Read the full stored bill text
HOUSE BILL No. 2485
AN A CT concerning education; providing requirements for agreements between
postsecondary educational institutions and school districts for the provision of
postsecondary courses taught in secondary schools; directing the governor to approve
short-term workforce training programs for Pell grant eligibility; requiring the state
workforce development board to establish an internal process for such eligibility;
providing for the transferability of credentials earned through career readiness
assessments toward a degree; relating to the Kansas blueprint for literacy; expanding
reporting requirements in the every child can read act; requiring members of the
literacy advisory committee to have certain expertise; aligning literacy fluency goals
with the state board of education's assessment cut scores; requiring school districts to
employ reading specialists and develop individual student literacy plans for certain
high-risk students; requiring the state board of education to designate best literacy
practices and include a literacy practicum in the requirements for teacher licensure;
requiring the development of a comprehensive literacy implementation plan;
providing requirements for educator preparation programs; prohibiting Kansas
promise scholarship awards from being used to fund remedial hours offered as part of
corequisite courses; authorizing the chief executive officer of the state board of
regents to negotiate and settle repayment obligations arising under certain state
financial aid programs; prohibiting the payment of additional funds to any student
who is subject to repayment obligations under such financial aid programs; amending
K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 72-3262, 72-5179, 74-32,274, 74-32,290, 74-32,291, 74-32,292,
74-32,293, 74-32,294, 74-32,295 and 74-32,313 and repealing the existing sections;
also repealing K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,296.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
New Section 1. (a) (1) Postsecondary educational institutions may
enter into agreements with school districts for the provision of
postsecondary courses that are held at a secondary school of the school
district and taught by a teacher employed by the school district. Such
agreements shall adhere to the state board of regents service area and
concurrent enrollment policies.
(2) On and after July 1, 2026, each such agreement shall require
the postsecondary educational institution to:
(A) Directly purchase any instructional materials and supplies
required for instruction of the course if such materials and supplies are
not available or provided by the school district;
(B) pay the standard amount for teaching services to the school
district. Any such amount received by the school district shall be paid
to the teacher employed by the school district who is teaching such
course as a supplement to such teacher's regular salary; and
(C) if a school district employee serves as a paid site coordinator
for a postsecondary educational institution, such employee shall be
considered a contractor of such institution. Payment for any such site
coordinator services shall be made directly to the school district
employee and shall not exceed the standard amount for non-teaching
site coordinator services per semester.
(3) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the postsecondary
educational institution may not provide any other financial or other
compensation for the provision of such courses to the school district or
any employee of the school district for any postsecondary educational
service provided in the school district during the normal school day.
(b) As used in this section:
(1) "Course" means any tiered or non-tiered course offered by a
postsecondary educational institution that meets the requirements of
subsection (a)(1), including, but not limited to, career and technical
education courses.
(2) "Postsecondary educational institution" means a community
college or technical college as such terms are defined in K.S.A. 74-
3201b, and amendments thereto.
(3) (A) "Standard amount" means, for academic year 2026-2027,
an amount:
(i) Equal to $600 per credit hour not to exceed 10 credit hours per
semester for teaching services. If the number of students enrolled in
and attending a course is fewer than eight students, the payment for
teaching services may be prorated based on the number of students
enrolled; or
(ii) not to exceed $1,500 per semester for non-teaching site
coordination services.
HOUSE BILL No. 2485—page 2
(B) For academic year 2027-2028 and each academic year
thereafter, the "standard amount" shall be the standard amount for the
immediately preceding year plus an amount equal to the average
percentage increase in the consumer price index for all urban
consumers in the midwest region as published by the bureau of labor
statistics of the United States department of labor during the three
immediately preceding academic years rounded to the nearest whole
dollar.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit, preempt or
otherwise restrict any negotiated agreement or term or condition of any
negotiated agreement between a school district and such school
district's faculty or any negotiated agreement or term or condition of
any negotiated agreement between a postsecondary educational
institution and such institution's faculty that was in effect before July 1,
2026. Any negotiated agreement entered into or renegotiated on or after
July 1, 2026, shall conform with the requirements of this section.
(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to include any
accredited independent institution as defined in K.S.A. 72-3222, and
amendments thereto.
(e) This section shall take effect and be in force on and after July
1, 2026.
New Sec. 2. (a) As used in this section:
(1) "Eligible workforce training program" means any program that
meets the requirements of section 83002 of public law 119-21.
(2) "State workforce development board" means the board
established pursuant to the federal workforce innovation and
opportunity act, 29 U.S.C. § 3111.
(b) Pursuant to section 83002 of public law 119-21, the governor,
in consultation with the state workforce development board, shall
approve workforce training programs for federal workforce Pell grants
if such programs meet the requirements to be eligible workforce
training programs as provided in such law.
