Legislators Go To Work On School Funding

Kansas legislators are starting work on school funding issues after a state Supreme Court ruling, and Attorney General Derek Schmidt is telling them they have many options.

Schmidt was briefing House Republicans on Monday. He said the high court left legislators with some discretion in addressing constitutional flaws in the state’s school funding system.

The court ruled Friday that the state must boost aid to poor school districts and gave legislators until July 1 to address the problems. It also ordered more lower-court hearings on whether the state is spending enough money overall.

The state Department of Education said boosting aid to poor districts could cost $129 million a year.

House Speaker Ray Merrick said the chamber’s budget-writing Appropriations Committee will handle school funding legislation.