Defining teacher and paraprofessional for purposes of eligibility for a scholarship under the Kansas education opportunity scholarship program.

HOUSE BILL No. 2487
AN A CT concerning postsecondary education; relating to the Kansas education
opportunity scholarship program act; defining teacher and paraprofessional for
purposes of eligibility for a scholarship under such act; amending K.S.A. 2025 Supp.
74-3284 and repealing the existing section.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
Section 1. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-3284 is hereby amended to read
as follows: 74-3284. (a) K.S.A. 74-3284 through 74-3289, and
amendments thereto, shall be known and may be cited as the Kansas
education opportunity scholarship program act.
(b) As used in this act:
(1) "Kansas education opportunity scholarship program" means a
program under which the state provides financial assistance through the
award of Kansas education opportunity scholarships to Kansas
education opportunity scholars.
(2) "Kansas education opportunity scholarship" means a financial
award made by this state under this act to a Kansas education
opportunity scholar.
(3) "Kansas education opportunity scholar" means a person an
individual who:
(A) (i) Is a resident of Kansas;
(ii) has been accepted for admission to or is enrolled full time in
an educational program at an eligible institution;
(iii) has established financial need; and
(iv) is a first generation student or has a parent who is employed in
Kansas as a teacher or paraprofessional for any of the grades pre-K
through 12; or
(B) has previously so qualified and remains qualified for the
renewal of a Kansas education opportunity scholarship on the basis of
maintaining full-time enrollment in an educational program at an
eligible institution, remaining in good standing and making satisfactory
progress toward completion of the requirements for the award of a
degree or certificate of completion.
(4) "Eligible institution" means postsecondary educational
institution, as defined in K.S.A. 74-3201b, and amendments thereto, or
an accredited independent institution , as defined in K.S.A. 72-3222,
and amendments thereto.
(5) (A) "Employed in Kansas as a teacher or paraprofessional"
means an individual:
(i) Who is an employee of a unified school district or the
governing authority of any nonpublic school located in Kansas; and
(ii) whose primary employment duties are providing classroom
instruction to students in any of the grades pre-K through 12 or
providing instructional support to students in any of the grades pre-K
through 12.
(B) An individual shall not be considered "employed in Kansas as
a teacher or paraprofessional" unless an administrator for the school
at which such individual is employed certifies to the state board of
regents, in such form and manner as prescribed by the state board, that
such individual satisfies the provisions of subparagraph (A).
(6) "Financial need" means the difference between the available
financial resources of a Kansas education opportunity scholar and the
scholar's total anticipated expenses to attend an eligible institution. A
scholar's financial resources shall be determined on the basis of criteria
provided under the federal methodology of need analysis.
(6)(7) "First generation student" means an individual who does not
have a parent or guardian who has completed a baccalaureate degree.
(7)(8) "Semester" means one of two principal terms when there
are only two principal terms in the academic year of an eligible
institution whether or not there are other shorter terms during the same
academic year of the eligible educational institution.
HOUSE BILL No. 2487—page 2
(8)(9) "Term" means one of two or more substantially equivalent
divisions of the academic year of an eligible institution.
(9)(10) "Program period" means the duration of the period of time,
or any division thereof, required for completion of a vocational or
technical education program at an eligible institution.
Sec. 2. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 74-3284 is hereby repealed.
Sec. 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.
I hereby certify that the above BILL originated in the HOUSE, and passed
that body
Speaker of the House.
Chief Clerk of the House.

Passed the SENATE ______________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
Secretary of the Senate.
APPROVED __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.