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KASB legislative week in review, Jan. 10-14


Posted Date: 01/14/2022

KASB legislative week in review, Jan. 10-14

Gov. Laura Kelly’s proposed budget and State of the State speech dominated discussion during the first week of the 2022 legislative session. Now, the Legislature will get down to work on numerous bills, including those affecting education.

Kelly’s budget fully funds the Gannon school finance plan and includes funding for the first year that school finance will be adjusted for inflation. For an in-depth look at Kelly’s education budget proposal, go to KASB’s Tallman Education Report.

While the Statehouse was revving up for the session, COVID-19 was spreading rapidly throughout the state, forcing the temporary closure of numerous school districts because of student and staff absences.

Faced with staffing emergencies due to COVID, the State Board of Education voted to allow districts to remove the college credit requirement for substitute teachers. More on this here.

Meanwhile, the Governor’s Council on Education delivered its annual report, calling for improvements to the child care system and work-based learning opportunities. Details on the report are here.

Next week, committees will consider third-grade reading issues, Kelly’s proposal to abolish the state sales tax on groceries, the substitute teacher shortage and technical changes to the Kansas Promise Scholarship Act. To stay up-to-date on committee schedules, go here.