Menu
Ten education-related bills were introduced and several bills underwent hearings during week four of the 2024 Kansas Legislature Session.
Bill Tracker
There were 10 education-related bills that were introduced this week.
Other bills KSDE is tracking:
Hearing on SB 387
The Senate Committee on Education on Monday held a hearing on Senate Bill 387. If passed, the bill would amend the school district open enrollment law. It would clarify that any nonresident student enrolled in a school district during the 2023-2024 school year would be permitted to remain enrolled in the school district until graduation from high school or if the student is deemed to no longer be in good standing. These nonresident students would not be required to enter the open enrollment lottery. Additionally, any nonresident student accepted and enrolled after July 1, 2024, would be permitted to remain enrolled in the school district until graduation or if the student was deemed to no longer be in good standing.
The bill states a school district may deem any nonresident student as not in good standing in accordance with the district’s nonresident transfer policy. Before making any determination to deem a nonresident student as not in good standing, a district shall consider a student’s status as a homeless child and the resulting factors of homelessness on such student’s standing.
SB 387 would not affect state aid to school districts.
Nemaha Central Unified School District Superintendent Tavis Desormiers provided testimony in front of the committee and North Jackson Heights USD 335 provided written testimony.
No further action was taken on SB 387.
Hearing on HB 2594
The House Committee on K-12 Education Budget on Monday held a hearing on House Bill 2594. If passed, the bill would establish the Education Funding Task Force and abolish the Special Education and Related Services Funding Task Force.
The new task force would be comprised of 11 voting members, including:
The task force also would include nonvoting members, including the Kansas Commissioner of Education (or designee), the chairperson of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet (or designee) and the Director of the Budget (or designee).
The bill would require members to be appointed on or before Sept. 1, 2024.
HB 2594 would require the Education Funding Task Force to review the following:
Olathe USD 233 Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager provided written testimony and Kansas State Board of Education member Ann Mah provides oral testimony in front of the committee.
No further action was taken on this bill.
Hearing on SB 386
The Senate Committee on Education on Tuesday held a hearing on Senate Bill 386. If passed, the bill would amend the definition of enrollment under the Kansas School Equity and Enhancement Act to require KSDE and school districts to use the current year student enrollment count to determine state aid entitlements in the current year, or for any school district that experienced a decrease in enrollment between the preceding school year and the current school year, the district may determine enrollment by using the preceding school year enrollment count.
If a district receives federal impact aid for the enrollment of military students and it experienced a decrease in enrollment between the second preceding school year and the preceding school year, the district may determine enrollment as follows:
SB 386 also would require any school district that closed an attendance center building the preceding school year to determine enrollment using the current year enrollment count regardless of whether the district’s enrollment decreased.
If passed, the bill would go into effect on July 1, 2024, upon publication in the statute book.
Seven superintendents, a Wichita USD 259 chief financial officer and a Prairie Hills USD 113 Board of Education member provided written or oral testimony.
Hearing on HB 2567
The House Committee on Education on Tuesday held a hearing on House Bill 2567. If passed, the bill would establish the Kansas National Guard Educational Master’s for Enhanced Readiness and Global Excellence (EMERGE) program.
Similar to the existing Kansas National Guard Educational Assistance program, the new program would provide tuition and fee financial assistance for members of the Kansas National Guard who are enrolled in a postsecondary educational institution to obtain a degree.
The primary differences between the two programs are that:
Under HB 2567, the adjutant general would select up to 100 members of the Kansas National Guard each year for participation in the EMERGE program.
If passed, the bill would go into effect on July 1, 2024.
Hearing on SB 360
The Senate Committee on Education on Wednesday held a hearing on Senate Bill 360. If passed, the bill would allow taxpayers who contribute to a qualified tuition program account, qualified ABLE program account, or first-time home savings account on and after Jan. 1 but prior to filing the individual income tax return on April 15, the ability to use this subtraction modification in the previous tax year.
The contribution would not be allowed as a subtraction modification in more than one tax year. The changes to these subtraction modifications would become effective retroactive to tax year 2023. This bill also would remove outdated language from previous tax years.
Additionally, the bill would authorize the Kansas State Treasurer to appoint a Postsecondary Education Savings Program Advisory Council to make recommendations for the implementation and operation of this program. The State Treasurer would determine the members of the council, and no members would receive any compensation for serving on the council.
The bill would become effective upon publication in the Kansas Register.
Up Next
The House is adjourned until 8:30 a.m. Friday. The Senate is adjourned until 9 a.m. Friday.
The Senate Committee on Education will meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5. The committee is scheduled to discuss and take action on SB 386, SB 387 and SB 360 at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6.
The House Committee on Education is scheduled to meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5 and the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget is scheduled to meet at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5 for a hearing on HB 2612.
Click here (Welcome | Kansas State Legislature (kslegislature.org) to see calendars of the House and Senate, track bills, and view agendas for committees.
In this edition | Feature Story | Assessments and Accountability | Reporting and Operations Standards and Instruction | Student Health and Nutrition | Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition
Questions about this page contact:
Denise Kahler (785) 296-4876 dkahler@ksde.org
In this edition
Sections
The Kansas State Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. (more information...)
To accommodate people with disabilities, on request, auxiliary aides and services will be provided and reasonable modifications to policies and programs will be made. To request accommodations or for more information please contact the Office of General Counsel at gc@ksde.org or by 785-296-3201.