![]() “They testified that any decrease to the monopoly would be absolutely disastrous to their business,” Hill said. Hill compared the state of public education to the monopoly on cattle industry before the 1920s. Scott Hill, R-Abilene, to eliminate a proposed oversight board, leaving the treasurer in charge of the process. The bill was amended on the floor by Rep. The fiscal impact of the program isn’t known, raising concerns from some that the program could have a huge effect on the state budget. The program would be opened for all K-12 students if fewer than 2,000 eligible students enrolled in the program during the first phase.Įligible schools for the program would be any nonpublic preschool, elementary or high school approved by program regulators that teach reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies and science. In the first phase of the program, the focus would be on students attending or eligible to attend preschool and those who were enrolled and attending public school in grades K-12 during the previous school year.Įligible students in this age range would include those who qualify for the national free or reduced lunch program or scored very low on state assessments for language arts or mathematics. The cash would flow through special savings accounts monitored by the state treasurer, with each eligible private school recipient able to draw $5,000 annually from the state. Implementing the Sunflower Education Equity Act would require the state to begin making payme nts to private school students in the 2023 to 2024 school year. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector) What the bill would do Brenda Landwehr look at a proposed amendment during a March 14 House discussion on education funding. If this is their version of perfect, I am concerned.” Rep. We have plenty of time to address critically needed special education and teacher pay in future sessions. ![]() “Do not be distracted from the underlying bad bill. “They lit it up like a Christmas tree, draping it in special ed tinsel and twinkling lights disguised as teacher pay raises,” Poskin said of the revised proposal. Mari-Lynn Poskin, a Leawood Democrat who has spoken against the bill repeatedly, urged her colleagues not to be swayed by the funding provisions. The bill would set aside $592.7 million from the State General Fund for special education in fiscal year 2024, as well as create a special education task force.Ĭritics of the bill said the special education and teacher provisions were added to sweeten the pot for skeptics. A final vote on the legislation is expected soon. The bill was narrowly advanced by the House after hours of debate, squeaking by 61-59. In its current form, the voucher-like program is bundled with provisions that would increase special education funding in public schools and teacher salaries. The bill has been revised several times since the beginning of the legislative session. You can go anywhere you want and purchase any type of medical care, you can choose where you get your hair cut, you can choose to go to higher ed anywhere, but the K-12, you don’t.” “It’s the only monopoly in our economy today, if you think about it. “Our public schools are a monopoly,” Williams said. Kristey Williams, the driving force behind Senate Bill 83, said the proposal would allow alternatives to public schools to thrive, such as entrepreneurial micro-schools. TOPEKA - Public schools have become a monopoly, Republican lawmakers argued, in an attempt to gain support for a far-reaching voucher-like program that would fund unregulated private schools with state dollars.ĭuring a Tuesday House hearing on the legislation, Augusta Republican Rep.
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