senate Ways and Means and asked members to review it. "What we will verify is we will make sure in ways and means that whatever amount fully funds our schools is what will be appropriated including the CPIU," the chair said.

Why it matters: The committee's guidance will shape the Senate's Ways and Means presentation and influences final state K–12 funding. The Gannon litigation and its remedy remain the primary legal reference for the committee's funding decisions; committee members debated how federal and local dollars intersect with the state's responsibility.

Most important actions

- Motion to "continue to fully fund our schools, including the CPIU, per Gannon" (moved by the chair; seconded by Senator Blasey) passed and will be forwarded as the committee recommendation to Ways and Means.

- An amendment to reappropriate previously unspent funds for the School for the Blind — adding $41,000 to pay for the extended school year and to allow re‑appropriation going forward (moved by Senator Patty; seconded by Senator Sykes) passed as a committee recommendation.

- The committee accepted the House position on the School for the Deaf (motion by Senator Gossage), and that recommendation passed by voice vote.

Other votes of note

- A motion to add $335,000 in fiscal 2026 to cover College Board Advanced Placement exam costs (moved by Senator Thomas; seconded by Senator Sykes) failed on a voice vote after members debated whether local districts already have capacity from the CPIU increase.

- A motion to move proviso language for a youth career development pilot (virtual reality technology for grades 6–8) from KSDE operating expenditures to allow expenditures from any monies appropriated to the agency passed as a committee recommendation. The proviso requires a $2 state-to-$1 nonstate/private match for participating programs and is intended to allow funds to be used for youth organizations such as YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs and 4‑H.

- A motion to adopt an 80.9% three‑year ramp for Special Education State Aid (moved by Senator Starnes; seconded by Senator Arkebright) failed after division. Members recorded a 5-to-5 split; the chair cast a tie-breaking no vote, and the motion did not carry.

Key details and figures discussed

- The legislative budget committee figures cited by staff show totals of approximately $6.6 billion for fiscal 2025 and $6.7 billion for fiscal 2026 in the education totals referenced on the LBC chart discussed by staff (page 79 of the committee packet as cited in the meeting).

- Committee discussion repeatedly referenced the Gannon settlement as the legal standard by which the committee intends to "fully fund our schools." The chair said that funding "per Gannon" includes, specifically, State Foundation Aid, Supplemental State Aid, special education state aid, capital outlay state aid, capital improvement state aid, local property tax transfers (20‑mill transfer), school district finance fund, mineral production fund, and KPERS-related transfers (as listed by the chair during the meeting while pointing to the State Aid chart, page 95 of the packet).

- Committee staff (Jennifer Light) told members the CPIU amount for fiscal 2025 is $228,000,000 and that over the last two years CPIU additions total $471,000,000. Staff also summarized that the LBC recommendations use the most recent consensus revenue estimates and that the agency request column was prepared before the fall consensus numbers.

- On the School for the Blind amendment, the committee was told the $41,000 is to pay for the extended school year; the committee approved the amendment as a recommendation.

- The youth career development pilot proviso was described as not new general fund spending but as authorization to spend existing appropriated funds from any appropriation to the agency rather than only from the operating expenditures account; the intent is to increase flexibility for aid to outside youth organizations.

Questions and contention

Members debated whether additional targeted add-ons — for example, AP exam funding or a higher special‑education maintenance of effort — were appropriate in light of (1) the committee's directive to fund per Gannon, (2) the recent CPIU infusion, and (3) local districts' use of local option budgets and unencumbered balances. Senator Thomas and others argued for the AP exam add-on to reduce cost barriers for low‑income students; the chair and others said that local control plus the CPIU increase gave districts capacity to fund those needs locally.

Special education drew the most extended debate. Supporters of moving toward the 80.9% three-year ramp said special education remains underfunded and that the state should move toward the statutory 92% excess-cost target. Opponents urged caution, noting uncertainties in federal funding, recent changes requiring districts to transfer local option budget (LOB) special education dollars into special education funds, and the need to assess the effect of those transfers before increasing the state's maintenance of effort.

What happens next

The committee's recommendations and the budget committee report will be sent to Senate Ways and Means next week for the chair's report out. Staff asked committee members to review the budget committee report and respond to analysts with any concerns by Friday so that Ways and Means receives an accurate report.

Ending note: Several items that were discussed — including the precise impact of LOB transfers on special education totals and some supplemental figures on at‑risk funding — were promised in follow-up materials from staff. The committee agreed to hold remaining open items over to the next day's session for additional consideration.