The Kansas Legislature has passed a school finance bill that lawmakers and districts hope will satisfy a state Supreme Court order for more equitable school funding.
The Kansas City Star reports that the Senate voted 38 to 1 and the House voted 116 to 6 to approve the bill.
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback has said he will sign the bill. In addition, districts that sued the state over school funding say they support the legislation. Their attorney, Alan Rupe, says the plaintiff districts have agreed to file a brief with the court saying they believe the bill meets the equity standard.
The state Supreme Court ruled last month that the finance law, as revised by the legislature this year, still failed to meet constitutional standards for equity. The judges warned lawmakers that if an acceptable plan were not in place by July 1, the state's public schools could be shut down.
The bill that passed was put forth after lawmakers dropped a school finance proposal that would have cut 0.5 percent from each school district in the state.
The legislation boosts aid to poor school districts by $38 million and redistributes some funds from wealthier districts. About $13 million of the additional school aid will come from the planned sale of assets of the Kansas Bioscience Authority.
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