The Kansas Legislature just wrapped up Week 3 of the legislative session and things are beginning to progress. As the old saying goes, the more things change the more they remain the same. This is an appropriate sentiment for this snapshot in time in the legislature. While several legislators are focused on sound policy and problem-solving, the vocal minority of them seem to be overly sensitive that 2024 is an election year that will see all 125 seats in the Kansas House and 40 seats in the Senate up for election.

Typical election year policies like aggressive tax schemes and all the culture wars and red meat a person can imagine, are joined by standard election year behaviors to create a spectacle that is put on full display. For those who enjoy watching the political side of the legislative process, grab your popcorn because Week 3 ended with a simmer that is about to boil over. Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the Republican led flat-tax plan that was passed on Jan. 18. Although the issue was predictable, the action was uncharacteristically swift and relatively rare for such a significant piece of legislation to be approved so early during the session.

This impacts us in several ways. On the policy side, any revenue plan that has the potential to blow a hole in the state’s budget is concerning. Given the fact that 60% of the state’s general fund (SGF) is comprised of school funding expenditures, KNEA must advocate for responsible stewardship of the state’s finances and call for sensible revenue proposals. Additionally, flat tax schemes are regressive in nature and do not benefit middle class working families. KNEA does not believe that hardworking educators should pay the same rate as individuals who make much higher salaries.

Gov. Kelly called the tax plan “reckless.” (Read her veto message here:  https://governor.kansas.gov/governor-kelly-vetoes-reckless-flat-tax-experiment-calls-for-responsible-tax-cuts-for-middle-class-kansans/). Republicans certainly disagree. One thing is for sure: Kansans do not have to dust off old volumes of the annals of Kansas history to cite examples of when tax policy did cause big problems because the memory of the Sam Brownback years is fresh in our minds.

On the political side of this issue, and several others for that matter, the dynamic can cut both ways. As frustrating as it is to deal with politics as usual, we should take comfort in knowing public education is popular. Teachers and educators are loved, and unions are enjoying the highest approval ratings that they’ve seen in decades. Elected leaders know this. Whether they’ve consistently been against us or dependably with us, every politician knows EDUCATION will be a significant issue in their re-election. If we negotiate responsibly and in good faith, we can bring elected leaders of all stripes our way.

While KNEA is focused on fully funding special education, KPERS pension reform, opposition of shortsighted policies that could harm the public education system, responsible stewardship of the state budget, and a whole host of other issues that impact public education, we must also focus on our approach. We have to be disciplined enough to understand the difference between real threats and what is just election year theatrics. We must know our legislative audience, pick our battles, and stay relevant by approaching the process strategically.

A few big issues we’re watching closely

As you read above, the tax issue is brewing hot. Some of the other big issues have yet to get started. There are a few bills floating about that are versions of vouchers or that are germane to amendments that would result in voucher proposals. Nothing has been slated for formal action yet. Hall talk and public statements have sent mixed messages on the prospects of whether any voucher bill will be seriously considered this session. Republican leadership has been rumored to be lukewarm at best on going through another voucher fight without enough votes to override a sure gubernatorial veto.  

KPERS reform seems to be moving in the right direction but there is nothing clear enough to leave us comfortable enough to speculate outcomes with certainty. Republican chairs of the respective House and Senate committees that are tasked with working KPERS reform have been forthcoming and good to work with. Rep. Nick Hoheisel, R-Wichita, and Sen. Jeff Longbine, R-Emporia, are both working hard to bring everyone together for reform. The kicker will be what the reform looks like. Everyone seems to agree KPERS Tier 3 (those hired after Jan. 2015) is insufficient. This is great from the perspective of potential reform, but it is also means that political opportunists see this as a winning election year issue which means more cooks in the kitchen.

The Kansas Legislature still fails to adhere to its own law of funding the excess costs of special education at the level of 92%.  The debate surrounding this issue has veered into conversation about the federal government’s failure to do its part, manipulation of the numbers to suggest that Kansas has reached 92% funding, comments to suggest that Kansas is overspending on special education, and everything in between.

Here’s what we know: Federal law mandates that districts offer special education programs. When the legislature fails to appropriate sufficient dollars to fund these programs, the district is forced to divert general education dollars to cover the cost. This can result in lost programs, larger class sizes, unmanageable workload, learning loss of ALL students, just to name a few. This issue should not be as contentious as it is.

