Controversial School Funding Bill Passes

The Kansas House has narrowly passed a school funding overhaul.

The chamber voted 64-57 Friday to pass the bill that now goes to the Senate.

The bill is a key part of Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s policy agenda as education spending is the biggest item on the state budget. The plan would give school districts “block grants” based on their current aid for the next two school years. Lawmakers are then expected to establish a new funding formula.

The House gave first-round approval to the bill in a tight vote Thursday. Republican lawmakers were expecting a comfortable margin for the measure but got just 64 votes to advance it.

Opponents to the bill have said abandoning the current formula opens up schools to cuts and uncertainty.