(c) The state workforce development board shall:
(1) Establish an internal process for postsecondary educational
institutions and programs to apply for approval for eligibility for
workforce Pell grants and appeal any denial of such eligibility;
(2) coordinate approval of eligible workforce training programs
with other state and federal workforce programs to prevent duplicative
funding for programs that have the same purpose; and
(3) align and leverage available state and federal moneys to
support the implementation and expansion of eligible workforce
training programs.
(d) The requirements of this section shall be consistent with
applicable federal rules that govern the workforce Pell grant program.
If any provision of this section is in conflict or inconsistent with federal
law, the federal law shall govern.
(e) This section shall take effect and be in force on and after July
1, 2026.
Sec. 3. On and after July 1, 2026, K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 72-5179 is
hereby amended to read as follows: 72-5179. (a) The state board of
education shall provide the ACT college entrance exam and the three
ACT workkeys assessments that are required to earn a national career
readiness certificate to each student enrolled in grades 11 and 12, and
the pre-ACT college entrance exam to each student enrolled in grade
nine. No student shall be required to pay any fees or costs to take any
such exam or assessments. The state board shall not be required to
provide more than one exam and three assessments for each student.
The state board of education may enter into any contracts that are
necessary to promote statewide cost savings to administer such exams
and assessments.
(b) The Kansas department of education and each school district
shall annually publish on their websites the times, dates and locations
of the pre-ACT college entrance exam, the ACT college entrance exam
and the ACT workkeys assessments that are offered in Kansas and
HOUSE BILL No. 2485—page 3
information for students on how to register for such exams or
assessments.
(c) Participation in the pre-ACT college entrance exam, the ACT
college entrance exam or the ACT workkeys assessment shall be
optional. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any
student to participate in such exams or assessments.
(d) Each postsecondary educational institution shall adopt and
implement a policy to use a platinum, gold or silver credential earned
through the ACT workkeys assessments, or other similar credential
earned through a similar career readiness assessment, as transferable
credit toward the attainment of a postsecondary technical degree. Such
transferability shall be based on the recommendations of the American
council on education national guide.
(e) On or before the first day of each regular legislative session,
the state board of education shall prepare and submit a report to the
senate standing committee on education and the house standing
committee or any successor committees on education that includes the
aggregate exam and assessment data for all students who were provided
the exams and assessments pursuant to this section.
(e)(f) As used in this section,:
(1) "Postsecondary educational institution" means the same as
defined in K.S.A. 74-3201b, and amendments thereto; and
(2) "student" means any person who is regularly enrolled in any
public school or accredited nonpublic school located in Kansas.
Sec. 4. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 72-3262 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 72-3262. (a) This section shall be known and may be cited as
the every child can read act.
(b) The legislature hereby affirms that third grade marks a pivotal
grade level in which students must attain proficiency in reading or risk
continued learning losses throughout their academic career. To ensure
that all students move toward grade-level proficiency in literacy,
especially by the third grade level, the board of education of each
school district shall provide opportunities for students to participate in
targeted educational interventions to promote proficiency in literacy.
Reading literacy shall be attained through the science of reading and
evidence-based reading instruction and shall include such competencies
as may be necessary to attain reading proficiency. The necessary
competencies, best practices and screening tools used by school
districts shall follow the framework of the dyslexia handbook
developed by the state department of education. To ensure that such
competencies are achieved, the board of education of each school
district shall include as part of instruction in literacy:
(1) Phonics, phonological and phonemic awareness;
(2) vocabulary development;
(3) silent and oral reading fluency; and
(4) reading comprehension.
(c) To promote the goals of the every child can read act, the board
of education of each school district shall:
(1) Measure student achievement by participation in the state
assessment program, use of a single statewide universal screening tool
recommended in the comprehensive literacy implementation plan
submitted to the state board of education that is due on June 1, 2026,
and implemented for the 2027-2028 school year and through other
universal screening and assessment tools that are approved by a board
of education of a school district or by the state department of education;
(2) provide targeted and tiered interventions that are designed to
match a student's individual deficiencies through additional contact
hours with such student, including, but not limited to, one-on-one
instruction, small group instruction, tutoring and summer school
programs for all students and especially for those students who are at
and below the third grade level who are identified as having a literacy
deficit; and
(3) ensure that the teacher of each third grade student
communicates with the parent or guardian of each such student to
HOUSE BILL No. 2485—page 4
provide information on the student's literacy proficiency or deficiencies
and any recommended interventions for such student to achieve
proficiency. Such communication shall occur at least once during the
fall semester and once during the spring semester. When a teacher
provides the communications required pursuant to this paragraph, each
such communication shall provide the parent or guardian with:
(A) A summary of the every child can read act and the literacy
goals of the act;
(B) any assessment data relating to literacy that pertains to the
student;
(C) any recommended interventions for the student; and
(D) how the school district tracks the outcomes of any such
interventions.
