Bill
HB 2033
Kansas HB 2033 lets districts use at-risk funds to pay IMSLEC-accredited nonprofit providers for multisensory structured literacy programs and training.
Status
- Enacted after the Legislature overrode the Governor’s veto (motion to override prevailed).
- Bill amends K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 72-5153 (at‑risk education fund statute).
- Effective date: became law with the enrolled act (law effective July 1, 2025).
Purpose
- To allow school districts to use their at-risk education funds to pay for programs and services provided by nonprofit organizations accredited by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC).
- Intended to recognize IMSLEC‑accredited organizations (and their educator training/services) as approved at‑risk educational programs under Kansas law.
Key provisions
- Amends K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 72-5153 to add the following to the State Board’s required “approved at‑risk educational programs” list:
- “Any other nonprofit organization that is accredited by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council.”
- Leaves in place the statutory framework that:
- Establishes an at‑risk education fund in every school district and limits allowable expenditures to approved at‑risk and provisional at‑risk programs, personnel, training support, and contracted services.
- Requires the State Board of Education to identify, approve and publish online a list of approved at‑risk educational programs (and to review/update it as needed).
- Allows provisional at‑risk programs (with State Board approval) and provides a path for programs to be added to the approved list if shown to deliver evidence‑based outcomes.
- Does not change other definitions or expenditure controls in the statute.
Who is affected
- School districts: may now contract with IMSLEC‑accredited nonprofit providers and use at‑risk fund dollars for those services and training.
- IMSLEC‑accredited nonprofit organizations (example sponsor: Phillips Fundamental Learning Center): eligible to be listed as approved providers for at‑risk services.
- Students identified as eligible for at‑risk services—particularly those receiving multisensory structured literacy interventions.
- State Board of Education / Department of Education: retains responsibility to approve and publish the list of approved programs; some stakeholders expressed concern about the bill’s impact on the Board’s authority to vet programs.
Legislative history & fiscal note
- Introduced Jan. 23, 2025 (requested by Rep. Estes on behalf of Phillips Fundamental Learning Center).
- Heard by House Committee on Education; proponents (IMSLEC, PFLC, Kansas Chamber) highlighted the rigor of IMSLEC accreditation and program effectiveness; Kansas Association of School Boards opposed, citing State Board/SEA authority concerns.
- Fiscal note (Division of the Budget, Jan. 22, 2025): Department of Education indicated enactment would have no fiscal effect.
- Passed both chambers, presented to the Governor, vetoed, and subsequently enacted after the Legislature overrode the veto.
Potential impact
- Short term: enables districts to allocate existing at‑risk funds to IMSLEC‑accredited providers without needing additional appropriations.
- Medium/long term: could increase the use of multisensory structured literacy programs and related teacher training in districts that choose to contract with IMSLEC‑accredited nonprofits; also may prompt the State Board to add specific IMSLEC‑accredited programs to its online approved list.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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