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Kansas Education Officials Share Concerns Over Proposed Federal Cuts

Stephen Koranda
/
KPR
Sen. Jerry Moran speaks while Board of Education Chairman Jim Porter listens at a meeting this weekend.

Republican Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran met with state education officials this weekend to talk about federal issues. Much of the discussion focused on spending cuts proposed by President Donald Trump.

Members of the Kansas State Board of Education raised concerns about Trump’s budget, which would cut federal education funding. That includes money to train teachers and reduce class sizes.

“We use that money to deal with our most vulnerable, and those are the students that would be hurt,” said Jim Porter, chairman of the state Board of Education.

Moran told the group that he believes Congress will not deviate much from the status quo when it comes to federal funding for schools.

“I think the dramatic reductions in spending would not be supported by enough senators to pass,” Moran said.

There’s a deadline later this week to approve federal spending legislation or face a government shutdown.

Stephen Koranda is the managing editor of the Kansas News Service, based at KCUR. He has nearly 20 years of experience in public media as a reporter and editor.