Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas Senate Bill SB440

Filed/Introduced
8/8/26  
Introduced
2/2/26  
Refer
2/3/26  
Refer
2/19/26  

Caption

Authorizing a special education pilot program that provides provisional accreditation to a private entity for the purpose of operating a special education teacher training program, allowing such entity to collect data from such program and providing requirements for full accreditation of such program.

Impact

If enacted, SB440 will introduce provisions that allow private entities to play a significant role in the accreditation of special education teacher training programs. This shift in policy could have far-reaching implications for how special education teachers are trained, moving away from exclusively state-run programs. Proponents of the bill argue that it will help meet the growing demand for qualified special education teachers by providing alternative pathways to accreditation, while also enabling data collection that can track the effectiveness of the training programs over time.

Summary

SB440 proposes the establishment of a special education pilot program designed to grant provisional accreditation to a private entity that will operate a special education teacher training program. This initiative aims to improve the quality of education for students with special needs by enhancing the training of teachers in this field. The bill outlines the framework for the pilot program, including the requirements needed for the entity to achieve full accreditation. Through this approach, the bill seeks to create a more effective training environment for special education teachers, ultimately benefiting students requiring specialized assistance.

Contention

However, the bill has raised concerns among various stakeholders, particularly regarding the quality and standards of education that private entities may provide compared to traditional public accreditation bodies. Critics argue that allowing private entities to operate training programs could lead to inconsistencies in educational quality and accountability. Furthermore, there are worries about the potential prioritization of profit over educational outcomes, which may undermine the integrity of teacher training in the special education sector.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB2

Eliminating the income limit to qualify for the subtraction modification exempting social security benefits, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, citing the increased property tax homestead refund claim section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, decreasing the normal privilege tax rate, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district; providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund, reducing the state rate of tax on sales of food and food ingredients and modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund from revenue collected.

KS SB7

Authorizing federally licensed firearm dealers, in addition to county sheriffs, to receive applications for concealed carry licenses and forward such applications to the attorney general, prohibiting sheriffs from assessing any fee related to application services and allowing dealers to assess a fee related to application services not to exceed $20.

KS HCR5002

Providing for the adjournment sine die of the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

KS HB2001

Authorizing the secretary of commerce to enter into agreements with major professional sports franchises to establish STAR bond projects for a major professional sports complex, providing for additional revenue sources, expanding the powers and discretion of the secretary and making other changes to the STAR bonds financing act to facilitate such projects, limiting the secretary’s authority to approve such projects to one year unless extended by the legislative coordinating council, authorizing the Kansas development finance authority to issue STAR bonds for such projects, transferring funds under certain circumstances from the state gaming revenues fund to the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and, if approved by the legislative coordinating council, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

KS SB1

Modifying income tax rates for individuals, exempting all social security benefits from Kansas income tax, increasing the Kansas standard deduction and the Kansas personal exemption, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value for property tax valuation purposes, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund and abolishing the local ad valorem tax reduction fund and the county and city revenue sharing fund.

KS HB2003

Establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, modifying the definition of household income and increasing the appraised value threshold for eligibility of seniors and disabled veterans related to increased property tax claims and citing the section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, providing property tax exemptions for certain personal property including watercraft, marine equipment, off-road vehicles, motorized bicycles and certain trailers, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value, providing for certain exclusions from the prohibition of paying taxes under protest after a valuation notice appeal and providing four prior years' values on the annual valuation notice.

KS HR6002

Providing for assignment of seats in the House of Representatives for the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

KS SR1701

Providing for the organization of the Senate for the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

KS SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

KS HR6001

Providing for the organization of the House of Representatives for the 2024 special session of the Legislature.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.