Conservatives seek to put strings on new Kansas school funds

If Kansas’ highest court is going to force state lawmakers to boost public education funding again, some conservative Republicans want something in return.

Their list includes a say in how new dollars are spent and a voucher program to allow bullied kids to switch to private schools.

A state House committee expects to have hearings this week on an education bill drafted by its conservative chairwoman and introduced Tuesday.

It’s an alternative to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s proposal for an increase of roughly $90 million in the state’s more than $4 billion a year in education funding.

The Kansas Supreme Court ruled last year that education funding remains inadequate despite increases in recent years. The state’s attorneys must report in writing by April 15 on how lawmakers addressed the problem.