Thank You Governor Kelly & Kansas Legislature
Action Alert
The United School Administrators of Kansas (USA-Kansas) express our sincere gratitude to Governor Kelly and the legislature for bipartisan support on SB 387 which focuses on advancing our state's educational system as we approach the 2024-2025 school year. The commitment to raise school funding at a rate similar to the Consumer Price Index for the Midwest Region is an important step. This approach ensures our districts can adapt their budgets, but demonstrates prudence in addressing the economic realities facing our schools and communities.


The additional funding of $75 million for Special Education, championed by the Kansas State Board of Education and the Governor, is a monumental step forward. We recognize the work of members of the Senate Education Committee to secure these funds without conditioning them on the adoption of a new SPED funding formula. This strategic decision facilitates a more focused utilization of these funds, enabling school districts to minimize transfers from the special education budget and therefore augment both At-Risk and general educational programming more efficiently.


Additionally, we support the Governor's decision to use the line-item veto concerning the $5 million in school safety grants initially tied to the purchase of ZeroEyes technology. This measure ensures that our Kansas schools can continue to prioritize safety without the compulsory implementation of a technology that has yet to be fully evaluated for its impact, requirements, and effectiveness within our specific educational environments.


The decision to allow schools the flexibility to invest in safety measures that suit their individual needs – including the additional provision to purchase Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for district buildings – is commendable. It underscores a commitment to student safety while respecting the autonomy of school districts to assess and respond to their unique security challenges.

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