A Monday hearing on a new bill that would establish an Education Funding Task Force, while eliminating a Special Education Task Force is being met with some criticism from education officials.
House Republicans have continually expressed frustration with the cost and academic effectiveness of the current school funding formula. House Bill 2594, which is tied to the plan, would grant the GOP power to appoint six of 11 voting members of the task force as well as control over who chairs the panel.
Ann Mah, of Topeka, who serves on the state Board of Education, shared concerns with the proposed makeup of the task force.
Republican State Rep. Kristy Williams, of Augusta, chairs the House K-12 Education Budget Committee. She says ultimately the burden falls on the legislature, as spelled out by the Kansas Supreme Court.
The Kansas Reflector reports that Williams stated earlier this month that the bill was drafted in a way that guarantees termination of the special education task force, noting financial issues were too complex and that solutions from education advocacy groups were too simplistic.
If approved by the legislature, the new task force would be appointed by September and it would have less than three years to come up with potential formula changes to be implemented no later than 2027.
