Legislative Update

Our legislators in Topeka should have ONE big priority this session: fully fund our public schools. Unfortunately, the leaders in the state house and senate are dilly-dallying. Here's what you need to know.
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- PTA supports Governor Kelly's education bill (SB44), which adds money to our schools to account for inflation.  The bill would provide stability and stop the endless cycle of litigation over school funding. It is estimated this bill would provide $4.5 million in extra funds for SMSD. 

- PTA opposes bills that would siphon funding away from our public schools. For example, PTA testified against a voucher bill (HB 2150) disguised as an anti-bullying bill. Instead of addressing bullying, this bill would simply shift money from public to non-public schools. In addition, PTA has testified opposing bills (HB2183 and HB 2166) that would impose computer science and financial literacy requirements to graduate (a decision for state board of education and local school boards, not the legislature), against an unfunded mandate that districts provide each teacher with a $500 stipend (HB2233) and against a religious speech bill (HB 2288).

Our Trailwood area legislators have continued to vote in line with PTA priorities. Be sure to thank them!

In the News
Instead of fully funding schools, Kansas lawmakers are dawdling and risking disaster