CHAPTER 8
Senate Substitute for Substitute for House Bill No. 2299
(Amended by Chapter 155)
An Act concerning education; relating to school districts and accredited nonpublic schools; providing that certain statutory references to accredited nonpublic schools mean nonpublic schools accredited by the state board of education; requiring that schools accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency have the same rights as nonpublic schools accredited by the state board; prohibiting students from using personal electronic communication devices during the school day and providing certain exceptions; prohibiting school employees from communicating with students through social media platforms for official school purposes and providing certain exceptions; requiring the adoption of policies and procedures relating thereto; amending K.S.A. 72-7114 and K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 72-5170 and repealing the existing sections.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:
New Section 1. Whenever accredited nonpublic schools, accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary schools, accredited nonpublic high schools, accredited private schools, or words of like effect, are referred to or designated by a statute in chapter 72 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, such references or designations shall be deemed to mean a nonpublic school accredited by the state board of education unless otherwise indicated in such statute.
New Sec. 2. (a) Each board of education of a school district and governing authority of an accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school shall adopt policies and procedures to govern the use of personal electronic communication devices by students during the school day. Such policies and procedures shall:
(1) Prohibit students from using or accessing personal electronic communication devices during the school day;
(2) require that all personal electronic communication devices be turned off and securely stored away from the student’s person in an inaccessible location during the school day;
(3) authorize students to not bring personal electronic communication devices to school by leaving such devices at a house or in a vehicle, even if such vehicle is located on the school premises;
(4) set forth enforcement procedures and disciplinary actions for violations of such policies and procedures;
(5) authorize any student to use a personal electronic communication device during the school day only if the use is:
(A) (i) Required for the implementation of a student’s individualized education program or 504 plan; or
(ii) approved by a licensed physician as a medical necessity to support the health or well-being of the student; and
(B) the intervention of last resort such that there is no other reasonable alternative option available for such student; and
(6) authorize a student to contact the student’s parent or person acting as parent through the use of a school telephone or other communications device that is designated and made available by the school for such purpose.
(b) The board of education of a school district and the governing authority of an accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school may adopt policies and procedures that limit or prohibit use of personal electronic communication devices by students during school-sponsored activities or events that occur outside of the school day.
(c) Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to any time associated with a student’s travel to or from a learning experience that is not located on the school premises, including any postsecondary educational course, career technical education course, work-based learning program or other alternative educational opportunity.
(d) As used in this section:
(1) “Accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school” means a nonpublic elementary or secondary school that is accredited by the state board of education. “Accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school” includes any nonpublic elementary or secondary school that is dually accredited by the state board and an accrediting entity other than the state board.
(2) “Personal electronic communication device” means any wireless electronic communication device that:
(A) Provides for voice, text or video communication between two or more parties, including, but not limited to, a mobile or cellular phone, tablet, computer, watch, wireless headphones or earbuds, text messaging device or personal digital assistant; and
(B) is not owned or issued to students by the school district or accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school.
(3) “School day” means the time from the start of school until dismissal at the end of the day on the school premises, including, but not limited to, the time in any classroom, structured or unstructured learning setting, recess, lunch or passing period.
New Sec. 3. (a) Each board of education of a school district and governing authority of an accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school shall adopt policies and procedures to prohibit each employee of the school district or accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school from:
(1) Privately or directly communicating with any student through social media platforms except as otherwise provided in subsection (b); and
(2) requiring the use of social media for any assignment or extracurricular activity.
(b) The board of education of a school district or governing authority of an accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school may approve a social media platform to be used for official school purposes.
(c) As used in this section:
(1) “Official school purposes” means the broadcasting or posting of public, one-way communications that pertain to school functions, activities or events. “Official school purposes” does not include private communications, direct communications or two-way communications with any student.
(2) “Social media platform” means an online website or application that permits a person to become a registered user, create an account or a profile for the primary purpose of creating, sharing or interacting with user-generated content that is publicly viewable by users. “Social media platform” includes, but is not limited to, snapchat, instagram, facebook, X and tiktok. “Social media platform” does not include:
(A) Any online website or application whose primary purpose is educational;
(B) any platform approved by the board of education or the governing authority of an accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school if such platform:
(i) Is owned, licensed or contractually controlled by the school district or nonpublic school;
(ii) allows for required user accounts;
(iii) allows communications to be monitored, archived, retained or audited in compliance with policy or law;
(iv) is accessible to parents or guardians; and
(v) used by employees in accordance with policy;
(C) email;
(D) direct messaging services that only share messages between a sender and named recipient and does not display or post messages publicly or to users not identified as recipients by the sender of the message; and
(E) any online product or service that does not have school-specific features or identifiers and the predominant purpose is to post educational materials, news or resources and user comments or other interactive functionality that is incidental to such predominant purpose.
