Kansas gov. confronts education secretary over $22.6 million in stripped school funding

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is asking that millions in funds stripped from the state's education department be restored.

Kelly announced in a press release on April 15 that her office is calling on the administration of U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to restore around $22.6 million in federal funding to the Kansas Department of Education (KSDE). The U.S. Department of Education (DE) announced in March that nearly $3 billion in pandemic relief funds was being recouped from several states, including Kansas.

“Abruptly stripping this funding is a disservice to the Kansas students and teachers who rely on it to excel in the classroom,” Kelly said. “This funding is critical for our schools to continue setting Kansas children up for a strong start to life. I urge the Trump administration to reinstate this funding to ensure our students can continue to access these key resources they need to succeed.”

The $22.6 million Kansas was receiving were critical for supporting student learning recovery and helping to ensure the education workforce remains prepared to assist those students with their academic needs, according to the Office of the Governor. These funds were also used to retrain teachers in the science of reading and other evidence-based interventions to support the learning of students, career and post-secondary exploration experiences for students and other endeavors.

The KSDE previously requested the administration of President Donald Trump restore Kansas' funding and allow the agency to continue using this cash for its intended purposes. McMahon informed state education leaders in early April the DE was ending the liquidation period for the Education Stabilization Fund (ESF).

You can read the full letter Kelly submitted to the DE by clicking here or by reading through it below:

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