Several education-related bills were passed in both the House and Senate chambers during week 12 of the 2024 Kansas Legislative Session, including one that will now go back to the Senate to concur or non-concur to changes made to the bill.

House Sub for SB 387

After it was passed in both the Senate and the House chambers, House Substitute for Senate Bill 387 will now head back to the Senate to concur or non-concur to changes made to the bill.

The bill was passed in the Senate 37-3 on Feb. 21. The original bill, SB 387, stated it would provide for the continued enrollment of students who attend a school district of non-residence pursuant to the school district open enrollment law.

SB 387 then headed to the House and was referred to the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget, where the contents of several other bills were inserted. The bill was then passed out of committee as House Sub for SB 387. 

The following bills and their amendments were added 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.
  • Keeps the transportation amendment in SB 387 and modifies the hearing amendment to only include local boards of education.
• HB 2489 – Limiting the legislative option to purchase school district buildings to buildings that were formerly used as attendance centers.
  • Allows Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) to waive legislative action, clarifies 45-day window, cannot deny non-public school buyers, exempts buildings that did not receive capital improvements state aid.
• 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.
  • Changes part-time virtual student funding.
• HB 2594 – Establishing the Education Funding Task Force and abolishing the Special Education and Related Services Funding Task Force.
  • Changes some membership by including a teacher and special education staff.
• 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 (ELA) and mathematics until 75% of all students achieve proficiency; and requiring school districts to comply with all state laws and rules and regulations to maintain accreditation.
  • Some changes to cohorts, KSBE cannot substantially change ELA or math standards, retains required at-risk program list without five years of peer review along with several other changes.
• HB 2717 – Establishing requirements for the determination of virtual school state aid for adult students.
  • Clarifies funding only for the previous year.
• 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.
  • Reinstates the exclusion of bilingual, at-risk, transportation, CTE, and special education weightings.
  • LOB attributable to the SPED state aid is counted as part of the excess cost calculation.
  • District level excess cost will use district specific LOB percentage.
• HB 2802 – Governor’s KSDE budget recommendations.
  • Remove governor’s five-year special education funding plan.
  • Add $75 million State General Fund (SGF) and $2.5 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to special education for FY 2025.
  • Delete $30 million Childcare Accelerator Grant – Kansas Children’s Cabinet.
  • Stipulate the $5 million Public-Private Partnership Grant is for one year – Kansas Children’s Cabinet.
  • Remove $815,000 Children’s Initiatives Fund (CIF) for Specialty Care Program – Kansas Children’s Cabinet.
  • Remove $3 million for Mental Health Intervention Team (MHIT).
  • Restrict $1.9 million enhancement for professional development state aid for science of reading and math PD.
  • Prioritize $1 million enhancement for teacher mentors to K-5 teachers implementing the science of reading.
  • Restrict $5 million in Safe and Secure Schools grant fund to a pilot with Zero Eyes. KSBE will develop the pilot program.

House Sub for SB 387 was passed in the House 65-58 on Wednesday, March 27. To read more about the bill, click here.
 

Other bills passed in the House this week

• House Sub for SB 287 – Prohibiting a healthcare provider from administering any drug or diagnostic test or conducting behavioral health treatment to a minor in a school facility without parental consent.
  • The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services on March 19 recommended SB 287 to be amended by substituting with a new bill to be designated as House Sub for SB 287. The original bill would have amended the Kansas Silver Alert Plan.
  • The bill was passed in the Senate as amended 85-37 on Tuesday, March 26.
• 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.  
  • The bill was passed 122-0 on Wednesday, March 27.
     

Bills passed in the Senate this week

• 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. 
  • The bill was passed as amended 33-6 on Tuesday, March 26.
• 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. 
  • It was passed on the Senate floor 40-0 on Tuesday, March 26.
• 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.
  • The bill was passed out of the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare on March 19.
  • The Senate passed the bill 40-0 on Wednesday, March 27.

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.
  • The bill was passed out of the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare on March 19.
  • The Senate passed the bill 40-0 on Wednesday, March 27.
• 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. 
  • The bill was passed out of the Senate Committee on Education on Wednesday, March 20.
  • It was passed on the Senate floor 40-0 on Tuesday, March 26.
• 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 House went into emergency final action on March 21 and passed the bill as amended 80-40.
  • It was received and introduced in the Senate on Monday, March 25, then referred to the Senate Committee on Education.
• 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.
• House Sub for SB 287 – Prohibiting a healthcare provider from administering any drug or diagnostic test or conducting behavioral health treatment to a minor in a school facility without parental consent.
  • The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services on March 19 recommended SB 287 to be amended by substituting with a new bill to be designated as House Sub for SB 287. The original bill would have amended the Kansas Silver Alert Plan.
  • The bill was passed in the House 85-37 on Tuesday, March 26.
• 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. 
  • The bill was passed as amended 33-6 on Tuesday, March 26.
• House Sub for 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. 
  • 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. 
  • The bill was passed in the House on Wednesday, March 27.
• 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, but did not pass on the Senate floor on Tuesday, March 26 with a vote of 13-24.
• 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 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.  
  • The House Committee on Education on March 25 recommended this bill be passed.
  • The bill was passed 122-0 on Wednesday, March 27.
• 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.
  • The Committee of the Whole recommended the bill be passed as amended on March 27.

Up Next 

Thursday, March 28 is the last day to consider non-exempt bills not in originating chamber. The legislature is not in session Friday, March 29.

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.