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House GOP leaders offer Kansas school funding plan

Rep. Ray Merrick
Rep. Ray Merrick

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican leaders in the Kansas House are proposing a new measure to satisfy a state Supreme Court ruling to increase funding for public schools without policy changes on charter schools.

Speaker Ray Merrick said Monday the plan is similar to one he rejected last week. That measure contained provisions that would have expanded state charter school laws.

Merrick says the new bill would increase school spending by about $129 million to address two deficiencies deemed unconstitutional by the court in its March 7 ruling.

Merrick said the House Appropriations Committee is likely to begin reviewing the proposal on Tuesday.

Senate GOP leaders say Monday they hope to finish the framework of a school spending bill soon, but don’t have a timeframe yet for introducing a measure.

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