Johnson Co, KS: 6 district supt.s calling for MORE SPED funds; $150M increase requested
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Feb 11, 2026, Fox4, Kansas City: Johnson County schools push for more special education funding
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Six Johnson County school superintendents have signed a joint letter to Kansas lawmakers requesting an increase in special education funding.
The districts are asking the state to address a long-standing funding gap that they say has persisted for over a decade.
Kansas lawmakers have not fully funded special education since 2011, according to the superintendents.
Local school districts currently receive enough state and federal aid to cover only 51% of special education costs, requiring them to redirect money from their general funds to pay for mandated services.
The letter was signed by the leaders of the Shawnee Mission, Blue Valley, Olathe, Spring Hill, DeSoto and Gardner Edgerton school districts. These districts represent approximately 12,000 special education students across Johnson County.
According to the superintendents, these students require specialized learning plans and specialized teachers, which significantly increases the cost of instruction.
The total cost to fund special education in Johnson County is $272 million. While the state is legally required to reimburse districts for 92% of these costs, current state and federal funding only covers 51%.
This past year, the districts received $139 million in aid, leaving a $133 million gap. The six districts used a combined $132 million from their general funds to cover the difference.
Financial pressure on the districts has increased as special education costs rose 11% last year. The superintendents noted that for the past 15 years, they have had to dip into local budgets to cover costs not met by the state.
They argue the state has sufficient resources to meet the 92% reimbursement mandate.
The superintendents stated that the state ended up with an extra $269 million in education funding last year due to declining enrollment.
They argued this money could have been used to reimburse local districts for special education expenses but was not allocated for that purpose.
The Kansas Department of Education is currently recommending that the state increase special education spending by $150 million this year.
A House committee has suggested a smaller increase of $10 million. Lawmakers will determine the final funding levels during the current legislative session.
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