THE KANSAS EDUCATION DEBATE

Kansas Legislative News and Analysis for March 8, 2026

 by Chuck Weber, Kansas Catholic Conference

"Education is the great equalizer."  Horace Mann

Education is far and away the single-largest expenditure of our Kansas state tax dollars. About half of all your state tax dollars go to support K-12 educational efforts in some way. This turns out to be an average of $18,324 spent each year on every public school student in Kansas! (Kansas State Department of Education data, 2024). 

Common sense and fiscal responsibility compel us to achieve the biggest possible bang for this major investment of public dollars. We owe our children and taxpayers no less. 

The Kansas Catholic Bishops have a particular interest in education. A world-class education and the formation of the total person is a centuries-old bedrock Catholic value.  The Catholic Church carries on that noble tradition by making a Catholic education available, to the extent possible, for every parent—Catholic or otherwise—who seeks the best possible learning option for their child.  

The faithful sacrifice to provide the Catholic education option to those who need it through parish schools and Catholic high schools to lower-income parents and families whose options are limited or whose unique student needs may not be met in a public school.

About 80% of Kansas Catholic children attend a public school. As a matter of public policy, the Kansas Catholic Conference supports fully-funded public schools, including special education!

Kansas Catholics care so much about education that we support TWO school systems—our local Catholic school AND our local public school! 

With this as a brief background and context, let's explore some of the legislative developments unfolding at the Kansas Statehouse regarding the education of Kansas children.   

STOP CELL PHONES IN SCHOOL

What some refer to as the "bell-to-bell cell phone ban" in Kansas schools is drawing closer to reality. Late last week, the Kansas Senate passed SCHOOL CELL PHONE BAN LEGISLATION that will ban cellphone use in schools during the school day, or "bell-to-bell." If the Kansas House agrees with and votes to "concur," with the latest Senate version of this legislation (something that could happen this coming week) the measure goes to the governor's desk, where it is expected to be signed into law. 

Many (nearly all) Catholic schools in Kansas already implement some sort of cell phone restriction. Even so, this state-mandated cell phone restriction will also apply to Catholic schools in Kansas, a policy supported by the Catholic Bishops of Kansas.   

Banning cell phone use in schools is not a magic bullet solution to the static and declining achievement scores in Kansas.  However, we believe a strong cellphone ban will help, by addressing the mental health crisis many students face each day. A cell phone ban will help give Kansas teachers in Catholic and public schools a better chance at a distraction-free environment where students can focus on learning. It can also help protect students, at least during the school day, from the anxiety-inducing effects of social media and other online annoyances accessed through cell phones. It will be a positive step forward. 

GAME-CHANGING EDUCATION LEGISLATION

It is difficult to contain our enthusiasm and excitement for the possibilities contained in education legislation known as the Kansas Low Income Family Scholarship Act, or HB 2468. This is education legislation that truly offers something for virtually everyone in Kansas. 

There are two main elements to the proposal.  If passed, this measure will allow the establishment of Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) for BOTH public school and private school organizations. 

Funded by dollar-for-dollar federal tax credits at no extra cost to nearly all taxpayers, these SGO's can then distribute scholarships for a wide range of educational opportunities like music lessons, special education, and much more. The possibilities are incredible.  

The other element of this legislation will strengthen the current decade-old low-income tax credit scholarship program in Kansas. This program provides 75% tax credits for private donations to SGOs. These organizations then distribute scholarships to students from low-income households in Kansas, primarily students from minority families. Catholic schools are the single-largest user of this program, helping secure an education for hundreds of Catholic and non-Catholic students from low-income households. 

Here are the details: Low Income Kansas Family Scholarship Program       

We expect a vote on HB 2468 this coming week in the Kansas Senate. You can help make a difference by contacting your State Senator using this link:

 https://www.kansascatholic.org/issues/take-action

The Senate version of this legislation is slightly different from the House version, so differences will need to be worked out. For the sake of ALL Kansas kids, please help!      

PREVENT KANSAS HIGH SCHOOL RECRUITING

College sports fans are well aware of the recent trend where athletes are becoming quasi-professional sports competitors, essentially selling their services to the highest bidder. Many athletes compete for multiple colleges or universities during their career. 

There is now a proposal before the Kansas Legislature that, if passed, appears to be a first step in opening the door to unfettered transferring of students from one school to another. 

SB 514 would allow students to participate in school activities (like sports) immediately upon transfer to another school unless such students were recruited, induced or unduly influenced to transfer for athletic activity participation. We are dubious about how this can be enforced and the Kansas Catholic Conference opposes this legislation. A hearing will be held on SB 514 tomorrow, Monday, March 9.  You can watch the hearing here: Senate Committee on Education 03/09/2026

APP STORE ACCOUNTABILITY UPDATE

Legislation known as SB 372- App Store Accountability Act, got a close review last week by members of the House Federal and State Affairs Committee.  This legislation would require parental permission from smartphone APP providers BEFORE a child can download an APP.  The Kansas Catholic Conference supports this legislation and testified in favor. You can watch the hearing here: App Store Accountability Hearing House Fed & State Committee, and our own Lucrecia Nold testifies at about the 49-minute mark.  We expect this measure to pass out of committee and onto the House floor, where there will be a vigorous debate and vote. 

