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Local coverage of education issues, health care, and science and technology.

Kansas Senate To Tackle School Funding Debate

Stephen Koranda
/
KPR/File photo

Following a four-day Memorial Day holiday, Kansas lawmakers get back to work on Tuesday.

Senators will take up a school finance bill with a funding formula that looks a lot like what the House passed – with weightings for things like at-risk kids and English language learners.

The big difference is the dollar figure: The House bill would add $279 million in new money for schools over two years.

The Senate version passed out of committee last week calls for less: $240 million.

There might be an attempt to add more money into the Senate bill during debate, but moderate Republicans and Democrats are pessimistic about the chances.

Whatever dollar figure the Senate lands on will have to be negotiated with the House.

Sam Zeff covers education for KCUR and the Kansas News Service and is co-host of the political podcast Statehouse Blend Kansas. Follow him on Twitter @SamZeff.

Sam covers education for KCUR and the Kansas News Service. Before joining the station in August 2014 he covered health and education for KCPT.