Stephanie Lovett-Bowman, Friday, March 04, 2011 | Filed under: School Funding, Legislation
Education funding issues continue to dominate the Kansas and Missouri legislatures’ attention this session as both states struggle with large budget shortfalls.
In Kansas, House Speaker Mike O’Neal (R-Hutchinson) on Thursday urged the passage of a constitutional amendment that would require the Kansas Legislature to provide an "equitable distribution of public school funds." Currently, the Kansas Constitution requires the Legislature to make a “suitable provision” of funds to Kansas public schools. O’Neal said the change in language would prevent the Kansas Supreme Court from ordering the Legislature to increase school funding. Opponents of the measure argue that the change would effective remove the Legislature’s responsibility to provide adequate funding to public schools.
The Missouri General Assembly is considering several proposals that would alter the formula governing the way public schools are funded because formula-funded schools are facing a $330 million shortfall in 2013. On Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee held the General Assembly’s first hearing on the new funding proposals.