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TOPEKA 鈥� Kansas teachers of the year rallied at the Statehouse to push for a clean K-12 education funding bill, joined by Gov. Laura Kelly in an attempt to sway lawmakers before the veto override session begins.

Kelly, who showed up to support the teachers during their Tuesday gathering, said the school funding debate had been longstanding, but she was confident a fully funded school bill would arrive at her desk by session鈥檚 end.

鈥淩ight now, the issue is fully funding our schools and not diverting public funds to private schools,鈥� Kelly said.

The 13 teachers present for the gathering asked for a school funding bill that fully funds Kansas public schools and special education, as well as one that doesn鈥檛 send tax dollars to private schools not held to the same standards as public schools.

During the regular legislative session, neither chamber attempted to take up the proposed K-12 education funding bill.

was criticized because it was a massive piece of legislation that blended state funding for K-12 education with provisions from about nine other bills, including funding for mental health needs in schools, a form of parental rights legislation, and an extension of the statewide mill school finance levy.

Some form of a K-12 education funding bill is expected to be discussed and voted upon in the next few days.

Throughout the legislative session, public education has been criticized by some lawmakers, who say Kansas students are graduating without the ability to read or write.

Some legislators have also supported 鈥減arental rights,鈥� the idea that parents need to be granted additional oversight of classrooms to prevent their children from being taught radical ideas.

Shannon Ralph, 2015 teacher of the year, said teachers were being treated unfairly by those holding such assumptions.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 fair to say that teachers are generally feeling attacked, and it鈥檚 confusing to me because you will not find more genuine, giving, loving people. Teachers are there for kids. It鈥檚 just very confusing to me,鈥� Ralph said.

Tracy Taylor Callard, 2002 teacher of the year, echoed Ralph鈥檚 sentiment.

鈥淚 think we all know public schools are under attack,鈥� Callard said. 鈥淚f you watch television, if you are on social media, you see that we鈥檝e been demonized.鈥�

Another piece of legislation, a much-debated voucher program that would allow unregulated private schools to receive state dollars and put federal COVID-19 relief funds toward special education, was canned by the Legislature. It might return in the coming days.

On Monday, Kelly vetoed a form of 聽that聽would allow parents to withdraw their children from courses or lessons they find objectionable.

Kelly said all of her vetoes, which include more than 20 bills and budget line items, were made after careful consideration.

鈥淚t鈥檚聽 a record I鈥檓 proud to hold,鈥� Kelly said. 鈥淚 have looked very carefully at the legislation, I鈥檝e signed those that I thought were in the best interest of the state, and I vetoed those that I didn鈥檛 think were in the best interest of the state.鈥�

is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kansas Reflector maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Sherman Smith for questions: [email protected]. Follow Kansas Reflector on and .

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