Education

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2488: Requiring the university of Kansas school of medicine to use a letter grading system or other tiered grading system to assess student performance.

HB 2488 requires the University of Kansas School of Medicine to replace its current student assessment system with either a standard A-F letter grading system or a tiered system with at least four distinct performance levels for all medical degree courses. This directly affects medical students and faculty at the University of Kansas School of Medicine by mandating objective, comparable feedback on coursework. The bill’s key provision, outlined in Section 1(b), specifies that every course in the medical curriculum must use one of these two grading methods for evaluating student performance. The legislation aims to create a standardized environment for feedback, as stated in the legislative findings, though it does not specify how the grading system must be implemented. The bill was introduced on January 21, 2026, and is pending committee review.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates standardized grading system for medical school performance, enhancing objective feedback and educational assessment standards in higher education.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education Testing & Assessment

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signed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2487: Defining teacher and paraprofessional for purposes of eligibility for a scholarship under the Kansas education opportunity scholarship program.

HB 2487 clarifies who qualifies as a "teacher or paraprofessional" for eligibility in Kansas' education scholarship program. It defines these roles as individuals employed in Kansas public or nonpublic schools (pre-K through 12) whose primary duties involve classroom instruction or instructional support, requiring school administrators to certify such employment. This change directly affects students whose parents work in these roles, allowing them to qualify for the scholarship if they meet other criteria (like financial need and being a first-generation student). The bill amends existing law to replace the previous, less specific definition with this precise standard.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies scholarship eligibility for students with teacher/paraprofessional parents, expanding educational access through the Kansas education opportunity program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Student Financial Aid Teachers

passed both · Kansas · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 334: Facilitating nursing workforce development by providing education levels for instructors at nursing schools as a requirement for state approval.

SB 334 requires nursing schools in Kansas seeking state approval to ensure their instructors hold nursing degrees at least one level higher than the program they teach (e.g., instructors for practical nursing programs must have a professional nursing degree). This directly affects all Kansas nursing schools applying for or renewing state approval. The bill amends existing law to mandate this faculty qualification standard as part of the approval process, with limited exemptions for schools facing hiring challenges. It does not alter nursing curricula or student requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates higher instructor qualifications in nursing programs to strengthen educational standards and workforce development, directly advancing nursing education quality.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates higher instructor qualifications for nursing schools to strengthen workforce development, directly supporting medical professional standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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passed · Kansas · Senate Mar 20, 2026

SB 387: Requiring school districts to verify the household gross earned income of each student who qualifies for free meals under the national school lunch program and requiring legislative authorization to receive special assistance payments under federal law.

SB 387 requires Kansas school districts to verify the household gross earned income of students applying for free meals through the national school lunch program (using written proof), excluding those directly certified via other programs. It also mandates that school districts cannot seek federal "community eligibility" payments - allowing schools to serve free meals to all students without individual applications - without explicit legislative approval after July 1, 2026. During legislative recesses, districts may seek temporary approval from the Legislative Coordinating Council within 14 days. This bill directly affects school districts managing meal programs and students qualifying for free meals, changing how income eligibility is confirmed and how federal funds are accessed.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts access to free school meals by requiring income verification and blocking community eligibility without legislative approval, limiting educational support access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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vetoed · Kansas · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 361: Electing to participate in the federal tax credit for individual contributions to scholarship granting organizations.

SB 361 would allow foreign exchange students residing with host families to enroll in and attend their host family’s school district as if they were residents, exempting them from the district’s open-seat lottery process. It directly affects these students by guaranteeing enrollment without competing for available spots in the lottery system. The key provision amends Kansas law (K.S.A. 72-3123) to explicitly include foreign exchange students in the exemption, aligning them with other priority groups like military students or siblings. This change applies starting with the 2024-2025 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationGuarantees enrollment access for foreign exchange students without lottery competition, expanding educational access as defined in the topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Financial Aid

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 342: Extending the expiration date of the Kansas school equity and enhancement act from 2027 to 2028.

