Fully Fund Public Education in Kansas

I am writing to you as a constituent from Southeast Kansas, and specifically in response to recent decisions made by the Neodesha school district. Due to budget constraints, the district has eliminated free school lunch for all students, Pre-K bus transportation, and the after-school program. These are not luxuries—they are essential services that families in our community depend on every day. These cuts are deeply concerning and, frankly, unacceptable. They reflect a broader failure at the state level to adequately and consistently fund public education. Kansas has the resources to do better. The state budget for FY 2026 includes approximately $11.7 billion in total spending, yet increases to education funding have remained minimal—only about a 0.3% overall increase. At the same time, state leaders have acknowledged ongoing concerns about whether education—especially special education—is being fully funded and prioritized. When the state fails to meet its funding obligations, local districts are forced to make impossible decisions. In rural communities like ours, those decisions disproportionately impact working families, low-income students, and young children. Losing access to meals, transportation, and after-school care creates real barriers to education and stability. Public education is a constitutional responsibility in Kansas. It is also a moral one. Our children should not lose basic support systems because the Legislature chooses not to fully invest in them. I urge you to: Fully fund public education, including special education obligations Protect and expand access to school meal programs Ensure rural districts have the resources they need to maintain essential services Prioritize long-term, stable education funding over short-term budget balancing I am deeply disappointed that it has come to this point. Our community deserves better, and our children deserve better. I ask that you take immediate action to address these gaps and ensure that no more districts are forced to make cuts like those in Neodesha.