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*For Immediate Release:    *     
January 19, 2023
          
*Contact:    *     
Cassie Nichols
[email protected]

Governor Laura Kelly's Budget Puts Kansas on a Path to Fully Fund Special Education:
Here's What They're Saying

*KEY QUOTE: """*"The special education funding gap impacts every student because schools end up diverting funds away from other areas to provide these services. I fully recognize that Congress hasn’t done its part to deliver the federal funding it promised for special education services, and I’ll continue to work with our congressional delegation to push the federal government to hold up it is end of the bargain. But in the meantime, Kansas families need solutions."
*-Governor Laura Kelly*"

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"*Here's What They're Saying:*"

"With nearly one in six Kansas students receiving special education services, every classroom in the state will benefit from increased special ed funding. Full funding for these services increases opportunities for all Kansas students to experience the best learning environment possible and achieve their fullest potential."
*-Daniel Klaassen, Education Policy Advisor, Kansas Action for Children

*"The state of Kansas has not met the 92% statutory requirement for special education funding since my son Tyler – who is now a senior in high school – was in kindergarten. That’s a whole generation of kids who’ve been underserved by our state, and whose districts have had to pull from other budget areas to bridge that gap. It’s time for the Legislature to take this obligation seriously, and we can start by passing Governor Kelly’s budget recommendation that will get us on track to better serve the next generation of Kansas students."
*-Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes

*"USA-Kansas firmly comprehends the importance of the growth and change occurring in public education and appreciates Governor Kelly recognizing the challenge reduced Special Education funding has caused for these efforts. Our schools' leaders have the highest expectations for all students, but when schools cannot rely on continuous appropriate funding, it is difficult to make the long-term commitments to the substantive changes required to support all students and staff. USA-Kansas fully supports the governor's budget request, including the five-year ramp-up to fully funding special education."
*–G.A. Buie, Executive Director, USA-Kansas * 

"School districts across the state have struggled to address Kansas’ more than decade-long shortfall in special education funding. We view SPED funding as an issue for all students of Kansas, as districts are having to stretch their general fund dollars, to close the gap due to the underfunding of Special Education."
*-Dr. Brain Jordan, Executive Director, Kansas Association of School Boards

*"Kansas parents are grateful that Governor Kelly is recognizing the importance of special education funding and taking action to achieve it. We hope that the legislature will recognize that failing to provide this funding hurts all students and acknowledge that since providing special education services is not optional, funding it shouldn’t be optional either. If they choose not to honor their statutory obligation to fund special education, they should tell Kansas districts which children they should stop serving."
*-Judith Deedy, Game On for Kansas Schools  

*"Kansas PTA is grateful for the Governor's commitment to fully fund special education. The Governor's budget upholds current school finance law, and all within a balanced budget that includes both debt reduction and increasing the rainy day fund. Kansas is uniquely positioned to ensure adequate and equitable resources for every Kansas student." 
*-Patty Jurich, Kansas PTA President
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"The Kansas Legislature is legally obligated to constitutionally fund our schools. When our special education programs aren’t adequately funded, there are serious, negative consequences across the board, including in gifted classrooms and more. Governor Kelly’s commitment to fund special education is not only a critical investment in our state’s future, but the health and welfare of Kansas kids, too. I’ll do everything in my power to ensure our schools and teachers receive the tools they need to best support Kansas kids and provide a quality, equitable education."
*-Assistant House Minority Leader Valdenia Winn

*"When I started in education, my school had dedicated Math resource, dedicated ELA resource, dedicated reading interventionists, and we had certified SPED staff co-teaching core content classes. We have half that now, 10 years later. The positions went away but the need didn’t."
*-Brenda Blackman, Local Educator, Member of the Kansas National Education Association: *"view Tweet [ [link removed] ]"*

*"This plan is both fiscally prudent and sound as an investment in the future of Kansas...We are proud of the high-quality services and the well- trained caring providers available to all special education students which in Kansas includes children who are gifted. The Governor’s commitment to fully fund special education in Kansas will continue this legacy."
*-Kansas Association of Special Education Administrators (KASEA)

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