Update: this bill was pulled after public outcry.

“A bill that would transfer control of school finance from the Kansas Department of Education to the administration has sparked strong opposition from educators, who say it is an attack on public schools.

“SB 311, set for a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Thursday, would give the governor more direct control over school finance, which is now overseen by the state Board of Education and the state’s commissioner of education…

“Under current law, the Legislature and governor approve the K-12 budget and the Department of Education distributes the money to the state’s school districts. The bill would move those financial duties to the Department of Administration, which is overseen by the governor.

“Masterson said that would allow the Department of Administration to handle the distribution of state checks to school districts. ‘They’re (administration) the entity that does it for the state in general,’ he said.

“He said he thought this change ‘simplifies and streamlines the process’ and contended that would make it more accountable.

“’You wouldn’t be able to play games then,’ Masterson said. He didn’t go into detail about the type of games he wants to avoid.”

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article64984337.html#storylink=cpy