Johnson Co, KS: District faces $19M SPED deficit due to state underfunding

Oct 20, 2026, KSHB: Johnson County families prepare for program cuts next year with budget gaps

The Blue Valley School District is facing a budget shortfall of $18.9 million next year due to the state's underfunding of special education

Almost every school district in Johnson County, Kansas, faces significant budget shortfalls, and for the Blue Valley School District, that means program cuts.

The school district announced last week that it's suspending the Chinese language

immersion program, extracurriculars and some admin positions. Blue Valley Schools is $18.9 million short for the upcoming school year and must divert general program funds to help cover special education programs.

This comes as the state of Kansas continues to underfund special education needs for every school in the state. . . .

"We will continue advocating for adequate school funding, including our work alongside other Johnson County school districts to address the state's ongoing underfunding of special education," superintendent Dr. Gillian Chapman stated on the district's website. "With the general election approaching, we also encourage our community to learn about candidates' positions on public education, review the voting records of current elected officials and make informed decisions when voting." . . .