Kansas Republicans Unveil School Funding Plan

Kansas House Republicans have outlined a plan that fully funds aid to poor school districts but ties the money to policy changes designed to expand parents’ choices on where to send their children.

The plan is contained in a bill introduced Thursday by the GOP-dominated House Appropriations Committee. The panel is expected to have hearings on it next week.

The bill would provide an additional $129 million during the fiscal year beginning in July to poor school districts to comply with a recent Kansas Supreme Court ruling in an education funding lawsuit.

But the measure also gives tax credits for contributing to scholarship funds for private-school students. It also would spur creation of new, state-funded schools operating under independent charters giving them more freedom than typical public schools.