The House passed HB 2731 during week 11 of the Kansas Legislative Session. HB 2731 as amended would require the Kansas State Board of Education, on or before Jan. 15 of each year, to prepare and submit a report to the Kansas Legislature on students who have taken the statewide assessments. This report would include:

• The number and percentage of students who took the statewide assessments during the prior school year broken down by core academic area (English language arts, math and science) by grade level.
• The percentage of students who took the statewide assessment in 10^th grade and who obtained some postsecondary education two years after graduation from high school broken down by statewide achievement level.
   

The bill also would require the State Board to publish the information required for the report on the Kansas State Department of Education’s website and include that information in the performance accountability reports and longitudinal achievement reports required under continuing law.

The provisions of the bill requiring this report would expire on July 1, 2029.
 

Bill Tracker 

• 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. 
  • This bill was withdrawn from the House Committee on Appropriations on Feb. 19 and re-referred to the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget.  
  • The House Committee on K-12 Education Budget passed out this bill as amended on March 5. 
• HB 2489 – Limiting the legislative option to purchase school district buildings to buildings that were formerly used as attendance centers. 
  • This bill was withdrawn from the House Committee on Appropriations on Feb. 19 and re-referred to the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget.  
  • The contents were amended and then inserted into House Sub for SB 387. 
• Substitute for HB 2494 - Establishing policy requirements for cardiac emergency response plans for school districts, and providing a grant program for the implementation of such policy. 
  • The House Committee on Education recommended HB 2494 be amended by substituting with a new bill to be designated as Substitute for HB 2494.  
  • The amendment removed “school safety and security plans” from the bill. 
  • The bill was passed as amended in the House on Feb. 22, 117-2. It was received and introduced in the Senate, then referred to the Senate Committee on Education. 
  • A hearing was held Monday, March 18 in the Senate Committee on Education (see below). 
  • The Senate Committee voted to not pass out the bill.
• HB 2499 – Prohibiting the use of mobile phones by anyone under 18 years old while operating a motor vehicle; and prohibiting the use of mobile phones by anyone while operating a motor vehicle in a school or construction zone. 
  • The bill was passed in the House 86-30, then was received and introduced in the Senate. 
  • A hearing for this bill was held on March 7 in the Senate Committee on Transportation. 
  • The bill was passed out of committee on Tuesday, March 12. 
• HB 2506 – Authorizing students enrolled in virtual schools to participate in activities that are regulated by the Kansas State High School Activities Association at such student’s resident school district without a minimum enrollment requirement in such resident school district. 
  • This bill was withdrawn from the House Committee on Appropriations on Feb. 19 and re-referred to the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget. 
  • The contents were amended and then inserted into House Sub for SB 387. 
• 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 non-residence 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. 
  • This bill was withdrawn from the House Committee on Appropriations and re-referred to the House Committee on K-2 Education Budget on Feb. 19. 
  • The contents were amended and then inserted into House Sub for SB 387. 
• HB 2521 – Requiring the Kansas State Board of Education to authorize teaching licenses for individuals who complete an alternative teacher certification program. 
  • This bill was passed 79-43 in the House on March 14. 
  • It was received and introduced in the Senate and referred to the Senate Committee on Education on March 15.
• HB 2547 – Authorizing schools to maintain certain emergency medication kits and to administer such medication in emergency situations. 
  • The House passed this bill 116-4 on Feb. 22. It will now go to the Senate. 
  • It was referred to the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare on Feb. 28. A hearing was held on Tuesday, March 12 in the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare. 
  • The bill was passed out of the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare on Tuesday, March 19.
• HB 2567 – Establishing the Kansas National Guard Educational Master’s for Enhanced Readiness and Global Excellence (EMERGE) program. 
  • The House passed this bill as amended 114-5 on Feb. 22. 
  • A hearing for this bill was held on March 12 in the Senate Committee on Education.
