The bill amends Kansas education laws to broaden the definition of "special teacher" to include third-party contractors working with school districts, making them eligible for special education state aid reimbursement. It also allows virtual schools to administer and proctor statewide assessments for their students, ensuring that these assessments are conducted under specific conditions to maintain integrity. The bill includes amendments to the Kansas Statutes Annotated related to special education and repeals outdated sections to streamline the legal framework.

Additionally, the bill establishes a special education fund for each school district, detailing how funds should be credited and utilized. It outlines a new distribution schedule for special education state aid, aimed at equalizing funding based on each district's excess costs for providing special education services. The state legislature is mandated to appropriate a minimum amount for special education in future fiscal years, and the state department of education will determine the total appropriated amount and distribute it according to the new schedule starting in fiscal year 2025.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 72-3717
As Amended by Senate Committee: 72-3404, 72-3422, 72-3717
{As Amended by Senate Committee of the Whole}: 72-3404, 72-3422, 72-3717
As Amended by House Committee: 72-3404, 72-3422, 72-3717