The Kansas Senate has agreed to a school funding plan aimed at ending a long-running lawsuit over education spending. It’s a rare example of Republicans going along with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.
Gov. Kelly proposed essentially renewing a plan the Kansas Supreme Court ruled last year was close to adequate. Based on calculations from the Department of Education, the proposal would add $90 million more a year to account for inflation.
It passed the Senate on a 32-8 vote and is headed to the House. Republican Sen. Molly Baumgardner calls the plan reasonable.
“In my heart, I believe that Senate Bill 142 is what the courts have said we should do," she said.
But the House is taking a different approach and reconsidering some of the school funding increases already in state law.
Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for Kansas Public Radio, a partner in the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @kprkoranda. Kansas News Service stories and photos may be republished at no cost with proper attribution and a link back to the original post. To contact KMUW News or to send in a news tip, reach us at news@kmuw.org.