• HB 2594 – Establishing the Education Funding Task Force and abolishing the Special Education and Related Services Funding Task Force. 
  • This bill was withdrawn from the House Committee on Appropriations and re-referred to the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget on Feb. 19. 
  • The bill contents were amended and then inserted into House Sub for SB 387. 
• HB 2613 – Creating the statewide drug abuse resistance education (D.A.R.E.) program educator position, establishing the drug abuse resistance education fund and providing funding for such fund by annual transfer of state monies. 
  • The House passed this bill 105-15 on Feb. 22. 
  • It was received and introduced in the Senate, then referred to the Senate Committee on Education on Feb. 29. 
  • A hearing was held Wednesday, March 20 in the Senate Committee on Education. 
• HB 2650 – Requiring each school district to establish an at-risk student accountability plan and to show academic improvement in certain student subgroups and students identified as eligible for at-risk programs; Prohibiting the Kansas State Board of Education from revising the curriculum standards in English language arts and mathematics until 75% of all students achieve proficiency; and requiring school districts to comply with all state laws and rules and regulations to main accreditation. 
  • This bill was withdrawn from the House Committee on Appropriations and re-referred to the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget on Feb. 19. 
  • The bill contents were amended and then inserted into House Sub for SB 387. 
• HB 2669 - Codifying the Mental Health Intervention Team (MHIT) program administered by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) in state statute. 
  • This bill was passed as amended in the House on Feb. 22, 101-18. 
  • It was received and introduced in the Senate on Wednesday, Feb. 28 and referred to the Senate Committee on Education on March 1. 
  • A hearing was held on Tuesday, March 19 (see below). 
• HB 2703 – Including placement in foster care as a criterion for a student to be eligible for at-risk programs and services. 
  • This bill was passed in the House 119-0 on Feb. 22. 
  • A hearing for this bill was held March 12 in the Senate Committee on Education.
  • The bill was passed out of the Senate Committee on Education on Wednesday, March 20.
• HB 2717 – Establishing requirements for the determination of virtual school state aid for adult students. 
  • A hearing for this bill was held on Feb. 19 in the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget. 
  • This bill was withdrawn from the Committee on Appropriations and re-referred to the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget. 
  • The bill contents were amended and then inserted into House Sub for SB 387. 
• HB 2731 – Requiring the Kansas State Board of Education to submit annual reports to the legislature on certain statistics of students who take the statewide assessments. 
  • The bill was passed out of the House Committee on Education on Tuesday, March 12. 
  • The House went into emergency final action on Thursday, March 21 and passed the bill as amended 80-40.
• HB 2738 – Revising the special education state aid statewide excess costs calculation to count additional funding; requiring the State Board of Education to determine each school district’s excess costs and to establish a special education state aid equalization distribution schedule to distribute certain amounts of special education state aid; and requiring school districts to transfer amounts attributable to the special education weighting from their supplemental general funds to their special education funds. 
  • This bill was withdrawn from the House Committee on Appropriations and re-referred to the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget on Feb. 19. 
  • The bill contents were amended and then inserted into House Sub for SB 387. 
• HB 2785 - Transferring certain child care programs to the Kansas Office of Early Childhood; and separating licensing duties between the Kansas Department of Health and Environment secretary and the executive director of early childhood. 
  • This bill was withdrawn from the House Committee on Appropriations and re-referred to the House Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development. 
  • A hearing for this bill was held on March 7 and March 11 in the House Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development. 
  • The bill contents were amended and then inserted into House Sub for SB 96 on March 21.
• HB 2839 - Establishing a blueprint for literacy to create a literacy advisory committee, appoint a director of literacy education, require the Kansas State Board of Regents (KBOR) and the Kansas State Board of Education to collaborate on a literacy micro-credential and professional development, authorize KBOR to recommend diagnostic and formative literacy assessments, authorize university presidents and deans of education oversight over postsecondary literacy courses and require a plan to establish centers of excellence in reading. 
