KNEA testifies in opposition to ‘voucher’ bill

Sen. Renee Erickson calls on Timothy R. Graham, KNEA’s Director of Government Relations, during a hearing on the “voucher” bill Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, at the Kansas Statehouse.

Senate Committee on Ed receives 47 pieces of written testimony opposing HB 2468

By Ann Marie Bush

Director of Communications

The Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) presented in-person testimony opposing the use of public funds to support private education on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Timothy R. Graham, KNEA Director of Government Relations, was one of seven people who spoke in opposition to the voucher bill – House Bill 2468 - during a Senate Committee on Education hearing. The committee also received 47 pieces of written testimony in opposition to the bill.

“KNEA’s opposition to voucher and voucher-adjacent programs is long-standing and rooted in fundamental public policy concerns,” Graham said. “Programs that use public tax policy to subsidize private education - whether through direct appropriations, state tax credits or federal tax credits - divert public resources away from the public education system that is required to serve all students. Public schools must educate every child, including students with disabilities, English language learners, and economically disadvantaged students, and must do so under clear accountability, transparency and nondiscrimination standards. Private schools participating in these programs are not held to the same obligations yet still benefit from public financial support.”

The bill would allow Kansas to participate in a federal tax credit program for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations (SGOs) and increase the tax credit limit under the Low-Income Student Scholarship Program.

While described as a tax credit, the program functions similarly to a voucher by using public tax policy to subsidize private school tuition.

Graham also noted that opting Kansas into the federal program would require the state to administer a framework largely defined at the federal level. Once opted in, Kansas would have limited ability to adjust the program or respond if federal rules or program impacts conflict with state education priorities.

Oversight is another concern. This structure relies heavily on private SGOs, with accountability split between state agencies and yet-to-be-released federal guidance. Graham said this raises questions about transparency, enforcement, and whether meaningful oversight would exist for programs supported through public tax policy.

There were seven proponents who testified orally in support of HB 2468, while 11 others offered written testimony in support.

The House in final action on Thursday, Feb. 12, passed HB 2468 as amended, 70-49. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Education on Feb. 13.

Other Under the Dome News

The Kansas House is scheduled to debate the budget on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Currently, the budget includes $10 million in enhanced special education funding, which is millions of dollars short of what Kansas law requires to cover the excess costs of special education services.

Members are encouraged to take action now by contacting their House Representatives and telling them to fund special education. For help finding your representative, visit https://pluralpolicy.com/open/.

KNEA will continue to follow HB 2468, the budget and related legislation as the 2026 session continues. For updates, visit http://www.ksutd.org/.

Ann Marie Bush can be reached by email at ann.bush@knea.org.