Education (K-12 Education)

SB 339 requires Kansas public school districts to provide at least 30 minutes of daily organized recess for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. This recess time is designated as part of the school term, meaning it counts toward the state's minimum school hour requirements (465 hours for kindergarten, 1,116 hours for grades 1-11). The bill amends Kansas Statute 72-3115 to explicitly include recess as part of the school term and repeals the previous version of the law. It applies directly to all Kansas public school districts serving students in grades K-5.

SB 385, "Erin's Law," requires Kansas school districts to implement mandatory programs starting in the 2026-2027 school year. It mandates annual teacher training on identifying and reporting child sexual abuse, including prevention strategies and resource information. The bill also requires age-appropriate student instruction for all K-12 students on abuse awareness, prevention, and reporting options, with a parent opt-out provision. School districts may use approved resources like the Erin's Law Foundation curriculum to meet these requirements.

HB 2530 requires Kansas high schools to provide free career readiness assessments (ACT WorkKeys) to students in grades 9, 11, and 12, with participation optional. It mandates that Kansas colleges and universities accept certain WorkKeys credentials (platinum, gold, or silver) as transferable credit toward technical degrees, following American Council on Education guidelines. Schools must publish exam details online, and the state board must report annual assessment data to lawmakers. The bill directly affects Kansas public and nonpublic high school students, school districts, and postsecondary institutions.

SB 421, the "Safeguarding Personal Expression at K-12 Schools Act" (SPEAKS Act), protects K-12 students in Kansas from school discrimination based on religious, political, or ideological speech. It allows students to express these views in class discussions, assignments, clubs, and clothing - on the same terms as other student expression - while prohibiting schools from penalizing them for such speech. Schools may still restrict unprotected speech (like threats or severe harassment) and disruptive conduct. The bill creates a private right to sue schools for violations, with minimum $5,000 damages per violation, and allows students to use the act as a defense in disciplinary cases. It applies to all Kansas public schools and student clubs or organizations.

HB 2415 (Kansas Youth Voice Act) requires every Kansas public school district to appoint at least one student from grades 10-12 as a nonvoting member of their school board. Student representatives may attend open meetings, express opinions, and receive materials but cannot vote, attend closed sessions, or receive pay. School boards must establish application processes and provide orientation, including a board liaison and training on board procedures. This affects all Kansas school districts and students in grades 10-12, with appointments required by August 2026 and subsequent annual terms (max two total terms per student).

SB 164 prohibits Kansas public schools and colleges (including K-12 districts, community colleges, and state universities like Washburn) from discriminating based on religion or tolerating antisemitism. It allows individuals harmed by violations to file complaints with the attorney general, who can investigate using subpoenas and testimony, and impose civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation. The bill explicitly excludes religious studies coursework from the prohibition and defines antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s 2016 definition. Violations must be proven by a preponderance of evidence, with penalties deposited into the state general fund.