  • This bill was introduced in the House Chamber on March 13 and referred to the House Committee on Education. 
  • A hearing was held Tuesday, March 19 and Thursday, March 21 in the House Committee on Education (see below).
  • The bill was amended and passed out favorably by the House Committee on Education on March 21.
• SB 386 - Requiring enrollment under the Kansas School Equity and Enhancement act to be determined using the current school year or the preceding school year. 
  • This bill was withdrawn from the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and referred to the Committee of the Whole on Feb. 28. 
• SB 387 – Providing for the continued enrollment of students who attend a school district of non-residence pursuant to the school district open enrollment law. 
  • The bill was passed in the Senate 37-3 on Feb. 21. 
  • It was referred to the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget on Feb. 23. A hearing was held on Monday, March 4. 
  • The House Committee on K-12 Education Budget inserted the contents of several other bills and then passed out the bill as House Sub for SB 387. 
• SB 407 – Requiring the Kansas State Board of Education to authorize teaching licenses for individuals who complete an alternative teacher certification program. 
  • This bill was withdrawn from the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and referred to the Committee of the Whole on Feb. 28. 
• SB 427 – Requiring school districts to publicly list the names and email addresses of current school board members; authorizing local school board members to add new items to board meeting discussions, ask questions or engage in discussion with members of the public and access school property; authorizing members of the public to address school boards at board meetings; and authorizing payment of annual dues to any not-for-profit organization that provides services to member school districts. 
  • A hearing for this bill was held on Wednesday, March 13 in the Senate Committee on Education. 
  • The bill was passed out by the Senate Committee on Education on March 20.
• SB 428 – Requiring that each attendance center’s needs assessment be conducted by the local board of education and include input from board members, teachers, school site councils and school administrators, and that board members receive certain state assessment data; and identifying allocations of money in the school district budget and budget summary.  
  • A hearing for this bill was held on March 13 in the Senate Committee on Education. 
  • The bill was passed out favorably by the Senate Committee on Education on Thursday, March 21.
• SB 438 – Eliminating the requirement to subtract other aid from the state payment in the AO-K program. 
  • This bill was passed in the Senate 40-0 on Feb. 22.  
  • A hearing was held on Wednesday, March 20 in the House Committee on Education (see below).
• SB 469 – Establishing the Sunflower Education Equity Act to provide education savings accounts (ESAs) for certain students. 
  • This bill was withdrawn from the Senate Committee on Education and referred to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means on Feb. 23. 
  • It was re-referred to the Senate Committee on Education on Feb. 28. 
• SB 509 - Establishing the Education Opportunity Tax Credit to provide an income tax credit for taxpayers with eligible dependent children not enrolled in public school. 
  • A hearing for this bill was held on March 6 in the Senate Committee on Assessment and Taxation. 
  • The bill was passed out of committee on Tuesday, March 12. 
• SB 531 – Creating a civil cause of action against schools that give or make available harmful material to minors; and removing the affirmative defense to promotion to minors of material harmful to minors for public and nonpublic schools. 
  • This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Education on Feb. 23. 
• SB 532 – Establishing a blueprint for literacy to create a literacy advisory committee, appoint a director of literacy education, require the Kansas State Board of Regents (KBOR) and the Kansas State Board of Education to collaborate on a literacy micro-credential and professional development, authorize KBOR to recommend diagnostic and formative literacy assessments, authorize university presidents and deans of education oversight over postsecondary literacy courses and require a plan to establish centers of excellence in reading. 
  • An informational briefing for this bill was held Monday, March 4 in a joint information briefing in the Senate Committee on Education and the House Committee on Education (see below). A hearing was held Thursday, March 7 in the Senate Committee on Education. 
  • The bill was passed out of the Senate Committee on Education as amended.
     

