Excluding state funding for KPERS, special education, bond & interest and a few small aid programs (as described by Deputy Commissioner Dale Dennis), state aid to schools totaled $2.951 billion last year and will increase to $3.093 billion this year. The total hits $3.114 billion in the 2017 school year, or 5.6% more than this year. KPERS spending is expected to increase by $124.4 million over the period, so state aid including KPERS (but not the other exclusions noted herein) would increase by 8.8% over three years.
Johnson County schools will collectively receive 5.4% more over three years – and most districts will see an increase each year. State funding to USD 229 Blue Valley will dip by 0.5% this year but then increase the following two years and finish slightly higher than this year. Total funding this year for Blue Valley will likely increase, however, as the district raised its local property tax collections. Gardner Edgerton will see small declines in 2016 and 2017 after a large increase this year but still finishes ahead by 10.3%.
Every district in Wyandotte County will receive an increase each year and state funding under the block grants will result in a collective increase of 9.5% over three years.
A list of all Kansas school districts can be downloaded here.
Total aid to schools will also increase this year to $6.145 billion and set a record for the fourth consecutive year. The per-pupil amount of $13,343 will set a record for the third consecutive year. KDSE says the proposed block grants for the current school year total $3.408 billion (updated as of March 25 and including KPERS), but the block grants do not include state funding for Special Education or Bond &
Interest aid. Including those amounts as listed in the Governor’s Budget Report puts total state aid at $3.982 billion. A few months ago, KSDE Deputy Superintendent of Finance Dale Dennis estimated Local aid at $1.652 billion and Federal aid at $510 million.
Here is a historical perspective on per-pupil school funding, adjusted upward for KPERS in the years prior to 2005 when it wasn’t included in KSDE funding reports. The solid blue line shows actual funding and the dashed red line show what funding would have if adjusted for inflation each year. FYI, funding this year would be $1.541 billion less if it had just been increased for inflation and enrollment.
