Broad school choice unlikely in Kansas this year, GOP leaders say; other reforms planned

While broad school choice is unlikely to pass this year in Kansas, Republican lawmakers say they will pursue other reforms, such as expanding the state’s tax credit scholarship program, opting into the new federal school choice tax credit and fixing a rule affecting homeschool and private-school athletes.

Speaking Thursday at a forum about the upcoming legislative session, which begins Monday, House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Senate President Ty Masterson said sweeping school choice legislation will likely have to wait until Kansas elects a new governor.

“The truth is, we do not have supermajorities for broad school choice because of resistance in Johnson County and the rural areas,” Masterson said at the event at Maranatha Christian School in Shawnee.

Republicans control both chambers of the Legislature but remain divided on school choice, particularly in the House, leaving them short of the votes needed to override a veto from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.

“The last time we had a school choice vote in Kansas, the House got 65 votes,” Hawkins said. “It takes 84 for us to do a constitutional amendment, and so we came up quite a bit short. 

“That is why the election this year is so important. If we have a Republican governor – if we have Ty Masterson as our governor – we’ll get school choice for 63 votes,” referring to a simple legislative majority. 

Hawkins, who is running for insurance commissioner, stopped short of endorsing Masterson, one of several Republicans seeking the gubernatorial nomination next year, but described him as a close ally. 

“He’s my guy,” Hawkins told The Lion. 

Bills for this session 

This session, which runs until April 10, lawmakers plan to focus on expanding the state’s low-income tax credit scholarship program, which reached its $10 million cap last year. Hawkins said legislators could raise the cap to $15 million or $20 million, enough to serve as many as 6,000 students. 

Lawmakers also said they are confident Kansas can participate in the federal school choice tax credit program set to take effect next January, even if Kelly opposes it. The program was included in President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” 

Rep. Pat Proctor, R-Leavenworth, and one of several other lawmakers to attend the forum, said legislation is planned that would bar the Kansas Association of School Boards from using taxpayer dollars to lobby lawmakers. Proctor said school districts use public funds to pay membership dues to KASB, which then opposes school choice legislation. 

“So your tax dollars are being used to lobby us not to give those kids that you know don’t come from wealthy families, that need that additional help, to get the opportunity to go to a private school,” said Proctor, who is running for secretary of state. “I think that’s unconscionable.” 

Homeschool athletics reform 

Michael Stringer, athletic director at Maranatha, said a law passed to allow homeschool students to participate in public school sports has had unintended consequences for private schools. 

“We’ve already folded middle school football and now we have the potential of folding the baseball program,” Stringer said. “I’m in no way saying that SB 113 is a bad thing – it’s a great thing for what it has done for the state of Kansas – but it has put private schools at a disadvantage.” 

Masterson, who homeschooled his six children with his wife, Marlo, said the issue reflects how laws can be implemented differently than lawmakers intend. 

“We do have a bill coming that will clarify and then fix that when it comes,” he said. 

Hawkins said he has not ruled out a broader school choice push this session. 

“We’ll just have to whip it and see where we’re at,” he told The Lion. “I do think we can get this tax credit increase. That’ll help.” 

Dr. Kimberlee Gill, Maranatha’s superintendent, said the school will again organize a push to bring people to the Capitol for a Jan. 27 rally during National School Choice Week. 

“The truth is, in our government our voice matters,” Gill said. “We just haven’t been loud enough, long enough.”