(d) (1) On or before June 30 of each school year, each school
district shall report to the state department of education on the school
district's implementation of the every child can read act, the
interventions that the school district is using to attain the goals of such
act and the resulting outcomes of such interventions. Such report shall
include:
(A) The number of third grade students in such school district;
(B) the screening and assessment data from at least the preceding
two school years that the school district is using as a baseline to
evaluate student progress in literacy; and
(C) the percentage of students that are proficient, moving toward
proficiency or deficient, with percentages provided for all students and
student subgroups;
(D) the number of students in prekindergarten through grade eight
who performed in the high-risk category on the fall screening measure;
(E) the number of students in kindergarten through grade three
with an individual student literacy plan beginning in school year 2027-
2028; and
(F) the number of students in kindergarten through grade three
who exited the high-risk category or such student's individual student
literacy plan by the end of the school year beginning in school year
2027-2028.
(2) The state department of education shall compile such reports
and shall submit a summary report to the governor and, the legislature,
literacy advisory committee and the state board of education on or
before January 15 October 1 of each year.
(e) This section shall take effect and be in force from and after
July 1, 2023.
Sec. 5. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,290 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 74-32,290. (a) K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,290 through 74-
32,296 74-32,295, and amendments thereto, shall be known and may be
cited as the Kansas blueprint for literacy.
(b) Each provision of K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,290 through 74-
32,296 74-32,295 , and amendments thereto, that requires the
expenditure of moneys shall be subject to legislative appropriations
therefor.
(c) As used in K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,290 through 74-32,296,
and amendments thereto the Kansas blueprint for literacy:
(1) "Field experience" means structured, supervised learning
opportunities where pre-service educators observe, interact with
students and apply evidence-aligned reading practices in authentic and
diverse classroom settings.
(2) "In-service" means a licensed individual who is employed by a
school district or accredited nonpublic school as a teacher.
(3) "Literacy practicum" means field experience that provides
explicit, guided, hands-on practice delivering evidence-based
instructional practices in one-on-one or small group instruction,
administering literacy assessments, designing and implementing
diagnostic and prescriptive instructional plans with joint supervision
and mentorship by literacy faculty and an experienced mentor teacher.
(4) "Mentor teacher" means a licensed teacher who has earned
HOUSE BILL No. 2485—page 5
the Kansas seal of literacy and models evidence-aligned literacy
instruction to ensure pre-service educators gain meaningful, high-
impact teaching experience that bridges theory and practice.
(2)(5) "Postsecondary educational institution" means:
(A) A state educational institution as defined in K.S.A. 76-711,
and amendments thereto;
(B) a municipal university; and
(C) any not-for-profit institution of postsecondary education that
has its main campus or principal place of operation in Kansas, is
operated independently and not controlled or administered by a state
agency or subdivision of this state, maintains open enrollment and is
accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency for higher
education in the United States.
(3)(6) "Ongoing professional learning" means continuous, job-
embedded process to improve teaching effectiveness and student
achievement, including active collaborative learning that integrates
new knowledge and skills into daily practice.
(7) "Pre-service" means an individual who is receiving the
education and training to become a licensed teacher but is not yet
licensed.
(4)(8) "Science of reading" means the teaching of reading using
evidence-based research that an interdisciplinary body of evidence that
informs how students learn to read and write proficiently. "Science of
reading" informs evidence-based practices and includes phonemic
awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
(5)(9) "Structured literacy" means the application of knowledge
from the science of reading that teaches reading in an evidence-based
and systematic way a comprehensive instructional approach that
guides how reading and writing are taught by providing direct, explicit,
sequential, data-driven and systematic instruction leading to mastery
of reading and writing.
Sec. 6. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,291 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 74-32,291. (a) There is hereby established a literacy advisory
committee. The committee shall be composed of:
(1) 15 voting members as follows:
(A) The director of literacy education, appointed pursuant to
K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,292, and amendments thereto, who shall
serve as chairperson of the committee;
(B) one member appointed by the governor;
(C) one member of the house of representatives or a literacy
expert appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(D) one member of the house of representatives or a literacy
expert appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives;
(E) one member of the senate or a literacy expert appointed by the
president of the senate;
(F) one member of the senate or a literacy expert appointed by the
minority leader of the senate;
(G) one member appointed by and representing the Kansas
national education association;
(H) one member appointed by and representing a school of
education from Emporia state university, Fort Hays state university or
Pittsburg state university;
(I) one member appointed by and representing a school of
education from the university of Kansas, Kansas state university or
Wichita state university;
(J) one member appointed by and representing Washburn
university school of education;
(K) one member appointed by the Kansas association of
community colleges to represent community colleges;
(L) one member appointed by the Kansas independent colleges
association to represent a not-for-profit institution of postsecondary
education school or college of education;
(M) one member appointed by the state board of education;
(N) one member of the state board of regents appointed by the
HOUSE BILL No. 2485—page 6
state board of regents; and
(O) one member who is an English for speakers of other languages
literacy expert appointed by the united school administrators of Kansas;
and
(2) nonvoting members as follows:
(A) The commissioner of education or the commissioner's
designee; and
(B) any number of members appointed by the director of literacy
education pursuant to K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,292, and amendments
thereto.