A taskforce that was created to bring legislators and experts in SPED funding together to study the issue has been dogged by legislator-inspired controversy since its inception. Now, this taskforce seems to be in danger of being abolished. The experts appointed to this taskforce are becoming collateral damage of the political fights over this issue among legislators. This is unfortunate at best because these well-meaning experts have given their time in good faith, and they are the keys to solving this issue once and for all.

Other issues are starting to come alive as well. Stay tuned to our written, audio, and live updates as we maneuver the session together.

House Committee on Education 

The House Education Committee, chaired by Rep. Adam Thomas, R-Olathe, with Ranking Democratic member, and KNEA member, Rep. Jerry Stogsdill, D-Prairie Village, met to a review a pair of audits conducted by the Legislative Division of Post Audit regarding the costs of K-12 education and evaluating at risk-risk school funding. The committee also joined their Senate counterparts to host a joint meeting to recognize the Kansas Teacher of the Year and finalist nominees. The 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year is Taylor Bussinger, an Olathe NEA, member who teaches eighth grade U.S. history and leadership concepts at Prairie Trail Middle School. Hear Taylor and all the outstanding Kansas Teacher of The Year finalists speak before the joint meeting of the House and Senate Education Committees at the link below.

Watch the House Education Committee hearings at the following links: 

Tuesday, Jan 23: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20240123/-1/17582

  • Education Audits                     

Wednesday, Jan. 24: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20240124/-1/17632

  • Kansas Teacher of the Year

Learn more about the House Education Committee, including committee members and leadership, bills in committee, and other useful information and resources here: https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/committees/ctte_h_ed_1/ 

House K-12 Education Budget Committee

The House K-12 Education Budget Committee, chaired by Rep. Kristey Williams, R-Augusta, with Ranking Democratic member, and KNEA member, Rep. Valdenia Winn, D-Kansas City, conducted hearings on a host of bills that dealt with enrollment procedures and authorization, head counts related to school funding, authorization of virtual school students to participate in KSHSAA activities, and a bill tweaking state law as it relates to school districts’ sale of buildings. The committee also conducted an informational hearing on the topic of dyslexia that included several presentations.

Watch the K-12 Education Budget Committee hearings at the following links:

Monday, Jan. 22: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20240122/-1/17552

  • HB 2485 — Requiring enrollment under the Kansas school equity and enhancement act to be determined using the current school year or the preceding school year and requiring any district that closed a school building in the preceding school year to use the current year enrollment count.

Tuesday, Jan. 23: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20240123/-1/17598

Wednesday, Jan. 24: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20240124/-1/17676

  • HB 2489 — Limiting the legislative option to purchase school district buildings to buildings that were formerly used as attendance centers.
  • HB 2506 — Authorizing students enrolled in virtual schools to participate in activities that are regulated by the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) at such student’s resident school district without a minimum enrollment requirement in such resident school district.

Thursday, Jan. 25: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20240125/-1/17677

  • HB 2514 — Revising school district open enrollment procedures and requirements to prioritize students who are residents of Kansas over students who are residents of another state, providing for continued enrollment of students who attended a school district of nonresidence in school year 2023-2024, authorizing school districts to deem students as not in good standing prior to enrollment and requiring publication of nonresident student transfer policies on the school district website.

Learn more about the House K-12 Education Budget Committee, including committee members and leadership, bills in committee, and other useful information and resources here: https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/committees/ctte_h_k12_education_budget_1/ 

Senate Education Committee

The Senate Education Committee chaired by Sen. Molly Baumgardner, R-Louisburg, with Ranking Democratic member, Sen. Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, conducted several informational hearings on higher education. They also reviewed a pair of audits conducted by the Legislative Division of Post Audit regarding the costs of K-12 education and evaluating at-risk school funding. As mentioned above, the Senate Education Committee also co-hosted a joint meeting to recognize the Kansas Teacher of the Year and finalist nominees.

Watch the Senate Education Committee hearings at the following links:

Monday, Jan. 22: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20240122/-1/17547

  • Higher Ed

Tuesday, Jan. 23: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20240123/-1/17591

  • Higher Ed

Wednesday, Jan. 24: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20240124/-1/17632

  • Kansas Teacher of the Year

Thursday, Jan. 25: https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20240125/-1/17633

  • Education Audits

Learn more about the Senate Education Committee, including committee members and leadership, bills in committee, and other useful information and resources here: https://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/committees/ctte_s_ed_1/