Advertise on podcast: The Advocate - A KASB Podcast

Kyle Carlin joins Leah Fliter and Shannon Kimball to discuss a recent school funding presentation to the Kansas Education Funding Task Force and why he believes critical context—including student needs, special education funding, and pandemic impacts—is missing from the conversation. Learn how funding data shapes education policy and why the details matter for Kansas students and schools.

As the Kansas Legislature heads into the veto session, Leah Fliter and Shannon Kimball unpack what the final weeks of the 2026 session mean for public schools. From a narrowly passed state budget to last‑minute policy moves, this episode examines a growing pattern at the Statehouse: rising mandates, persistent underfunding, and increasing costs shifted onto local school districts. The hosts break down continued shortfalls in special education funding, cuts to student mental health services, new literacy and staffing mandates, CEP policy changes, voucher expansion, and the proposed tax lid bill—while also noting a small but meaningful budget win for school safety grants. The takeaway is clear: schools are being asked to do more with less, and advocacy for Kansas public education is more important than ever.

As the Kansas legislative session nears First Adjournment, the state’s special education funding crisis remains unresolved—and is growing more urgent. In this solo episode of The Advocate, host Shannon Kimball breaks down where things stand, from an unexpected halt in House activity to the fast-moving shift into conference committee negotiations. This episode covers: Key education bills still in playThe impact of unfunded mandates on districtsVoucher expansion and a new statewide cell phone banAnd the latest budget decisions, including continued underfunding of special educationWith major decisions looming, the stakes for Kansas public schools—and especially students with disabilities—are high. Stay informed and ready to advocate.

This week on The Advocate, Leah Fliter and Shannon Kimball break down a fast-moving week at the Kansas Statehouse. They discuss the Senate’s debate over a statewide bell-to-bell cell phone ban, ongoing budget negotiations around special education funding and a controversial amendment related to student walkouts and truancy. The episode also covers legislation impacting local school governance, school meal programs and at-risk funding, restrictions on classroom technology and the latest developments in voucher proposals. Plus, they highlight inspiring students and educators from across Kansas and share simple ways listeners can engage with lawmakers to support their local public schools.

In this episode of The Advocate, hosts Leah Fliter and Shannon Kimball return after turnaround week to find the pace at the Kansas Legislature picking up. They break down major developments in the state budget, including ongoing debates around special education funding, where both House and Senate proposals fall significantly short of meeting legal obligations—leaving local districts and taxpayers to cover the gap. The episode also explores key policy issues moving through the legislature, including property tax proposals, voucher expansion, classroom device restrictions, and legislation impacting student services, assessments, and school governance. Leah and Shannon unpack what these bills could mean for Kansas public schools, highlighting concerns around local control, funding stability, and student support systems. Finally, the hosts zoom out to national education policy shifts in Washington, D.C., and share how listeners can take action—by engaging with legislators and advocating for fully funded special education. Stay informed on what’s moving, what’s stalled, and how your voice can make a difference for Kansas students.

Turnaround Week has come and gone at the Kansas Legislature, and in this episode of The Advocate, hosts Leah Fliter and Shannon Kimball break down what it all means for Kansas public schools. From the fast-moving action on the House floor to a quieter Senate, this episode unpacks the biggest education bills still in play — including the evolving cell phone ban, major changes to bond election communications, and proposals impacting school operations and local control. You’ll also hear a deeper dive into what didn’t make it past Turnaround (and why that doesn’t mean those ideas are gone), plus a look ahead at key debates returning next week — including vouchers, classroom policies and assessment changes. But above all, this episode centers on the issue shaping everything else this session: the ongoing special education funding crisis. With Kansas still falling short of its legal obligation, Leah and Shannon connect the dots between policy decisions, budget priorities and real impacts on students and schools. If you want to understand what’s happening under the dome — and what it means for your community — this is the episode to hear.

It’s officially crunch time at the Kansas Statehouse — and this week on The Advocate, Shannon and Leah unpack the bills that could reshape public education in Kansas for years to come. We’re talking: A full-blown special education funding crisis, with districts forced to pull nearly half a billion dollars from classroom budgets just to meet legal obligations.The House passage of HB 2468, the federal voucher opt-in bill — and why the 70–49 vote matters more than you might think.Quiet but dangerous proposals that could cut at-risk funding, limit bond election communication and shift power away from locally elected school boards.The real story behind cell phone bans, property tax changes and expanding state mandates on public schools.And a rapid-fire preview of Turnaround Week, when dozens of major education bills hit the floor all at once.This episode is your roadmap to what’s moving, what’s at risk and where your advocacy can make the biggest impact — right now.

