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Kansas Update
Kansas State Board Explores Academic Mandates
During a policy retreat this week, the Kansas State Board of Education engaged in a wide-ranging conversation about the future of education policy in the state. A central focus of the discussion was how to better support student learning by clarifying the state’s academic expectations and shifting more decision-making authority to local school boards.
Several members expressed support for reducing the number of state mandates placed on schools and educators, particularly in areas beyond core academic instruction. These members emphasized the need to focus on academic fundamentals like reading, writing and math, arguing that local leaders need flexibility to meet standards without many current requirements.
Others on the board urged caution, noting that students arrive in classrooms with diverse backgrounds and needs. They emphasized the importance of addressing social and emotional development, school culture, and personalized learning — elements they believe are critical to student success. Some pointed to existing state efforts, such as Kansas’ accreditation model and individual plans of study, as examples of how schools already work to align learning with students’ long-term goals.
Throughout the meeting, the board weighed the balance between state-level supervision and local flexibility, a tension long embedded in Kansas’ constitutional framework for public education. Members discussed whether the current system best serves students and how the board can refine its role to provide clear, actionable guidance without overburdening schools.
Aligned’s Take: The conversation around state versus local control is not new — it’s a defining feature of American public education. If Kansas wants to drive better outcomes for all students, some degree of local discretion is essential. Empowering innovative educators and schools to tailor solutions to their communities can lead to meaningful progress, especially when paired with clear outcomes and strong support.
At the same time, we can’t afford to let any student fall through the cracks. That’s why maintaining agreed-upon academic standards at the state level remains important. A renewed focus on core instruction is needed and doesn’t require abandoning efforts to support different learning styles or to engage students in creative, rigorous ways. In fact, the most effective systems find ways to do both.
As Kansas considers updates to its school finance model and broader education strategy, we believe the path forward lies in balancing flexibility with accountability — giving schools room to lead while ensuring all students have access to a high-quality education, regardless of where they live.
Renewal of Statewide School Property Tax Levy Still Pending
With veto session in full swing, one critical component of the state’s school finance system remains unresolved: the renewal of the statewide 20-mill property tax levy for public education. This levy, which has been in place in some form since 1992, must be reauthorized periodically by the Legislature. Without legislative action this year, it will expire after FY 2025.
What Is the 20-Mill Levy?
The 20-mill statewide property tax levy is a cornerstone of Kansas’ education funding system. It is levied uniformly on all taxable property in the state and currently generates approximately $875 million annually for K–12 public schools. A portion of residential property — specifically the first $75,000 of appraised value — is exempt.
Revenue from this levy is dedicated to the state’s general fund for school finance and offsets what the state would otherwise need to pay using state taxes. It helps equalize funding across districts by providing a base level of support and ensuring the state meets its constitutional obligation to fund public education equitably.
Legislative Status
The most recent extension of the 20-mill levy was passed during the 2023 legislative session through SB 113, which authorized the tax through the end of FY 2025. However, no legislation has been passed this session to extend the levy beyond that date.
While lawmakers have approved the broader FY 2026 budget, it assumes the continuation of this property tax levy — without which, a significant funding gap would emerge.
Historically, the levy has been reauthorized with broad bipartisan support, often as part of a larger school finance or tax policy package. The legislature has included a two-year extension through FY 2027 in HB 2125. At the time of this newsletter, the bill was approved by the Kansas Senate but awaits a vote in the Kansas House of Representatives.
Why It Matters
The 20-mill levy represents one of the state’s most stable and predictable education funding sources. Failing to renew it would place added pressure on other parts of the state budget or force significant policy changes to meet the state’s constitutional school funding requirements. Moreover, delaying the decision complicates planning for school districts as they prepare budgets for the 2025–26 academic year.
With debate continuing around special education funding, assessment-based property tax relief, and long-term changes to the school finance formula, the question of whether and how to extend the levy remains one of the major unresolved education policy decisions this session.
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