NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Special education is not being funded according to state statute and educational leaders would like to see that change with action in the 2024 Kansas Legislature.
According to the Kansas Reflector, the task force created by the Kansas Legislature to resolve funding challenges in K-12 special education endorsed a four-year plan Friday adding $82.7 million annually in appropriations to local school districts to comply with a law requiring the state cover 92% of extra costs for serving gifted and disabled students.
"We spend $5.5 million on SPED, in just Buhler," said USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman. "We are funded at about $3.9 million from the state. That leaves a gap of about $1.6 million. That $1.6 million then comes from our general budget and our local option budget, so that means that is funded locally."
The state board of education has recommended ramping SPED funding up to the 92% level over four years. Kansas has not hit that number since 2011.
"That $1.6 million could be going to programs for students and opportunities for students, from activities to clubs to sports," Couchman said. "It could also reduce class sizes and provide more help, get more at risk instructors in there to help with your interventions."
What money the districts get is delayed, so they have to spend on Special Education before getting paid for it. The task force wants to fix that, as well.
"A SPED student is a general ed student first," Couchman said. "We are hurting all opportunities for all students when we have to pull money from the general budget."
The base state aid per pupil funding formula is fully funded according to the Gannon decision.
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