TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) Kansas legislators on Friday easily approved a bipartisan measure boosting education spending to what was touted as full funding for public schools while also making more students eligible for private school scholarships.
The Republican-controlled Senate approved the measure, 35-4, and the GOP-controlled House passed it, 107-9, sending the package of dollars and policy changes to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Almost all of the no votes came from conservative Republicans.
The governor signaled that she would sign the bill by publicly taking credit for it. Kelly, facing a potentially difficult 2022 reelection race, said she had “delivered on education, and did right by our kids.” The bill would increase aid to the state’s 286 school districts by 5.3%, to $5.2 billion.
John Hanna/AP
photo by: John Hanna/Associated Press
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly answers questions during a news conference, Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka.
Story updated at 9:01 p.m. Friday:
TOPEKA Kansas legislators on Friday easily approved a bipartisan measure boosting education spending to what was touted as full funding for public schools while also making more students eligible for private school scholarships.
The Republican-controlled Senate approved the measure, 35-4, and the GOP-controlled House passed it, 107-9, sending the package of dollars and policy changes to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Almost all of the no votes came from conservative Republicans.
Kansas lawmakers pass funding hike, school choice proposal
JOHN HANNA, AP Political Writer
May 7, 2021
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1of9Kansas state Rep. Rui Xu, D-Westwood, holds his 18-month-old daughter, Astra, during a break in the House s work, Friday, May 7, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. Lawmakers are working late as they tried to finish their business for the year.John Hanna/APShow MoreShow Less
2of9Kansas state Rep. Steven Johnson, center, R-Assaria, watches an electronic tally board in the House as it approves budget legislation, Friday, May 7, 2021, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. To his right is Rep. Shannon Francis, R-Liberal, and to his left, Rep. Susan Concannon, R-Beloit, both members of the House Appropriations Committee, along with Johnson.John Hanna/APShow MoreShow Less
New school funding, choice plan advances in Kansas with promise of Kelly s signature Katie Bernard, The Kansas City Star
May 7 TOPEKA Kansas lawmakers sent a new plan to modestly expand school choice eligibility in Kansas while providing full funding to K-12 public schools to Gov. Laura Kelly s desk Friday evening.
Both chambers passed the bills with overwhelming support after minimal debate. It was in stark contrast to the heated arguments last month over the GOP s original plan to tie school funding to what would have been the state s largest school choice measure ever.
The House approved the bill 107-9 while the Senate passed it 35-4.