School funding debate continues as House panel amends at-risk formula
A House committee amended a bill changing how students are counted for at-risk funding, a critical component of the state's school finance formula.
TOPEKA, Kan. — A House committee approved changes to a bill that would alter how Kansas verifies student eligibility for at-risk programs, a critical component of the state's multibillion-dollar school finance formula. The House Committee on Education recommended that SB 387 be amended and passed.
SB 387 would require school districts to verify household income for students receiving free meals under the national school lunch program and would require legislative authorization for certain federal special assistance payments.
The amendments focus on the methods used to verify family income and student eligibility for programs designed to help students at risk of academic failure. The committee also amended definitions within the broader school finance law. How the state calculates and distributes at-risk dollars is one of the most contentious elements of education funding, with lawmakers frequently debating program effectiveness and accountability.
The action sends the bill to the House floor. Any change to the at-risk formula is closely watched by school districts and education advocates, as it can significantly affect local budgets and resources available to the state's most vulnerable students.
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