Kelly vetoes civics education mandate, citing constitutional overreach
The governor argues curriculum decisions belong to the State Board of Education, setting up another potential clash with lawmakers over classroom control.
TOPEKA, Kan. — Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday vetoed a legislative effort to mandate civics education in Kansas schools, striking down House Bill 2412 and defending the constitutional authority of the State Board of Education. The bill, had it become law, would have required all Kansas high school students to pass an American civics test before graduation.
The veto highlights a recurring partisan friction point in the Kansas Statehouse. The Republican-controlled Legislature has frequently attempted to pass bills mandating specific school curricula — ranging from financial literacy to gun safety and civics — while Kelly, a Democrat, has consistently argued that the Kansas Constitution explicitly grants that authority to the elected State Board of Education and local school boards.
In her veto message, Kelly expressed support for the underlying concept of the bill but drew a hard line on the separation of powers.
"I concur with legislators who believe that citizen knowledge of and involvement in our democratic process at the local, state and federal level should be emphasized throughout our children's educational journey," Kelly wrote. "That knowledge would include an understanding that, in Kansas, the Kansas Board of Education is accorded constitutional authority to determine curricula."
Kelly said any design and implementation of civics education must be directed by state and local education boards rather than mandated by state statute.
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