Topeka ? Major education issues facing the 2004 Legislature:

Spending on Schools

Shawnee County District Judge Terry Bullock gave legislators until July 1 to fix constitutional flaws he saw in the state’s 1992 school finance formula. He ordered legislators to give districts more resources to close the gap in standardized test scores between poor, minority and limited-English speaking students and other pupils. He also said the state might need to increase its aid by $1 billion.

Consolidation

Kansas’ last widespread consolidation of school districts occurred during the 1960s. Since then, a few districts have consolidated as enrollments declined and expenses increased. Several proposals to encourage or require consolidation surfaced in 2003 in the House, but nothing passed.

Early Childhood Education

Two years ago, the House approved a proposed “Tools for Tots” package to increase funding for programs designed to make young children better prepared for kindergarten. Gov. Kathleen Sebelius also has said the state should strengthen all programs, from preschool through college.

Clearer Budgets

Sen. Bill Bunten, R-Topeka, argues that budgets prepared by many districts are confusing, making it hard for taxpayers to follow how money is spent. Some legislators have expressed a desire to get a better handle on how districts spend their dollars, but skeptics worry about the cost and time associated with change.