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Committee approves mixed package shifting community college funding, including apprenticeships and student investment account
Summary
Lawmakers approved a bundled FY2027 package that reallocates community college funds—deleting $10 million from Excel/CTE while adding apprenticeship funding, capital outlay, a student investment account and tiered/non‑tiered course funding, producing a net reduction of roughly $1 million versus the approved budget.
The House Committee on Higher Education Budget approved a packaged set of FY2027 changes affecting community and technical colleges that together produce a net decrease of approximately $1 million in state general fund distributions compared with the approved base.
Chair (Speaker 1) presented the multi‑page motion that deleted $10,000,000 SGF from Excel and CTE while adding $14,300,000 for two‑year college business‑industry apprenticeships, $5,000,000 for community and technical college capital outlay, a $5,000,000 one‑time two‑year student investment account, $8,900,000 for tiered and non‑tiered course state shares, and $500,000 for a Kansas GED/Accelerator Fund. Dayton (Speaker 2) told members the apprenticeship amount matched last year’s bill, and that student success funding was reduced compared with prior levels. Representative Amex (Speaker 3) asked where the $1,000,000 net reduction “went,” and Chair explained it reflected distribution changes rather than a one‑time cut to services.
Members raised questions about limiting some funding to courses eligible under the Kansas Promise Scholarship Act and whether technical colleges and district community colleges could collect tuition from ineligible high‑school students. Chair said intra‑system adjustments were made at the request of the two‑year institutions. After debate and technical clarifications from Dayton, the committee approved the bundled motion by voice vote.
The committee also separately renewed a $7,000,000 operating grant enhancement for technical colleges at the FY2026 level. Dayton said the committee will receive an Excel tracker so members can follow where funds were allocated and changes made during the session.