SB 342 extends the expiration date of Kansas' existing school funding law (the Kansas School Equity and Enhancement Act) from July 1, 2027, to July 1, 2028. This procedural bill directly affects the current school finance law by changing its sunset date, ensuring its provisions remain in effect for one additional year. The key mechanism is amending Kansas Statute 72-5176 to update the expiration date from 2027 to 2028, with the existing section being repealed as part of the process. This change does not alter the law's substance or create new policies, only delays its automatic termination.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends expiration of school funding law, maintaining current funding structure without cuts or restrictions per Kansas Statute 72-5176.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 386: Electing to participate in the federal tax credit for individual contributions to scholarship granting organizations and increasing the aggregate tax credit limit on the tax credit for low income students scholarship program.

SB 386 allows Kansas taxpayers to claim a state tax credit for donations to scholarship-granting organizations that serve low-income students. It increases the credit rate from 70% to 75% of contributions for tax years after 2022 and raises the annual spending cap from $10 million to $20 million (with a potential maximum of $30 million). The bill also establishes a mechanism to automatically increase the cap by 25% if 75% of the current cap is reached in a given year. This directly affects donors - such as businesses, banks, and individuals - who contribute to eligible scholarship organizations in Kansas.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases tax credit rate (70%→75%) and spending cap ($10M→$20M) for low-income student scholarships, providing tax relief while expanding state-funded education support.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases tax credit for donations to scholarship programs serving low-income K-12 students, expanding educational access and funding through higher contribution limits and caps.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Government Spending Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 316: Authorizing the state bank commissioner to establish a nonprofit organization incorporated under the laws of Kansas to provide charitable consumer financial education initiatives in Kansas.

SB 316 authorizes Kansas' state bank commissioner to create a Kansas-incorporated nonprofit organization focused on providing free consumer financial education to Kansans. The nonprofit can directly offer financial literacy programs, fund other nonprofit education efforts, provide education scholarships, or invest idle funds - all funded through public donations, fines from enforcement actions (paid as donations instead of fines), and settlement funds. The nonprofit must operate without paid staff, own no property beyond educational materials, and cannot engage in political activities. It will be governed by a volunteer board appointed initially by the commissioner, with no state agency status.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes nonprofit to provide free consumer financial education, fund scholarships, and support educational initiatives, expanding access to financial literacy programs.85% confidence

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2431: Enacting the student secular bill of rights to establish statutory protections against religious coercion and discrimination in public schools.

HB 2431 establishes statutory protections against religious coercion and discrimination in Kansas public schools, directly affecting students and parents. It defines prohibited actions like school-sponsored prayer, religious displays, or forced participation in religious activities, while allowing objective academic study of religion. The bill creates a legal cause of action for students or parents to sue if schools violate these protections. Key provisions clarify terms like "religious activity" and require school officials to avoid endorsement of religion in official capacities. This bill aims to strengthen existing constitutional separation of church and state in education, building on Supreme Court rulings like *Engel v. Vitale* and *McCollum v. Board of Education*.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes legal protections against religious coercion in schools, advancing student rights and non-discrimination in educational settings.95% confidence

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 419: Enacting the Kansas intellectual rights and knowledge act, providing a civil cause of action and penalties for violations of such act and authorizing students and student associations to exercise political and ideological beliefs, values and missions.

SB 419, the Kansas Intellectual Rights and Knowledge Act (KIRK Act), requires public postsecondary institutions in Kansas to protect students' and student associations' free speech rights. It defines "expressive activity" (including protests, speeches, and guest speakers) as protected on campus, particularly in outdoor areas, and prohibits censorship unless speech constitutes severe, pervasive harassment. The bill creates a civil cause of action for students or associations to sue institutions that violate these rights, amending existing statutes to ensure compliance with First Amendment standards. It directly affects students, student groups, and university administrators at Kansas public colleges and universities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill protects student free speech at public colleges, strengthening campus expression rights in higher education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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