Bills no longer alive 

The following bills did not get voted out of their committees before Turnaround, which means they are no longer “alive.” The bills themselves should no longer see movement this session. 

• HB 2251 – Authorizing the Kansas State Department of Education to contract with a private vendor to install and operate school bus cameras. 
  • Referred to House Committee on Education on Feb. 1. 
• HB 2475 – Prohibiting the commencement of the school term prior to Labor Day.  
  • Referred to House Committee on Education on Jan. 8. 
• HB 2480 – Requiring each school district to employ an attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder specialist. 
  • Referred to House Committee on Education on Jan. 8. 
• HB 2509 – Providing reimbursement payments for the cost of career technical education assessments to school districts under the career technical education credential and transition incentive for employment success act. 
  • Referred to House Committee on Education on Jan. 16. 
• HB 2539 – Removing the Kansas residency requirement for eligibility for a Kansas promise scholarship and modifying the definition of part-time student under such program. 
  • The House Committee on Education on Feb. 21 recommended this bill be passed as amended. 
  • The bill was stricken from the House Calendar on Feb. 23, which means the bill is dead in its form, but its contents can appear in another bill. 
• HB 2555 – Authorizing schools to maintain emergency albuterol kits for asthma and administer such medication in emergency situations. 
  • Referred to House Committee on Health and Human Services on Jan. 18. 
• HB 2574 – Establishing term limits for members of Fort Leavenworth Unified School District 207 school board. 
• HB 2600 – Establishing a feminine hygiene product grant program and grant fund to award monies to qualifying Title 1 schools to provide feminine hygiene products to students at no cost. 
  • Referred to the House Committee on Education on Jan. 25. 
• HB 2612 – Requiring school districts to be in compliance with all state laws, and rules and regulations to be accredited; and requiring the Kansas State Board of Education to establish a process to challenge determinations of such compliance. 
  • A hearing on this bill was held Feb. 5 in the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget. 
• HB 2641 – Requiring school districts to prohibit the use of privately owned electronic communication devices during school hours. 
  • A hearing on this bill was held on Wednesday, Feb. 14 in the House Committee on Education. 
• HB 2658 – Authorizing school districts to require a student to attend virtual school when the student is returning to school after having been expelled. 
  • A hearing on this bill was held on Feb. 13 in the House Committee on Education. 
• HB 2659 – Transferring teachers from the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) 3 cash balance plan to the KPERS 2 plan and defining teachers for the purpose of KPERS. 
  • Referred to the House Committee on Financial Institutions and Pensions on Feb. 1. 
• HB 2700 – Establishing the school library rating system task force to develop a rating system for materials available to students in public school libraries and requiring school districts to implement such rating system. 
  • A hearing for this bill was held on Feb. 14. 
• HB 2701 – Expanding the income tax credit for school and classroom supplies to increase the tax credit to $500 with an annual adjustment for the cost of inflation and to allow additional school employees to claim the credit. 
  • Referred to the House Committee on Taxation on Feb. 6.  
• HB 2702 – Specifying the eligibility requirements to participate in activities governed by the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) for students enrolled in a nonpublic school. 
  • Referred to the House Committee on Education on Feb. 6. 
• HB 2709 – Establishing Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week for public middle schools and high schools to educate students on the abuse of and addiction to fentanyl and other opioids. 
  • A hearing on this bill was held on Feb. 14 in the House Committee on Education 
• HB 2718 – Eliminating school district open enrollment requirements and authorizing school districts to determine nonresident student enrollment. 
  • Referred to the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget on Feb. 6. 
• HB 2719 – Extending the time that school districts may provide notice to parents of the administration of any nonacademic test, questionnaire, survey or examination, and requiring school districts to contact parents if any such test, questionnaire, survey or examination indicates concern. 
  • A hearing for this bill was held in the House Committee on Education on Feb. 20. 
• HB 2727 – Requiring all public schools and public postsecondary educational institutions to make feminine hygiene products available at no cost to students and establishing a state grant program for such purpose. 
  • Referred to the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget on Feb. 6. 
• HB 2726 – Requiring school districts to provide timely implementation of an individualized education program (IEP) and advanced enrollment for certain children who are new to the district. 
  • Referred to the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget on Feb. 6. 
• HB 2730 – Expanding the tax credit for low-income students scholarship program act to allow students enrolled in underperforming school districts to be eligible for a scholarship. 
  • Referred to the House Committee on Education on Feb. 7. 
• HB 2732 – Authorizing school districts to employ or accept chaplains as volunteers. 
  • A hearing for this bill was held on Feb. 19 in the House Committee on Education. 
• HB 2769 – Requiring public schools and school districts to participate in federal meal programs; and providing for reimbursement for free meals at all public schools and school districts. 
  • This bill was referred to the House Committee on Education on Feb. 8. 
• SB 348 – Requiring that the appointment of the executive director of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund be confirmed by the Senate. 
  • Referred to the Senate Committee on Education on Jan. 17. 
• SB 351 – Establishing policy requirements for school safety and security and cardiac emergency response plans and providing grant programs for the implementation of such policies. 
  • Referred to Senate Committee on Education on Jan. 18. 
• SB 358 – Prohibiting school districts and local libraries from prohibiting, banning or restricting books or other media unless certain requirements are met. 
  • Referred to Senate Committee on Federal and State Affairs on Jan. 19. 
• SB 401 – Requiring critical thinking be integrated into elementary and secondary instruction. 
  • Referred to the Senate Committee on Education on Jan. 26. 
• SB 437 – Establishing the Kansas Education Enrichment Program (KEEP) to provide educational awards to elementary and secondary school students for qualifying expenses for educational goods and services. 
  • The Senate Committee on Education voted to pass this bill out of committee on Feb. 19, but the vote failed and the bill remains in Committee. 
• SB 465 – Authorizing school districts to levy an annual levy of up to two mills for the purposes of school building safety, security and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and including the levy in the capital outlay state aid determination for such school districts. 
  • A hearing for this bill was held on February 15 in the Senate Committee on Education. 
• SB 470 – Including Wichita Technical Institute as an eligible postsecondary educational institution in the Kansas Promise Scholarship Act. 
  • Referred to Senate Committee on Education on Feb. 7. 
• SB 501 – Transferring certain child care programs to the Kansas Office of Early Childhood; and separating licensing duties between the Kansas Department of Health and Environment secretary and the executive director of early childhood. 
  • Referred to the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare on Feb. 12. 
     

