Chairman Erickson opened the hearing on SB383.

Tamera Lawrence, Assistant Revisor, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, gave a brief overview of the bill. (Attachment 4)

Proponent:

Laura Hochman, School Leader, Kansas Connections Academy (KCA), said this bill permits special education reimbursement to be directed to non-district-employed service providers which is critical and would help alleviate the financial burden on KCA in meeting required services for students. Students with IEPs enrolled in KCA's virtual program are achieving strong outcomes. They are consistently passing their classes, making meaningful progress toward their goals, and graduating on time. Our special education teachers are serving students statewide with a full range of needs, yet they do so without equitable resources. If the expectation is equal service, funding and policy must reflect that expectation. These students deserve nothing less. (Attachment 5)

Proponent Written Only:

Cassandra Barton, Head of School, Insight School of Kansas and Kansas Virtual Academy (Attachment 6)

Neutral:

Frank Harwood, Deputy Commissioner Fiscal and Legislative Services, Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) clarified that under statute, school districts are able to receive special education funding for services provided to virtual school students. KSDE recommends school districts and third party virtual school providers to mend their contracts if their current contract does not allow the district to claim services of a third-party's qualified staff providing necessary services in support to a student's IEP. (Attachment 7)

Shannon Kimball, Government Relations Specialist, Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB), urges the Legislature to ensure that public school funding is based on "the actual costs of educating students." This bill amends the definition of "special teacher" to include persons who provide special education or related services to a student with an IEP who are not employees of the school district. To ensure the bill clearly applies to third parties working under a current contract with a school district, and not just any party that at any point in time in the past has contracted with the district, we suggest an amendment to the definition of "Special Teacher". (Attachment 8)

Neutral Written Only:

Timothy R. Graham, Director of Government Relations and Legislative Affairs, Kansas National Education Association (Attachment 9)

Discussion followed.

Chairman Erickson closed the hearing on SB383.