The bill introduces new requirements for agreements between postsecondary educational institutions and school districts regarding the provision of postsecondary courses in secondary schools, effective July 1, 2026. It mandates that postsecondary institutions directly purchase instructional materials and pay a standard amount for teaching services, which must be passed on to teachers as a supplement to their regular salary. Additionally, the bill outlines the responsibilities of the state workforce development board in approving short-term workforce training programs for Pell grant eligibility and ensures the transferability of credentials earned through career readiness assessments toward postsecondary degrees. It also emphasizes the importance of literacy education, requiring school districts to employ reading specialists, develop individual literacy plans for high-risk students, and report on literacy interventions and outcomes.

Moreover, the bill establishes a literacy advisory committee composed of 15 voting members and nonvoting members, with the director of literacy education serving as chairperson. It amends existing laws to require the appointment of a director of literacy education, who will oversee the implementation of the Kansas blueprint for literacy and ensure the use of evidence-based practices. The bill sets a goal for 100% of the special education, English for speakers of other languages, and elementary teacher workforce to achieve credentials in the science of reading and structured literacy by 2030. It also introduces a Kansas promise scholarship program to provide financial assistance to eligible students based on household income, while repealing several existing statutes related to literacy and scholarship programs to streamline the legislative framework for education and financial assistance in Kansas.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 74-32
As Amended by Senate Committee: 72-3222, 74-32
Conference Committee Report - Fri, Mar 27, 2026: 72-5179, 72-3262, 74-32
Enrolled: 72-5179, 74-3201b, 72-3262, 74-32
As introduced: 74-32