Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill Thursday funding Kansas public schools for the next year that included an expansion of an existing school choice program. But in a test of her powers, she rejected a policy provision that would have cut funding to many rural school districts.
The Democratic governor emphasized the need to fully fund the state’s K-12 schools, but criticized the Legislature’s approach that ties policy decisions to funding and said the portion of the bill affecting rural district funding could violate the state’s constitutional obligation to fully fund public education.
“Today, I am keeping my commitment to Kansas families by fully funding our public schools for the fifth year in a row,” Kelly said in a statement. “What’s more, I am proud to stand up for rural schools, the heart and economic engines of communities throughout the state, by rejecting efforts to cut the funding necessary to keep them open and continuing to serve Kansas students.”
