Senate Aporoves School Funding Overhaul

Republican Gov. Sam Brownback’s $4.1 billion plan to overhaul public school funding has passed through the Senate.

The Senate voted 25-14 to approve the measure Monday, but a district court order issued on Friday signaled that the plan may be blocked before it gets off the ground.

The three-judge panel issued the order shortly after the school funding plan was passed by the Kansas House. It said the court may block changes to the current school funding formula due to a pending case on whether the state is funding schools at constitutionally adequate levels under the formula.

An earlier non-binding ruling by the court said Kansas must spend at least $548 million more on schools.

Brownback is expected to sign the bill later this week.