Kansas Lawmakers Pass School Funding Bill

Kansas lawmakers have given final approval to a plan that would increase aid to poor school districts and eliminate tenure for public school teachers.

The House voted 63-57 on Sunday to approve a compromise bill drafted by Republicans in both legislative chambers. The Senate earlier backed the bill in a 22-16 vote. It now goes to Republican Gov. Sam Brownback for consideration.

The plan is designed to comply with a Kansas Supreme Court order last month in a lawsuit filed by parents and four school districts in 2010 over education funding. The court directed lawmakers to boost aid to poor districts.

The plan does so, but conservative Senate Republicans insisted on eliminating tenure for public school teachers. The proposal brought dozens of red-shirted teachers to the Statehouse to protest.