(b) (1) Members appointed to the committee pursuant to
subsection (a)(1) shall be appointed on or before July 1, 2024 have
expertise in evidence-based literacy practices, educator preparation,
science of reading research and evaluation, dyslexia research, literacy
intervention, implementation science or literacy policy development.
(2) Except for the director of literacy education, voting members
shall serve for a term of four years.
(3) Any vacancy in the membership of the committee shall be
filled by appointment in the same manner prescribed by this section for
the original appointment.
(4) A quorum of the committee shall be a majority of the voting
members. All actions of the committee may be taken by a majority of
the voting members present when there is a quorum.
(5) The committee may meet at any time and at any place within
the state upon the call of the chairperson.
(6) If any member of the committee fails to attend three meetings
of the committee within any 12-month period, such member's
appointment shall terminate and a new member shall be appointed in
the same manner prescribed by this section for the original
appointment.
(c) The literacy advisory committee shall:
(1) Monitor progress of literacy training for in-service and pre-
service teachers and literacy education of elementary and secondary
students;
(2) designate best practices for literacy training for in-service and
pre-service teachers and literacy education of elementary and
secondary students;
(3) be responsible for the attainment of the transformational goal
to have 100% of the Kansas special education, English for speakers of
other languages and elementary teacher workforce achieve a micro-
credential in the science of reading and structured literacy by 2030,
leading to at least 50% of students in each of the grades three through
eight achieving level 3 or above and at least 90% of students in each of
the grades three through eight achieving level 2 or above on the English
language arts state assessment by 2033;
(4) make recommendations to the director of literacy education;
(5)(4) make recommendations to the state board of education, the
state board of regents and the postsecondary educational institution
presidents or chancellors on:
(A) Literacy training for in-service and pre-service teachers and
literacy education of elementary and secondary students; and
(B) reading instruction methods based on the science of reading;
(6)(5) make recommendations to the house of representatives
standing committee on education and the senate standing committee on
education on the implementation of the goals of the Kansas blueprint
for literacy and any changes necessary to achieve such goals; and
(7)(6) (A) submit a an annual progress report to the legislature on:
(i) English language arts state assessment scores for each grade
level and all defined subgroups, including, but not limited to, English
language learners, students receiving free meals pursuant to the
national school lunch act, students in the custody of the secretary for
children and families and race and ethnicity subgroups;
(ii) literacy training for in-service and pre-service teachers; and
(iii) the literacy advisory committee's goals and requirements
HOUSE BILL No. 2485—page 7
provided in the Kansas blueprint for literacy;
(B) Such progress report shall be provided at the following times
each calendar year:
(i) Once on or before February 1 to the senate committee on
education and the house of representatives committee on education;
(ii) once on or before May 1 to the senate committee on education
and the house of representatives committee on education; and
(iii) once on or before December 1 to any interim, special, or
select committee, task force or commission that has membership that
includes legislators, is related to education, has been approved by the
legislative coordinating council and requests such report; and
(8) submit a plan to the state board of regents education and the
legislature, including the house of representatives standing committee
on education and the senate standing committee on education , on the
establishment of centers of excellence in reading pursuant to K.S.A.
2025 Supp. 74-32,296, and amendments thereto, on or before January
1, 2025 on or before January 31 of each year.
(d) The committee shall be subject to the Kansas open records act,
K.S.A. 45-419 et seq., and amendments thereto, and the Kansas open
meetings act, K.S.A. 75-4317 et seq., and amendments thereto. The
committee shall publish each meeting agenda and any available
meeting documents online prior to each scheduled meeting of the
committee.
(e) (1) Legislative members of the committee and members
appointed by a member of the legislature who attend meetings of the
committee shall be paid for expenses, mileage and subsistence as
provided in K.S.A. 75-3223(e), and amendments thereto.
(2) Members of the committee who are not members of the
legislature may be paid for expenses, mileage and subsistence by the
entity each such member was appointed by and represents.
(f) (1) The director of literacy education shall provide executive
support to the committee.
(2) The staff of the state board of regents, office of revisor of
statutes, the legislative research department and the division of
legislative administrative services shall provide such assistance as may
be requested by the committee.
