Gov. Sam Brownback says work on a new formula for funding Kansas' public schools should focus on how local districts spend their money, create incentives to shift dollars into classroom instruction and encourage merit pay for teachers.
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The Republican governor said during an Associated Press interview that he'd like the GOP-dominated Legislature to draft a new formula next year.
It would determine how the state distributes the bulk of its aid the 286 districts, now more than $4 billion.
He said a key issue is making sure that a greater percentage of dollars go to classroom instruction, rather than administrative overhead.
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And he said a new formula should encourage districts to use merit pay systems to reward their best teachers.
But educators and others say the state's spending isn't adequate.
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