Kansas Teachers’ Union Promising Lawsuit Over Law

The largest teachers’ union in Kansas is promising to file a state court lawsuit challenging the Legislature’s decision to add policies backed by conservative Republicans to an education funding bill this year.

The Kansas National Education Association announced its plans Monday. General Legal Counsel David Schauner said the lawsuit will be filed by the end of the month in Shawnee County District Court.

The new law boosts aid to poor school districts by $129 million during the next school year to comply with a Kansas Supreme Court decision in March.

The GOP-dominated Legislature tied the funding to multiple policy provisions, including one that ends guaranteed teacher tenure in public schools.

Schauner said the union hasn’t yet decided how much of the policy in the law will be challenged.