Sec. 7. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,292 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 74-32,292. (a) On or before July 1, 2024, the executive officer
of the state board of regents shall appoint a director of literacy
education.
(b) The director of literacy education shall be an employee of the
state board of regents in the unclassified service who serves at the
pleasure of the state board of regents. The compensation of the director
shall be determined by the executive officer of the state board of
regents.
(c) The director of literacy education shall:
(1) Serve as chairperson of the literacy advisory committee
established in K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,291, and amendments thereto;
(2) implement and administer the Kansas blueprint for literacy;
(3) provide executive support to the literacy advisory committee;
(4) appoint nonvoting members of the literacy advisory committee
as the director deems necessary;
(5) work with the state board of education and the state board of
regents to ensure:
(A) Progress on the initiatives, objectives and desired outcomes in
the Kansas blueprint for literacy;
(B) the development and utilization of the comprehensive
assessment system; and
(C) that state educational institutions and elementary and
secondary schools are using tier I literacy methodologies structured
literacy and evidence-based practices;
(6) encourage independent institutions referred to in K.S.A. 2025
Supp. 74-32,290 (c)(2)(C) (c)(5)(C) , and amendments thereto, to use
such tier I methodologies;
HOUSE BILL No. 2485—page 8
(7) establish a program to track the science of reading and
structured literacy training progression of in-service and pre-service
early childhood and elementary teachers, special education teachers and
paraprofessionals, reading specialists and early childhood and
elementary administrators for all school districts in the state; and
(8) on or before January 15 of each year, prepare and present a
report to the senate standing committee on education and the house of
representatives standing committee on education, or any successor
committees, on the implementation and administration of the Kansas
blueprint for literacy, including, but not limited to, an implementation
timeline, progress of initiatives, development and utilization of the
comprehensive assessment system, progress toward the goal
established in K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,291(c) 74-32,294(c)(4) , and
amendments thereto, use of tier I methodologies, outcomes and any
proposed changes; and
(9) report to the house of representatives standing committee on
education and the senate standing committee on education on or before
January 31, 2025, on the progress of the state board of regents on
utilization of the science of reading, elimination of discredited
methodologies, use of universal screening measures and assessments in
elementary and secondary schools in the state.
Sec. 8. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,293 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 74-32,293. (a) Postsecondary educational institutions shall
designate practices based on the science of reading through structured
literacy as the official tier I literacy methodology and shall prohibit the
use or teaching of any discredited methodologies, such as the three-
cueing system.
(b) (1) The state board of regents, in collaboration with
postsecondary educational institutions and research experts, shall
establish a comprehensive reading and literacy assessment system with
universal screening measures, diagnostic, formative and summative
assessments to be used in teacher preparation programs in the state.
Such assessment system shall allow teachers to adjust instruction to
meet the specific needs of students, including with regard to reading
difficulties and the remediation of reading and literacy skill gaps. The
state board of regents shall make recommendations to the state board of
education on such assessment system and ensure that such assessment
system is available on or before May 1, 2025. Nothing in this paragraph
shall be construed to include the English language arts statewide
assessment.
(2) The state board of regents shall:
(A) Develop training modules for the assessments on or before
July 1, 2025;
(B) support state board of education action to officially designate
the science of reading as the official tier I literacy methodology;
(C) support elementary and secondary schools as necessary to
eliminate any discredited methodologies;
(D) recommend literacy-specific universal screening measures and
diagnostic, formative and summative assessments to the state board of
education; and
(E) approve reading instruction methodologies recommended by
the literacy advisory committee for state educational institutions.
(3) On and after July 1, 2025,Beginning in school year 2029-
2030, each school district shall employ, either through direct
employment, shared cooperative agreement or by contract, a licensed
reading specialist for each elementary school of the school district.
(b) (1) Beginning in school year 2027-2028, e ach school district
shall develop individual student literacy plans for all students in
kindergarten through grade three who perform at a high-risk level on
fall literacy screening measures. Such plans shall be developed in
partnership with the student's parent or person acting as parent. Each
such plan shall include:
(A) A minimum of 90 minutes of targeted and tiered interventions
designed to address the student's individual deficiencies per week in
HOUSE BILL No. 2485—page 9
one-on-one instruction, small group instruction, tutoring or a summer
school program; and
(B) a diagnostic assessment, progress monitoring and
interventions until the student achieves grade level performance.
(2) The teacher of any student requiring an individual student
literacy plan shall communicate with such student's parent or person
acting as parent and provide the information required by the every
child can read act, K.S.A. 72-3262, and amendments thereto, to such
parent or person acting as parent.
(c) No school district shall use any textbooks or instructional
materials that utilize:
(A)(1) The three-cueing system model of reading as the primary
basis for teaching word recognition;
(B)(2) visual memory as the primary basis for teaching word
recognition; or
(C)(3) the three-cueing system model of reading based on
meaning, structure and syntax and visual cues, commonly known as
MVS.
