TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican Gov. Sam Brownback is embracing a $38 million increase in state aid for poor Kansas school districts ahead of a special session of the Legislature.
Brownback issued a proclamation Wednesday calling lawmakers back to the Statehouse on June 23 to respond to a state Supreme Court order last month on education funding.
I will consider any legislation that improves our education system or protects children from the endless cycle of litigation. #ksleg #ksed
— Sam Brownback (@govsambrownback) June 8, 2016
He said during the news conference that he’s looking for legislators to meet a single day to fashion a plan for providing the extra dollars to poor districts.
But he also said he’s willing to consider a variety of ways to raise the funds that include shifting it from other pots of aid for public schools. He said he’s willing to consider education policy proposals to help gain support for the additional aid for poor districts.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Gov. Sam Brownback is having the Kansas Legislature’s special session on education funding start June 23.
The Republican governor signed a proclamation Wednesday formally summoning the GOP-dominated Legislature back to the Statehouse.
KS has great schools. We spend over $4 billion a year to operate them. It would be wrong for us to allow the courts to close them. #ksleg
— Sam Brownback (@govsambrownback) June 8, 2016
He wants lawmakers to respond to a state Supreme Court order last month declaring that public schools won’t be able to open after June 30 if legislators don’t rewrite school finance laws.
The court rejected some changes made earlier this year in how Kansas distributes more than $4 billion a year in aid to its 286 local school districts.
The justices said education funding remains unfair to poor districts. Many Republicans have strongly criticized the ruling, and some have wanted to defy the court.
Lawmakers adjourned their annual session June 1.