PROTECTING PRC'S 

What we cannot do legally to protect women and their preborn babies from the abortion industry, we try to do with love.  Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRC's) represent one of our finest resources for women facing a difficult pregnancy who wish to choose life for their child. Amazingly, there are those who actually oppose PRC's, and in some states, the government has launched attacks on PRC's. 

This is why the Kansas Catholic Conference supports legislation known as HB 2635- CARE Act. If passed into law, this legislation would help prevent such harassment against PRC’s. You can view all the testimony here: All testimony for HB 2635

Opponents included Planned Parenthood and a Rabbi from the Reform Jewish Community. We'll keep you updated on this encouraging legislation. 

MORE PROLIFE LEGISLATION UPDATES

HB 2727 is legislation that will make it easier for a woman to acquire statutory damages (financial award) she may be owed due to a lack of information provided to her leading up to or at the time of her abortion.  

HB 2729 amends and strengthens the Woman's Right to Know Act by allowing electronic copies of the consent form, and the form being standardized and coming from the Kansas Department of Health & Environment. This consent form has been an issue brought forward by the abortion industry, and this bill is a way to clear up something that has emerged as a legal issue preventing enforcement of the Kansas Woman's Right to Know Act, which is currently not being enforced.

BOTH of these measures have passed the House and there will be a hearing on each in the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee this coming Wednesday. 

PROTECTING RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Some weeks ago, protesters entered a church in Minneapolis and disrupted a religious service that was in progress.  The action had connections to the immigration crackdown that was taking place at the time.  Leaders of the Catholic Church in the United States have expressed great concern over the way immigration enforcement has been carried out in certain parts of the country. But even when, or if we agree with these sentiments, it is not an excuse to forcibly disrupt a church service. This includes the Catholic Mass. 

This coming Tuesday, there will be a hearing in the Senate Federal and State Affairs Committee on legislation known as SB 520. If passed into law, this measure creates the crime of "interference with the conduct of a religious assembly," including criminal penalties and a pathway to civil damages.  The Kansas Catholic Conference sees this as a Religious Liberty issue, and we support this legislation.

Regarding unwanted and unwelcome entry into Catholic Churches, we must also say that we adamantly oppose law enforcement entering places of worship—including Catholic Churches—as well as Catholic schools, social service agencies and the like for purposes of making arrests or detentions. We are not aware that this has happened, but we know there are concerns. This is also an issue of Religious Liberty we will defend.  

QUICK HITS

DRIVER'S LICENSE UPDATES AND PRIVACY

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach is asking state government officials to allow people until March 26 to comply with a new state law, SB 244, requiring a driver’s license that reflects someone’s biological sex. The same "grace period" (our term) is being suggested regarding the use of private spaces (bathrooms, locker rooms, etc.) in a government building that doesn’t correspond with their biological sex. The Kansas Catholic Conference welcomes this development. Separate from the Attorney General's action, a district court is reviewing this law and is expected to make a decision this coming week that may further impact enforcement. 

IN-STATE TUITION FOR "DREAMERS"

Legislative leaders from the House and Senate Federal and State Affairs Committees are expected to take another run at resolving differences in SB 254, legislation that, among other things, would end in-state tuition rates for Kansas high school students who do not have legal status. This provision of in-state tuition has been in place for 20+ years and almost exclusively focuses on "DREAMERS," undocumented migrants who came to this country through no fault or effort of their own. The Kansas Catholic Conference hopes this provision for in-state tuition will remain in place. 

"SNAP" GUIDELINES APPROVED

A request by the State of Kansas to the federal government approved the state’s request to exclude candy and soda from purchases covered by federal food assistance benefits, also known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program). Legislators had asked for this change, called a "waiver," in last year's budget.  Kansas joins 22 states that restrict the purchase of items like soda and candy with federal food assistance, including Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa and Oklahoma.

REMEMBERING REPRESENTATIVE JOHN RESMAN

We truly do not know the day or the hour.  This past Monday came the shocking news that State Representative John Resman had died suddenly at his Olathe home.  He was 70 years old.

I had a special relationship with John and found him to be a quiet and unassuming man who was a thoughtful legislator.  You can read his obituary here: John Resman OBIT   John's sudden death reminded all of us who work at the Capitol that our time on this earth is limited and not in our control. 

Please pray for the repose of John's soul and the comfort of his family.

His passing certainly put into perspective all the legislative activity we are engaged in each week.  Yes, it is important work, but this too, shall pass.

Until next week, we persevere.

Chuck Weber

Kansas Catholic Conference