HB 2743 modifies Kansas teacher education requirements by prohibiting state-approved teacher preparation programs from including any coursework, training, or content related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a condition for program approval or teacher licensure. It also extends the deadline for retired and substitute elementary teachers to complete required literacy training under the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy by two additional years. The bill directly affects teacher training institutions, current and prospective educators, and school districts implementing the literacy program. Key mechanisms include amending state education code to mandate exclusion of DEI content in teacher prep curricula and adding a two-year extension for specific educator groups to meet literacy training requirements.
HB 2656 establishes Kansas' "No Kid Hungry in Schools" program, requiring public school districts with high student poverty rates to provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students. The state reimburses districts for the cost difference between federal meal reimbursements and the federal free-meal rate, covering up to one breakfast and one lunch per student daily. School districts must participate if they qualify under federal poverty thresholds for free meal eligibility, and must offer two federally reimbursable meals per student per day. The bill amends existing school meal funding laws to implement this state-level reimbursement system.
HB 2637 requires Kansas school districts that qualify under federal guidelines (where at least 40% of students are eligible for free school meals) to consider joining the federal Community Eligibility Provision, which allows all students in a school to receive free meals without individual applications. School boards must vote to participate if eligible, but can opt out by demonstrating financial hardship at a public meeting. The Kansas State Department of Education must provide assistance to districts seeking to join the program. This directly affects school districts with high poverty rates, enabling them to simplify meal access while offering a financial hardship exception.
HB 2673, the Positive Learning Environment Act, requires Kansas school districts to create school management plans for each school. These plans must define minor (e.g., classroom disruptions) and major (e.g., violence, substance abuse) student behavior issues and establish a clear, step-by-step system for handling them - teachers address minor issues, while administrators handle major ones. The bill also grants teachers specific rights, including the ability to remove disruptive students from class, have their disciplinary decisions respected, and teach in a safe environment, with protections against retaliation for using these rights. School districts must share these plans with parents, students, and staff at the start of each school year and review them annually using behavior data.
SB 440 creates a two-year pilot program allowing private entities to operate special education teacher training programs with temporary (provisional) state accreditation. This directly affects private organizations seeking to train special education teachers, requiring them to provide high-quality instruction to bachelor's degree holders pursuing licensure. The bill permits these entities to collect program data during the pilot and outlines a clear path to apply for full accreditation under existing state law after the pilot concludes. It does not change current licensure requirements but establishes a new pathway for private providers to enter the teacher training system.
HB 2762 amends Kansas law to explicitly include teachers as "a person in a position of authority for a school" under the crime of unlawful sexual relations. This change directly affects teachers and students enrolled at their school, making it illegal for teachers to engage in sexual activity with students aged 16 or older while employed at that school. The bill adds this specific scenario to the existing list of prohibited relationships (like those involving correctional staff or law enforcement), clarifying that the law applies when the teacher has authority over the student. The amendment does not change penalty levels but ensures teachers are covered under the same felony provisions as other authority figures in similar settings.
SB 441 authorizes private providers to deliver medically necessary applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy during school hours for students with autism spectrum disorder, as prescribed by a healthcare provider. School districts must permit these services when parents provide documentation from a healthcare provider and a treatment plan, and private providers must pass background checks. The bill requires school districts to adopt policies for this service and allows third-party insurance to cover costs, without replacing existing school-based behavioral support under IEPs.
SB 488 proposes phasing out property taxes in Kansas over three years: limiting mill levies to 50% of 2025 levels in 2026, 25% in 2027, and eliminating them entirely for all property starting in 2028. To offset lost revenue for local governments, it creates a new "Kansas fair share purchase surcharge" on retail transactions (7.6% for purchases under $20 or $1.60 flat for $20+), with the collected funds distributed to school districts, counties, cities, and other taxing subdivisions via revenue replacement grants. The bill requires voter approval of a constitutional amendment in 2026 for the tax changes to take effect. It also establishes a "property tax freedom reserve fund" to manage these transition funds and provides for "freedom dividend rebates" to residents.
SB 517 expands Kansas' "Every Child Can Read Act" by requiring school districts to create individual literacy plans for high-risk students (kindergarten through third grade) and employ reading specialists. It mandates detailed annual reporting on student reading proficiency, screening data, and intervention outcomes to the state education department, including metrics for all student subgroups. The bill also aligns literacy goals with state assessment scores, requires teacher training in literacy practicums, and updates the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy to include new standards for educator preparation. These changes directly affect school districts, teachers, and students, focusing on early literacy intervention and accountability.
SB 437 establishes a 15-member task force to design a pilot funding model for Kansas technical colleges, directly affecting institutions like Manhattan Area Technical College and their students. The task force must develop measurable metrics - including graduation rates, job placement in high-demand fields, and industry credential attainment - to tie state funding to student success outcomes. It will submit a report by January 2028 with recommendations for testing this model, including funding amounts and implementation plans. The bill focuses on aligning college funding with workforce development goals rather than making immediate funding changes.
