GOP leaders, governor negotiating over Kansas school funding

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Top Republican legislators and Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly negotiated Thursday over funding for Kansas' public schools and proposals aimed at helping some parents send their children to private schools.

Conservative Republicans have tried to tie an increase in aid to the state's 286 local public school districts to “school choice” initiatives but have been unable to pass a bill with that combination. Democrats and education groups would prefer to provide the money with no new strings.

Kelly's office and GOP leaders hadn't reached a deal as of Thursday afternoon. However, legislative leaders where hopeful enough to appoint three senators and three House members to draft the final version of an education funding and policy bill with whatever the governor and top Republicans eventually work out.

The Republican-controlled Legislature cannot wrap up its business for the year without finishing work on a spending blueprint for state government approaching $21 billion for the budget year that begins July 1. Funding for public schools would account for $5.2 billion in spending.

“It's just a back and forth,” said House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican, who is involved in the talks with Kelly.

Ryckman and other GOP legislative leaders hoped lawmakers could finish the year's business late Friday or on Saturday, but lawmakers on Thursday still had to hash out numerous budget and policy issues.

Those issues included additional funding for the state's court system, pay raises for state government employees and additional funding for higher education.

Kelly proposed an increase in education funding of $263 million, or 5.3%, in line with a law enacted in 2019 to resolve a 2010 lawsuit against the state brought by four school districts. That lawsuit...