Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has written a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, urging the reinstatement of $22.6 million in federal pandemic relief funds that were pulled by the Trump Administration. The Department of Education had announced that nearly $3 billion in these funds would be recouped. Source: KCTV5
The Department of Education’s decision to recoup the funds has left many states, including Kansas, at a disadvantage. As Kelly pointed out, many states have already obligated these funds for specific programs and services to benefit students and educators. The Governor has highlighted the critical role that these funds play in supporting student learning recovery and a secure education workforce.
Impact on Kansas Students and Teachers
• Student Learning Recovery: The funds have been used to retrain teachers in the science of reading and other evidence-based interventions to support learning. • Secure Education Workforce: The funds have been used to support the licensure, fingerprinting, and background check fees for early childhood educators. • Cost Savings: The state has saved childcare providers around $3.34 million in fees and covered application costs for more than 15,500 providers. • Background Checks: The state has provided background checks for more than 39,400 childcare providers. The Governor’s administration had been using federal funds to waive these fees since 2021. However, with the Trump Administration’s decision to recoup the funds, the state will have to reinstate the fees.
The Governor’s Request
Source: KCTV5
On April 3, Governor Kelly said that the Kansas State Department of Education had requested that the Trump Administration restore the funds to the state. This request remains under consideration by Secretary McMahon.
Why the Funds are Critical
• Funding is Critical for Learning Recovery: The funds are necessary to support the retraining of teachers in the science of reading and other evidence-based interventions. • Funding is Necessary for a Secure Education Workforce: The funds are necessary to support the licensure, fingerprinting, and background check fees for early childhood educators. • Funding is Necessary for Education Program Sustainability: The funds are necessary to support the state’s education programs and services. The Governor has emphasized the importance of restoring these funds to ensure that Kansas students can continue to access the resources they need to succeed.
Example of Cost Savings
The state’s efforts to waive fees using federal funds since 2021 have resulted in significant cost savings for childcare providers. For example, the state has saved childcare providers around $3.34 million in fees and covered application costs for more than 15,500 providers.
| Beneficiary | Savings |
|---|---|
| Childcare Providers | $3.34 million |
| Number of Providers Served | 15,500 |
| Number of Background Checks Provided | 39,400 |
The Governor has concluded that the fees will now be reinstated until the Trump Administration restores the state’s funding allocation.
“We urge the Trump administration to reinstate this funding to ensure our students can continue to access these key resources they need to succeed. Abruptly stripping this funding is a disservice to the Kansas students and teachers who rely on it to excel in the classroom,”
— Governor Laura Kelly
The Fate of Kansas’ Education Funding
Remains Uncertain As the Trump Administration Weighs the Governor’s Request
The decision of the Trump Administration to recoup the funds has left many states, including Kansas, at a disadvantage. The fate of Kansas’ education funding remains uncertain as the Trump Administration considers the Governor’s request to restore the funds. The Governor has urged the Trump Administration to reinstate the funds, highlighting the critical role that these funds play in supporting student learning recovery and a secure education workforce. What Does this Mean for Kansas Students?
• Impact on Learning Recovery: The loss of federal funding will impact the state’s ability to support the retraining of teachers in the science of reading and other evidence-based interventions. • Impact on Education Workforce: The loss of federal funding will impact the state’s ability to support the licensure, fingerprinting, and background check fees for early childhood educators. • Impact on Education Program Sustainability: The loss of federal funding will impact the state’s ability to support the education programs and services. The Governor has concluded that the fees will now be reinstated until the Trump Administration restores the state’s funding allocation. What Can Be Done?
• Restore Funding: The Trump Administration should restore the funds to the state to ensure that Kansas students can continue to access the resources they need to succeed. • Support Education Funding: The state and local governments should support education funding to ensure that Kansas students have access to the resources they need to succeed. Conclusion
The fate of Kansas’ education funding remains uncertain as the Trump Administration considers the Governor’s request to restore the funds. The decision of the Trump Administration will have a significant impact on Kansas students, teachers, and the state’s education system as a whole. The Governor’s efforts to save cost and support education funding have already resulted in significant cost savings and support for early childhood educators. The fate of Kansas’ education funding remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the Trump Administration’s decision will have a lasting impact on the state’s education system.
