Special Session on Education June 23

Gov. Sam Brownback is having the Kansas Legislature’s special session on education funding start June 23.

The Republican governor signed a proclamation Wednesday formally summoning the GOP-dominated Legislature back to the Statehouse.

He wants lawmakers to respond to a state Supreme Court order last month declaring that public schools won’t be able to open after June 30 if legislators don’t rewrite school finance laws.

The court rejected some changes made earlier this year in how Kansas distributes more than $4 billion a year in aid to its 286 local school districts.

The justices said education funding remains unfair to poor districts. Many Republicans have strongly criticized the ruling, and some have wanted to defy the court.

Lawmakers adjourned their annual session June 1.