Some Republican lawmakers in Topeka hoping to earmark state education dollars for helping parents pay for private schooling are struggling to win over enough rural and moderate GOP colleagues to get a law enacted.

The Kansas House on Tuesday approved 64-61 a bill that would give thousands of parents just over $5,000 for each child they want to move into home or private schools, starting in the 2024-25 school year. Coffeyville Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Craig Correll says this bill concerns him.

In February, the USD 445 Board of Education passed a resolution expressing its opposition to this bill. Also last month, the Kansas Senate voted 22-16 to approve a bill that would expand an existing program providing income tax credits to donors who contribute to private school scholarship funds. Neither proposal had the two-thirds majority necessary to override an expected veto from Governor Laura Kelly.