Kansas committee reviews 50‑state K‑12 funding formula comparison

Kansas legislators on the Committee on K‑12 Education Budget heard a briefing on a 50‑state comparison of K‑12 school funding formulas and weightings, with staff noting differences in base‑amount approaches, special education reimbursement, English‑language learner funding and supports for small or isolated districts.

"This memo compares kindergarten through grade 12 funding in all 50 states as of March 2024," said Jennifer Light of the Kansas Legislative Research Department, who led the presentation with two KLRD colleagues.

The memo compared primary funding models in each state, identifying three broad approaches: student‑based formulas (a base per pupil plus weights for specific needs), resource‑based formulas (funding estimated to pay for minimum required staffing or programs), and hybrids. Light told the committee that 35 states plus the District of Columbia used student‑based models, nine states used resource‑based models, four used hybrids, and two — Vermont and Wisconsin — used models that differ from those categories.

Committee members pressed staff for follow‑up details. The committee chair said,…