(c) The director of literacy education shall report to the house of
representatives standing committee on education and the senate
standing committee on education on or before January 31, 2025, on the
progress of the state board of regents on utilization of the science of
reading, elimination of discredited methodologies, use of universal
screening measures and assessments in elementary and secondary
schools in the state.
(d) No retired or substitute teacher shall be required to complete
approved training in the science of reading and structured literacy or
other training to achieve a seal of literacy.
Sec. 9. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,294 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 74-32,294 (a) The state board of education shall:
(1) Designate best practices based on the science of reading
through structured literacy as the literacy methodology and prohibit
the use or teaching of any discredited methodologies, including the
three-cueing system;
(2) require applicants for licensure as a prekindergarten through
grade eight general education teacher or special education teacher to
complete a minimum of 45 clock hours in a literacy practicum that is
designed to increase skills and expertise in screening, diagnostic and
formative assessments, developing instructional plans and applying
evidence-based practices in an elementary and secondary school
setting;
(3) require reading specialists to complete a minimum of 45 clock
hours in a literacy practicum that utilizes assessment tools and data
interpretation and applies evidence-based practices in small or whole
group instruction under the supervision of a literacy expert with a
minimum certification that demonstrates expertise in structured
literacy;
(4) ensure that school districts develop individual student literacy
plans as required in K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,293, and amendments
thereto. School districts shall use a literacy plan template developed by
the state department of education;
(5) ensure that educator preparation programs provide evidence
that teacher candidates can demonstrate competency to:
(A) Literacy assessment tools and data interpretation;
(B) utilization of literacy screening;
(C) diagnostic, progress monitoring and formative assessment
tools recommended by the state department of education;
(D) skills to administer and interpret a variety of assessments to
effectively instruct students in small groups and individually in
authentic school settings; and
(E) develop plans to guide instruction based on the needs of
diverse learners; and
(6) submit an annual report to the literacy advisory committee on
or before November 1 of each year. Such report shall be published on
HOUSE BILL No. 2485—page 10
the state department of education website and include:
(A) Literacy screening measures and English language arts state
assessment scores for each grade level and all defined subgroups,
including, but not limited to, English language learners, students
receiving free meals pursuant to the national school lunch act, students
in the custody of the secretary for children and families and race and
ethnicity subgroups; and
(B) literacy training for in-service and pre-service teachers.
(b) The state board of regents shall:
(1) Support state board of education action to officially designate
best practices based on the science of reading through structured
literacy as the official literacy methodology;
(2) support elementary and secondary schools as necessary to
eliminate any discredited methodologies;
(3) recommend literacy-specific universal screening measures and
diagnostic, formative and summative assessments to the state board of
education; and
(4) approve reading instruction methodologies recommended by
the literacy advisory committee for state educational institutions.
(c) The state board of regents and the state board of education
shall collaborate have joint oversight of and responsibility to:
(a)(1) Jointly Approve micro-credential credential requirements
for in-service teachers or certification requirements for pre-service
teachers at state educational institutions in the science of reading and
structured literacy;
(b)(2) develop or make accessible professional development
programs and micro-credential credential courses for all in-service
early childhood teachers, general education teachers and special
education Kansas licensed and practicing teachers at low or no cost to
such teachers. Such programs and courses shall be delivered by
national online learning programs or accredited Kansas postsecondary
educational institutions;
(c)(3) ensure that all pre-service teacher preparation programs at
state educational institutions are based on the science of reading and
structured literacy in accordance with the state board of education
accreditation of undergraduate elementary licensure programs,
reading specialists, special education, school psychologists ,
curriculum and instruction specialists and education leadership
graduate programs. State educational institutions shall provide
evidence that such programs are exclusively utilizing science of
reading and evidence-based practices;
(d)(4) be responsible for the attainment of the transformational
goal to have 100% of the Kansas special education, English for
speakers of other languages and elementary teacher workforce achieve
a credential in the science of reading and structured literacy by 2030,
leading to at least 90% of students in each of the grades three through
eight achieving a level 3 or above on the English language arts
assessment by 2033. Scores and other data on such assessment shall be
disaggregated for each grade level and all defined subgroups,
including, but not limited to, English language learners, students
receiving free meals under the national school lunch act, students in
the custody of the secretary for children and families and race and
ethnicity subgroups;
(5) publish standards and course progressions to achieve
transparency of Kansas reading education programs; and
(e)(6) provide data for the program to the director of literacy
education that tracks the science of reading and structured literacy
training progression , course materials and rigor of application of in-
service and pre-service early childhood and elementary teachers,
special education teachers and paraprofessionals, reading specialists
and early childhood and elementary administrators for all school
districts in the state all Kansas licensed and practicing teachers and
administrators;
(7) make recommendations to the state board of education on
HOUSE BILL No. 2485—page 11
vetted high quality instructional materials that include tier 1
curriculum resources and intervention curriculum. A list of such
instructional materials and resources shall be available to school
district boards of education;
(8) at least once every three years, review undergraduate literacy
courses, materials and resources and make recommendations for
improvements to such courses, materials and resources;
(9) implement ongoing professional learning in evidence-based
practices in literacy, at low or no cost for reading specialists, special
education teachers, paraeducators, school psychologists and school
and school district leaders;
(10) accept certifications from the international multisensory
structured language council, international dyslexia association and
academic language therapy association-accredited programs;
(11) seek reciprocity for advanced degrees in literacy from
international dyslexia accreditation programs within accredited
institutions recognized by one of the six regional United States
department of education accrediting organizations until such a
program is established in Kansas; and
(12) (A) in partnership with the legislature, develop a
comprehensive literacy implementation plan for prekindergarten
through grade 12 and postsecondary education. In developing such
plan, input from educators, families, research and evidence-based
practices shall be considered. Such plan shall:
(i) Address all policy requirements of the Kansas blueprint for
literacy, including timelines and resources; and
(ii) include educator preparation, high-impact ongoing
professional learning and high quality instructional materials,
assessment intervention, multi-tiered systems of support and family
resources and support.