Hearing on Substitute for HB 2494
The Senate Committee on Education on Monday, March 18, held a hearing on Substitute for HB 2494. If passed, the bill would require school districts to adopt cardiac emergency response plans based on the statewide standards developed by the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), require automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to be accessible in each school district building, and require CPR and AED training for each coach, sponsor, assistant, or aide of any school activity, and any other school district personnel designated under the bill.

Sub. For HB 2494 also would establish the School Cardiac Emergency Response Grant Program and create the School Cardiac Emergency Response Grant Fund.

Section 2 of the bill states that any person who in good faith renders emergency care or treatment, or who provides training as required by the provisions of the bill, would not be held liable for any damages.

The bill would take effect on and after Jan. 1, 2025. You can read more about the bill at this link.

The Senate Committee failed to pass the bill out of committee on March 21.
 

Hearing on HB 2669

The Senate Committee on Education on Tuesday, March 19, held a hearing on HB 2669.

If passed, the bill would create the Mental Health Intervention Team (MHIT) Program Act, codifying the program in statute. The MHIT would be moved from the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) to the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) and would require KDADS to hire a program manager and necessary supplement staff to oversee, coordinate and fund the program.

The bill also would increase the amount of the Community Health Center (CMHC) pass through grant from 33% to 50%.

According to the bill, the MHIT Program would provide greater access to behavioral health services for students enrolled in grades K-12 and establish a coherent structure between school districts and CMHCs to optimize scarce behavioral health resources and workforce. Services would be provided throughout the calendar year, not only during school hours over nine months of the school year.

