TOPEKA — Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has signed legislation that would increase aid to poor school districts to meet a court mandate and end a threat that the state’s public schools might shut down.
The bill signed Monday increases poor districts’ state funding by $38 million for the 2016-17 school year by diverting funds from other parts of the budget. It also redistributes some funds from wealthier districts, which is in line with a state Supreme Court ruling last month.
The court said Kansas’ school funding system is still unfair to poor districts and gave lawmakers until Thursday to make further changes. It had warned schools might not be able to reopen otherwise.
The bill had broad bipartisan support when the Republican-dominated Legislature passed it last week during a two-day special session.