(B) The annual report on the comprehensive literacy
implementation plan shall be presented to the state board of education,
the state board of regents and the senate education committee and the
education and higher education budget committees of the house of
representatives. The initial report on such plan shall be submitted to
such legislative committees on or before May 1, 2026. A full
comprehensive literacy plan shall be submitted to such boards and
committees on or before January 15, 2027.
Sec. 10. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,295 is hereby amended to read
as follows: 74-32,295. The president or chancellor, provost and, dean of
the college or school of education of each postsecondary educational
institution and the state board of regents shall jointly have oversight
and supervision of undergraduate and graduate level reading and
literacy courses at their respective institution and shall:
(a) EnsureIntegrate explicit courses and ensure candidate
competency in the science of learning, science of reading and structured
literacy, including the five pillars of reading, for all undergraduate early
childhood and elementary teacher preparation programs at state
educational institutions;
(b) appoint one representative from each postsecondary
educational institution to conduct an annual a systemwide analysis of
the curriculum maps across all literacy courses at least once every
three years as part of the accreditation process . Such analysis shall
include identifying clear evidence of instructional approaches and the
core components of reading development. Such evidence shall include,
but not be limited to:
(1) Curriculum maps demonstrating:
(A) Literacy coursework addresses phonemic awareness, phonics,
fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension; and
(B) where screening, diagnostic assessment, progress monitoring
and intervention are addressed;
(2) documentation showing that language structures related to
reading development, including phonology, morphology, syntax and
semantics are addressed;
HOUSE BILL No. 2485—page 12
(3) data demonstrating pre-service teacher competency regarding
evidence-based literacy instruction through course assessments and
clinical evaluations;
(4) pre-service teacher performance on literacy-related licensure
assessments or competency measures;
(5) observation or evaluation data demonstrating a pre-service
teacher's ability to deliver explicit and systematic reading instruction;
(6) documentation of ongoing faculty professional learning
related to current research on reading development and literacy
instruction; and
(7) documentation of program revisions or instructional changes
made in response to pre-service teacher performance data, licensure
outcomes or workforce feedback;
(c) provide evidence that at least 80% of pre-service teachers pass
the licensure exam in literacy instruction approved by the state board
of education and practicum supervisors demonstrate expertise in
structured literacy, evidence-based practices and supervision;
(d) present a report on such systemwide analysis and any results
from such analysis to the literacy advisory committee , state board of
education and state board of regents; and
(d)(e) design and implement two three-credit hour applied
application courses that shall be included within the approved
graduation requirements to earn a degree in elementary education on or
before August 2024;
(e) implement a common performance-based assessment for such
courses to be used by all postsecondary educational institutions on or
before August 2024;
(f) assist in the development of a science of reading and structured
literacy micro-credential for early childhood teachers, elementary
education teachers, English for speakers of other languages teachers,
reading specialists, special education teachers and paraprofessionals,
early childhood and elementary administrators that focuses on research-
based fundamentals of reading instruction; and
(g) provide information, advice and recommendations to the
literacy advisory committee.
