Senate debating Special Education Funding TODAY...send those emails ASAP!
Senators in Topeka need to hear from constituents as they begin debate on the Senate proposed state budget that includes a mere $5 million increase in SPED funding; current shortfall is $226 million
Last week, the Kansas House debated and passed (by a slim margin) their proposed budget bill that includes a mere $10 million increase in special education. Rep. Jarrod Ousley (D-Johnson County) proposed amendments to increase SPED by $50M and $25M, but both amendments failed, although the votes were closer than we’ve seen in recent years. Our voices are being heard!
Flood Senator emails — ASAP!
Today (March 3) around 2:30pm, the full Senate will be debating the Senate budget bill (SB 315) where there is an opportunity for the bill to be amended to add more special education funding. Now is the time to flood Senator emails to let them know Kansans want them to add a meaningful increase in special education funding!
The Short Story
The proposed House budget includes a mere $5 million in new special education funding, despite a current shortfall of $226 million.
The state has not been meeting its obligation to fully fund SPED at the required 92% of excess special education costs for over 15 years. Districts have been covering the shortfall with general education funds, which impacts all kids. The current shortfall is effectively cutting $1,000 from the base state aid ($5,378) for each Kansas student. We are hitting crisis levels.
Email your state level senator ASAP & ask a friend to send an email!
Three options:
Click here to send a pre-populated email using this new platform I’m trying out.
Enter your address in the form and the email will automatically be sent to your senator. Take note of your Senator’s name so you can review their vote later.
Highly recommend editing the email and putting it in your own words before hitting send. Scroll down here or in the link to find potential talking points.
Please DISREGARD the optional contribution page (from the email campaign host site) that pops up after sending the email. Donations DO NOT go to Six Degrees of Activism.
or
Use the usual method of contacting your senator.
Click here to find your STATE LEVEL Senator and their contact info
Click here to send an email with a pre-populated message
TO: Add your state Senator’s email address
Add a greeting: Dear Senator [last name],
Use your own words: If possible, make your email unique; use some talking points from the What To Know section below.
Sign your name and hit send.If the link doesn’t work for you, use the Copy & Paste version below.
or
Use the Copy & Paste option below.
Reach out to a friend and ask them to contact their state senator; show them how to find their rep and help them with what to say.
Copy & Paste Email
TO: Your state Senator’s email address
SUBJECT: Fully Fund Special Education
BODY:
Dear Senator ___________,
During the budget debate on bill SB 315, I urge you to support a meaningful increase in special education funding. The $5 million increase included in the budget is not nearly enough to cover the current $226 million shortfall that is impacting all kids. It would take a $25 million increase just to keep funding at the current level.
Please make Kansas kids a priority and ensure every student receives the education they deserve.
Thank you,
[Your Name & city]
Special Education Funding — What to Know
SPED underfunding has reached crisis levels according to State Education Commissioner Randy Watson.
Special education has been underfunded for 15 years; districts have been covering the shortfall out of general education funds as the gap continues to widen.
Shortfall impacts all students. Districts must take funds from general education which results in larger class sizes, fewer electives, fewer math/reading aides, and so on.
Shortfall is effectively cutting $1000 from the per student base state aid ($5,378) for general education.
State Board of Education requested an increase of $145 million, which would raise the state’s funding percentage to 80%, still short of the mandated 92%.
The state has over $230 million in savings (due to an enrollment reduction) from funds that were already appropriated for schools for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
Leadership in the Senate and House are only offering a SPED funding increase of $5 and $10 million, respectively; choosing to reappropriate the savings to be used elsewhere in the budget instead of fulfilling their obligation to fully fund SPED
An increase of $25 million is needed just to keep funding at current levels.
The Kansas Department of Education, the State Board of Education, and school districts across the state have been sounding the alarm about the underfunding of special education.
Last year, districts spent $440 million state-wide out of general operating funds to backfill the special education shortfall.
39% of local property taxes are paying for that shortfall.
Done! Thank you for all you do!