The Kansas Public School Funding Coalition, comprising Blue Valley Schools, De Soto School District, Olathe Public Schools, and the Shawnee Mission School District, has hired law firm Lathrop GPM to advise on Kansas school finance issues and potential legal action regarding special education funding.

Background

The coalition was formed earlier this year to address the issue of underfunding special education in Kansas. The state is supposed to reimburse districts for 92% of the excess costs associated with special education, but has failed to meet this threshold since 2011. As a result, the districts have had to cover the shortfall from their general education budgets, totaling over $119 million for the 2024-25 school year.

The coalition selected Lathrop GPM due to its experience with special education funding, knowledge of Kansas school finance, and experience with constitutional and education finance litigation. Senior counsel Curtis L. Tideman will work specifically with the districts.

Next Steps

The coalition is still committed to working with the state of Kansas to ensure special education is fully funded. However, with the hiring of Lathrop GPM, they are preparing for possible legal action. The law firm will advise the districts on the legal and strategic timing for a potential suit and develop a legal strategy aimed at securing additional funding for both special and general education.

Original reporting: Johnson County Post (Overland Park) — read the source article.