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KSDE and Children's Cabinet officials explain CIF carryforwards and program priorities
Summary
Director Rooker told the committee the Children's Initiative Fund (CIF) carries line‑item balances that can cushion program growth; CIF supports programs including the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and early childhood infrastructure, and KSDE described choices to supplant using federal ARPA funds to preserve tobacco‑sourced CIF balances.
Director Rooker spoke to the committee about the make‑up of the Children's Initiative Fund and how KSDE has managed carryforward balances and program obligations.
Rooker said the CIF is funded primarily by the master tobacco settlement annuity and exists as an annual transfer process under state statute (the "Kansas Endowment for Youth" construct). She described choices KSDE has made to supplant administrative costs with federal ARPA funds when allowable "so that we can save some of the tobacco capacity," and described intentional under‑encumbrance of discretionary infrastructure funds to preserve carryforwards.
Director Rooker provided examples of CIF‑funded projects: the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (noting FY26 enrollment will likely exceed the $1,500,000 appropriation), a 1‑800 parent helpline, a mobile app, and an online workforce registry for childcare providers. She said the early childhood block grant currently shows about $22,800,000 in grants with under $1,000,000 more obligated beyond that amount.
KSDE framed these choices as stewardship: "We have chosen to take our share out of the federal funds so that we can save some of the tobacco capacity," Rooker said. Members pressed for more granular accounting and requested an annual report link and hard copies of KSDE's fund report.
Why it matters: CIF line items are used for early childhood supports, and lapses/carryforwards affect what programs are available in future years. Members were particularly interested in program obligations, how much funding is truly committed, and whether ARPA‑era funding choices need to be replaced by ongoing state dollars.
Ending: Director Rooker said she would post the annual CIF report and provide hard copies to committee members; staff agreed to follow up with a link so members can inspect the CIF balance and obligations.
