New Plan Emerges on Kan. Special Education Funding (KS)

February 23, 2011

Kansas legislators are considering a new proposal to satisfy the federal government’s demands that the state boost spending on special education programs in public schools.

The plan aims to do that without undercutting Gov. Sam Brownback’s effort to trim the current state budget.

House and Senate budget negotiators planned to consider the proposal Wednesday. Their talks stalled last week, and the key disagreement was about special education funding.

The federal government says the state needs to boost special education funding by more than $26 million.

Senators wanted to add the money to the budget. House members didn’t because they want to cut as much spending as the governor.

The new plan covers the special education costs by diverting money from the state’s base state aid to its 289 school districts.