school finance

This week, Kansas lawmakers are trying to hammer-out a new plan for funding public schools. The plan needs to satisfy a court order to distribute those funds more equitably. Lawmakers are also considering a bill that expands the number of "impeachable offenses" for which judges and justices can be removed from office.

Few people in Kansas understand the intricacies of state finances better than Duane Goossen. He served as state budget director for 12 years. As our guest commentator, he talks about the troubling state of the Kansas economy.

Kansas lawmakers have approved a budget for the new fiscal year that starts in July. But, they haven't included any additional money for public schools, despite a supreme court order saying the current funding method is unconstitutional and some schools are getting short-changed.

Here's a summary of the day's Kansas news headlines from the Associated Press as compiled by the KPR news staff.

The Kansas Legislature has created two interim committees, one will study public school funding and the other will examine sales tax exemptions.

Three dozen Kansas school districts are requesting additional money from the state to meet budgetary needs. But the requested money far outstrips funds available. Next week, the governor and legislative leaders will meet to decide which schools will receive more money and, how much.

Funding cuts to classroom education and certain policy changes are prompting some teachers to leave the state of Kansas. Neighboring Missouri is hoping to capitalize on this exodus of educators.

The court's statement indicates that there will be an expedited briefing schedule and that a date for oral argument will be set soon.

A panel of judges ordered the state to provide around $50 million in aid to public schools.

A three-judge panel in Shawnee County District Court has declared parts of the new state law for funding public schools unconstitutional.