TOPEKA — A Kansas House committee has approved a proposal to phase in a $280 million increase in spending on public schools over two years after whittling down a larger funding plan.
The special committee on school finance’s 10-6 vote sends the education funding bill to the House for debate. It’s a response to a Kansas Supreme Court ruling in March that education funding is inadequate.
The state spends about $4 billion a year on aid to its 286 local school districts. The court did not say how much more the state must spend.
The committee started Monday with a plan to phase in a $783 million increase over five years.
Some members questioned whether lawmakers would boost taxes enough to pay for it. Others said the committee’s plan is inadequate.
