The Kansas Department of Education announced $50 million of program funding would be delayed indefinitely. The cuts affect programs for students relocated due to their parents’ seasonal jobs, english learners, teacher development and after school programs. Education Commissioner, Randy Watson, says he received a letter indicating several title programs were under review, a day before he would typically be notified of what would be awarded. Watson specifically expressed concern about lost funding for rural schools and said he was informed basic programs for adult education and GED completion were discontinued as well. He says cuts to title II-A and title IV-A specifically may cause acute challenges for rural school districts in Kansas,” title II-A pays for districts to offer professional development that helps educators and administrators learn new curriculum approaches, instructional practices, and technology tools.
Watson says he doesn’t know when the review of these and other programs will be completed or if the state will receive the already approved funding.