This week on the podcast, Leah and Shannon tackle one of the biggest issues facing public schools: the widening gap between expectations and funding. In this episode, they break down how that gap is playing out from Washington, D.C. to the Kansas Statehouse — starting with federal education funding for 2026 and what “flat funding” really means for schools facing rising costs. A major focus of the conversation is special education funding. Despite growing student needs and long-standing legal requirements, current Kansas budget proposals include little to no new funding for special education — forcing districts to backfill nearly half a billion dollars each year from general education funds and local property taxes. Leah and Shannon also unpack several major bills moving through the Legislature, including proposals affecting at-risk funding, student privacy, recess and physical activity mandates, school nutrition rules, and local school board authority. The episode closes with a practical bright spot addressing the teacher shortage — and a clear call to action for school leaders and public education supporters.

It’s been another busy week at the Statehouse, and KASB is back with a full legislative update. In this episode, Leah and Shannon break down key committee hearings on election policy, school meals, and school finance, including testimony on bills that could criminalize public officials’ speech, require income verification for free meals and mandate toilet training for school entry. They also highlight the uplifting recognition of the 2026 Kansas Teachers of the Year, discuss ongoing budget debates around special education and at-risk funding, and clear up misinformation surrounding school-based Medicaid services and the Community Eligibility Program. Plus, a look ahead at major education bills scheduled for hearings next week—including proposals on vouchers, mental health services, student free speech and addressing teacher shortages. Stay informed and stay engaged with the latest from the Kansas Statehouse.

Are charter schools coming to Kansas—and what would that mean for public education? In this episode of The Advocate, Leah and Shannon recap one of the busiest weeks yet at the Statehouse. They break down major bills impacting local school governance, including HB 2452 on school board elections, expanding voucher proposals and legislation that could open the door to charter school expansion through changes to Kansas’ innovative school's law. The conversation also covers key education budget updates, ongoing special education funding gaps, and several new bills affecting student supports, recess requirements, dual enrollment and classroom practices. With a fast-moving session and growing influence from outside groups, the stakes for public schools are high. Stay informed on what’s happening under the dome—and why local control, transparency, and sustained investment in public education matter now more than ever.

The 2026 Kansas legislative session is moving fast, and education is front and center. Leah Fliter and Shannon Kimball break down key developments from opening week, including proposed cell phone restrictions in schools, KASB’s concerns with SB 302 and HB 2421, and what’s next as these bills advance. They also cover highlights from the Governor’s budget, including special education funding, school meals and professional development, plus what declining enrollment means for K-12 funding. Looking ahead, the episode previews a busy week at the Statehouse with Literacy Day, major education budget hearings, and several bills that could significantly impact public schools, local control, and school board governance. Stay informed and engaged as the session unfolds—your voice matters.

The Kansas Legislature’s Education Funding Task force met throughout 2025 to discuss possible changes to the state’s constitutional school funding formula, which will expire in 2027. Join Leah and Shannon for an analysis of the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Task Force's deliberations, the outlook for 2026, and why school board members need to be prepared to advocate for all Kansas kids.   The Advocacy team is joined by special guest April Hilyard of the Butler County Special Ed Interlocal for a bonus discussion of how Kansas' special ed funding formula is in the mix as well.

In this episode of The Advocate podcast, Leah Fliter and Shannon Kimball dive into the implications of the federal education funding freeze and what it means for Kansas public schools. They explain how recent actions by the U.S. Department of Education have stalled key K-12 funding streams and how the U.S. Congress enacted a controversial nationwide voucher program."  The conversation outlines how these decisions could impact school districts across the state, from delays in funding delivery to limitations on essential programs and services. Fliter and Kimball also describe the advocacy strategies KASB is using to ensure lawmakers understand the real-world consequences of a prolonged freeze. Their central message is clear: school board members must stay actively involved and vocal to protect the resources their students and communities rely on.

The quicker-than-usual legislative session is over. Leah and Shannon discuss what happened in the veto session, as well as the year as a whole. Underfunding, misinformation, tax plans, voucher bills and an extension for the statewide mill levy headlined some of the top education issues this year.  Be on the lookout for the KASB Legislative Listening Tour in August and September to make sure your voice is heard.

Leah and Shannon discuss what the legislature accomplished before its first adjournment. The K-12 budget plan was finalized with only $10 million in additional SPED money for 2026, though it will only look like $7.5 million. The two talk about what this means, as well as what programs were cut going forward. They also look at tax plans and a bill that would allow the attorney general to step into local board of education decisions.