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K-12 budget committee hears appeals to shore up special education, preschool pilot and nonprofit programs
Summary
Witnesses at the Committee on K-12 Education Budget urged lawmakers to shore up special-education reimbursement, shift preschool pilot funding off the shrinking Children's Initiatives Fund, and fund expansions for youth programs including JAG K and Sparkwheel. Lawmakers pressed for statutory clarity and data on district reserves.
The Committee on K-12 Education Budget heard a string of funding appeals and policy warnings on Jan. 26 as nonprofit providers, school board representatives and teacher advocates outlined gaps in the state’s K-12 financing.
Leah Flighter, assistant executive director of the Kansas Association of School Boards, told the committee that districts need a predictable funding path and urged phasing in additional state aid to fulfill the statutory goal of reimbursing 92% of excess special-education costs. "We support phasing in additional state aid for the separate special education funding formula to enable the state to fulfill its statutory commitment to fund 92% of excess costs," Flighter said.
Several witnesses said the money to meet that statutory target has not been provided. Tim Graham of Kansas NEA repeated the association’s request that the legislature appropriate the funds needed to reach the 92% target, noting the Supreme Court’s adequacy framework in the Gannon decision as context for the request.
Adrienne Olnick of Kansas Action for Children urged the committee to shift $4.2 million currently drawn from the Children's Initiatives Fund (CIF) for the Kansas preschool pilot program to the state general fund or another revenue stream, saying the CIF faces a $10.6 million shortfall for FY2027 and that the shortfall "puts several essential early childhood programs at risk."
Nonprofits asked for discrete line items as well. Chuck Knap, president and CEO of Jobs for America's Graduates Kansas (JAG K), requested $800,000 from the K-12 budget to expand services and restore a separate TANF grant to FY2019 levels; he said JAG K served more than 6,600 students this year and that the class of 2024 posted a 98% graduation rate and 90% 12-month placement in college, military or full-time work. Ethan Sperling of Sparkwheel requested $1.37 million to add 12 student-support coordinator positions and serve an additional ~4,500 students.
Committee members focused their questions on metrics and statutory language. Representative Steel reminded witnesses that the statutory 92% target for special-education reimbursement is "subject to appropriations," citing KSA 72-3422. Representative Posin and others pressed for more granular data on district reserves and enrollment trends, noting local reserve balances and timing of payments can affect a district’s ability to meet special-education costs.
Other matters raised included the depletion of a Kansas Board of Regents IT fund tied to the CANED broadband network and testimony that FastBridge, a formative assessment used by most Kansas districts, has been partly funded through ESRE dollars and local matches and may need continued state support.
The committee did not take any votes. Chair closed the hearing by reminding members that the Legislature’s post-audit office and the inspector general will present the next day and that the committee will return Monday with budget recommendations for the K-12 budget.