In each school year, the local board of education of a school district could apply to KDADS to establish or maintain a MHIT Program within such school district. Some reimbursement of cost would be available through grant monies.

HB 2669 was passed as amended in the House on Feb. 22, 101-18. 

To read more about the bill, click here.

The Senate Committee failed to pass the bill out of committee on March 21.
 

Hearing on HB 2839

The House Committee on Education on Tuesday, March 19, held a hearing on HB 2839.

If passed, the bill would establish the Literacy Advisory Committee, composed of 15 voting members as outlined in the bill. Non-voting members would include the Kansas Commissioner of Education or designee and any members appointed by the Director of Literacy Education. Members would be appointed on or before July 1, 2024, and voting members would serve a four-year term.

The Committee would have several duties including:

1. Monitor progress of literacy training for in-service and pre-service teachers and literacy education of elementary and secondary students.
2. Attain the transformation goal to have 100% of the Kansas elementary teacher workforce achieve a micro-credential in the science of reading and structured literacy by 2030, leading to 85% of Kansas fourth graders achieving a level two or above on the English language arts state assessment by 2033.
3. Make recommendations to the House and Senate Committees on Education on the implementation of the goals of the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy and any changes necessary to achieve such goals.
4. Submit a plan to the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) on the establishment of centers of excellence in reading on or before Jan. 1, 2025.

KBOR, in collaboration with postsecondary educational institutions and research experts, would establish a comprehensive reading and literacy assessment system with universal screening measures, diagnostic, formative and summative assessments to be used by each school district. The assessment system would allow teachers to adjust instruction to meet specific needs of students. KBOR would be required to make recommendations to the Kansas State Board of Education on the assessment system and ensure that it is available to school districts on or before May 1, 2025.

The Literacy Advisory Committee would develop a plan to establish six regional centers of excellence in reading as outlined in the bill. If passed, the bill would go into effect upon its publication in the Kansas Register.

The House Committee on Education continued its hearing on HB 2839 on Thursday, March 21. To read more about the bill, click here.

The House Committee amended the bill and passed it out favorably on March 21.
 

Hearing on HB 2613

The Senate Committee on Education on Wednesday, March 20, held a hearing on HB 2613.

If passed, the bill would create a statewide Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) educator position in the Office of the Attorney General. The educator would provide D.A.R.E. curriculum instruction, including content on fentanyl and other opioids, to public K-12 schools and would perform services and provide materials and information necessary to support the D.A.R.E. program in Kansas.

HB 2613 also would establish the D.A.R.E. Fund in the State Treasury and authorize the Office of the Attorney General to administer it. The fund would be for the purpose of supporting D.A.R.E. within the state and would be subject to appropriations.

The House passed this bill 105-15 on Feb. 22. 

The Senate Committee failed to pass the bill out of committee on May 21.
 

Hearing on SB 438

The House Committee on Education on Education on Wednesday, March 20, held a hearing on SB 438

If passed, SB 438 would eliminate the requirement to subtract other aid from the state payment in the Accelerating Opportunity: Kansas (AO-K) Program. The bill would allow all students in an AO-K Program to receive the AO-K assistance benefit, rather than only those pursuing high school equivalency. It would limit the payment provided for each student to no more than $500 over the lifetime of the student.

This bill was passed in the Senate 40-0 on Feb. 22.  

The House Committee passed the bill out favorably on March 21.
 

Up Next 

The House is adjourned until 8:30 a.m. Friday, March 22. The Senate is adjourned until 9 a.m. Friday, March 22. 

The Senate Committee on Education, the House Committee on Education and the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget don’t have any meetings scheduled for next week as of now.

Click here (Welcome | Kansas State Legislature (kslegislature.org) to see calendars of the House and Senate, track bills, and view agendas for committees.