Sec. 11. On and after July 1, 2026, K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,274
is hereby amended to read as follows: 74-32,274. (a) Subject to
appropriations, the amount of a Kansas promise scholarship for a
student for each academic year shall be determined as follows:
(1) For a student enrolled in a promise eligible program offered by
an eligible public postsecondary educational institution described in
K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,271(b)(1)(A) or (B), and amendments
thereto, the scholarship amount shall be the aggregate amount of
tuition, required fees and the cost of books and required materials for
the promise eligible program at the eligible postsecondary educational
institution for the academic year in which the student is enrolled and
receiving the scholarship minus the aggregate amount of all other aid
awarded to such student for such academic year.
(2) For a student enrolled in a promise eligible program offered by
an eligible private postsecondary educational institution described in
K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,271(b)(1)(C), and amendments thereto, the
scholarship amount shall be the aggregate amount of tuition, required
fees and the cost of books and materials for such program for the
academic year in which the student is enrolled and receiving the
scholarship minus the aggregate amount of all other aid awarded to
such student for such academic year, except that a scholarship awarded
pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed the average cost of tuition,
required fees and the cost of books and required materials for such
promise eligible program when offered by an eligible public
postsecondary educationa l institution described in K.S.A. 2025 Supp.
74-32,271(b)(1)(A) or (B), and amendments thereto.
(b) Kansas promise scholarships shall only be awarded to an
eligible student whose family household income equals $100,000 or
less for a family of one or two, $150,000 or less for a family of three
HOUSE BILL No. 2485—page 13
and, for household sizes above three, a household income that is equal
to or less than the family of three amount plus $4,800 for each
additional family member.
(c) (1) Kansas promise scholarship awards shall be used only to
pay for up to a total of 68 promise scholarship funded credit hours or a
total of $20,000 in Kansas promise scholarship awards, whichever
occurs first, over the lifetime of the student who received the Kansas
promise scholarship award regardless of the eligible postsecondary
educational institution such student attended.
(2) Kansas promise scholarship awards shall not be used to fund:
(A) Prerequisite classes required for a promise eligible program
unless such classes are a designated course within the eligible program;
or
(B) any remedial course, as defined in K.S.A. 76-7,151, and
amendments thereto, unless such including any course is remedial
hours offered in as part of a corequisite format course.
(d) For each fiscal year, the appropriation made for the Kansas
promise scholarship program shall not exceed $10,000,000.
(e) The state board of regents shall disburse funds based on
reimbursement requests from eligible postsecondary educational
institutions. Reimbursement requests shall be based on the actual
amount of Kansas promise scholarship amounts awarded by an eligible
postsecondary educational institution for the appropriate academic
period. Any eligible postsecondary educational institution seeking
reimbursement shall submit a reimbursement request to the state board
of regents on or before September 1, December 1, March 1 and June 1
of each year. The state board of regents shall disburse the appropriate
amount of funds to eligible postsecondary educational institutions on
September 15, December 15, March 15 and June 15 each year.
(f) As used in this section, "aid" includes any grant, scholarship or
financial assistance awards that do not require repayment. "Aid" does
not include any military financial educational benefits or any family
postsecondary savings account or other qualified tuition program
established pursuant to section 529 of the internal revenue code of
1986, as amended.
Sec. 12. On and after July 1, 2026, K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-32,313
is hereby amended to read as follows: 74-32,313. (a) The state board of
regents may recover the reasonable costs of collection, including, but
not limited to, court costs, attorney fees and collection agency fees,
from any individual who is subject to a repayment obligation arising
under any scholarship, grant or other student financial aid program
established in article 32 of chapter 74 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated,
and amendments thereto, or under any agreement entered into pursuant
thereto.
(b) The chief executive officer of the state board of regents may
negotiate and settle any repayment obligation arising under any
scholarship, grant or other student financial aid program established
in article 32 of chapter 74 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and
amendments thereto, or under any agreement entered into pursuant
thereto.
(c) Any individual who is subject to a repayment obligation
arising under any scholarship, grant or other student financial aid
program established in article 32 of chapter 74 of the Kansas Statutes
Annotated, and amendments thereto, or under any agreement entered
into pursuant thereto, shall be ineligible to receive any additional funds
under any scholarship, grant or other student financial aid program
established in article 32 of chapter 74 of the Kansas Statutes
Annotated, and amendments thereto.
HOUSE BILL No. 2485—page 14
Sec. 13. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 72-3262, 74-32,290, 74-32,291, 74-
32,292, 74-32,293, 74-32,294, 74-32,295 and 74-32,296 are hereby
repealed.
Sec. 14. On and after July 1, 2026, K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 72-5179,
74-32,274 and 74-32,313 are hereby repealed.
Sec. 15. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the Kansas register.
I hereby certify that the above BILL originated in the HOUSE, and was
adopted by that body
HOUSE adopted
Conference Committee Report
Speaker of the House.
Chief Clerk of the House.
Passed the SENATE
as amended
SENATE adopted
Conference Committee Report
President of the Senate.
Secretary of the Senate.
APPROVED
Governor.