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A closer look at the education budget in Kansas:
Education accounts for more than 52% of the state budget, and in the past four years, education spending in Kansas has increased 42%. In FY2010, Kansas taxpayers will devote $3.7 billion to education, while other critical programs have taken deep cuts. We must be fair with all areas of the budget, and education will have to fall in line with other reductions in the FY11 budget. Learn more about education spending.
Also, a recent study consistent with findings from the Kansas Division of Post Audit has found that the majority of school districts allocate only about 55% to instructional costs. Learn more >>
Kansas schools’ $1.4+ billion in reserves may help solve funding issues
Legislators recently learned that school districts in Kansas are sitting on at least $1.4 billion in cash reserves. Officials from the Kansas Policy Institute and the Kansas Association of School Boards both presented reports that showed Kansas schools have more than $1.458 billion in cash reserves. Learn more >>
s school consolidation could save millions
Consolidating the smallest of Kansas’ 293 school districts potentially would save taxpayers at least $18 million and perhaps as much as $138 million, Kansas legislative auditors reported Monday. Kansas currently has 32 districts too small to reach standards set nearly 50 years ago (which suggest at least 400 students and sufficient geographic and tax bases to support an elementary through high school system of that size). Consolidating them with nearby districts would cut education costs across the state by at least $18 million, and possibly as much as $138 million if the state would redraw boundaries for consolidation of school districts. Learn more about school consolidation >>
How our plan would have protected taxpayers and critical services
The plan proposed by the House Appropriations Committee in 2010 reduced spending, promoted job growth, protected education and core services for the disabled and public safety and avoided the Governor’s proposed record-breaking statewide tax increase. In fact, I added an amendment to the bill to preserve funding for the disabled in Kansas and restore SRS services to Kansans with physical and mental disabilities, many of whom have been on waiting lists for years.
Catastrophic aid for special education
In a Legislative Education Planning Committee (LEPC) meeting, I heard testimony from school districts and special education cooperatives about the recent challenges to the catastrophic special education aid. The number of students qualifying for catastrophic special education aid has increased by nearly 900% over a 5-year period, with only three school districts getting more than 70% of the funding last year. Special education is a key piece of the education budget, which accounts for more than 50% of the state budget, so we must address this issue swiftly. Learn more. >>
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