New Sec. 4. On or before September 1, 2026, each board of education of a school district and governing authority of an accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school shall submit to the state board of education, on a form and in the manner prescribed by the state board, a certification that the board of education of the school district or governing authority of the accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school has adopted the policies and procedures required pursuant to sections 2 and 3, and amendments thereto.
New Sec. 5. No board of education of a school district, employee or agent of such school district, governing authority of an accredited nonpublic elementary or secondary school, employee or agent of such school shall be liable for any damage to or storage of personal electronic communication devices brought to school.
New Sec. 6. The provisions of sections 2 through 5, and amendments thereto, and any policies and procedures adopted thereunder, shall not apply to any virtual school as defined in K.S.A. 72-3712, and amendments thereto.
Sec. 7. K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 72-5170 is hereby amended to read as follows: 72-5170. (a) (1) In order to accomplish the mission for Kansas education, the state board shall design and adopt a school district accreditation system based upon improvement in performance that equals or exceeds the educational goal set forth in K.S.A. 72-3218(c), and amendments thereto, and is measurable. The state board shall hold all school districts accountable through the Kansas education systems accreditation rules and regulations, or any successor accreditation system and accountability plan adopted by the state board. The state board also shall ensure that all school districts and the public schools operated by such districts have programs and initiatives in place for providing those educational capacities set forth in K.S.A. 72-3218(c), and amendments thereto. On or before January 15 of each year, the state board shall prepare and submit a report on the school district accreditation system to the governor and the legislature.
(2) The accountability measures established pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be applied both at the district level and at the school level. Such accountability measures shall be reported by the state board for each school district and each school. All reports prepared pursuant to this section shall be published in accordance with K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 72-1181, and amendments thereto.
(3) If a school district is not fully accredited and a corrective action plan is required by the state board, such corrective action plan, and any subsequent reports prepared by the state board regarding the progress of such school district in implementing and executing such corrective action plan, shall be published on the state department of education’s internet website and such school district’s internet website in accordance with K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 72-1181, and amendments thereto.
(4) If a school district is not accredited, the superintendent, or the superintendent’s designee, shall appear before the committee on education of the house of representatives and the committee on education of the senate during the regular legislative session that occurs during the same school year when such school district is not accredited. Such school district shall provide a report to such committees on the challenges and obstacles that are preventing such school district from becoming accredited.
(5) Any nonpublic school operating in Kansas may voluntarily seek accreditation by the state board of education. Any nonpublic school accredited by the state board of education may also be accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. Each nonpublic school accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the state board of education shall be entitled to the same rights as nonpublic schools accredited by the state board of education. Accrediting agencies recognized by the state board of education on or before March 1, 2026, shall not lose such recognition unless approved by the legislature.
(b) The state board shall establish curriculum standards that reflect high academic standards for the core academic areas of mathematics, science, reading, writing and social studies. The curriculum standards may be reviewed at least every seven years. The state board shall not substantially revise or update the English language arts or mathematics curriculum standards that are in effect on July 1, 2024, in a manner that would necessitate the development of new statewide assessments in English language arts or mathematics until the state board’s long-term goal for all students submitted to the United States department of education in the consolidated state plan is achieved such that 75% of all students score in performance levels 3 and 4 combined on the statewide assessments in English language arts and mathematics by 2030. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed in any manner so as to impinge upon any school district’s authority to determine its own curriculum.
(c) (1) The state board shall provide for statewide assessments in the core academic areas of mathematics, science, reading, writing and social studies. The board shall ensure compatibility between the statewide assessments and the curriculum standards established pursuant to subsection (b). Such assessments shall be administered at three grade levels, as determined by the state board. The state board shall determine performance levels on the statewide assessments, the achievement of which represents high academic standards in the academic area at the grade level to which the assessment applies. The state board should specify high academic standards both for individual performance and school performance on the assessments.
(2) (A) On or before January 15 of each year, the state board shall prepare and submit to the legislature a report on students who take the statewide assessments. Such report shall include:
(i) The number of students and such number expressed as a percentage of the total number of students who took the statewide assessments during the immediately preceding school year disaggregated by core academic area and by grade level; and
(ii) the percentage of students who took the statewide assessments in grade 10 who, two years after graduating from high school, obtained some postsecondary education disaggregated by statewide assessment achievement level.
(B) When such information becomes available, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the state board shall publish the information required for the report under subparagraph (A) on the website of the state department of education and incorporate such information in the performance accountability reports and longitudinal achievement reports required under K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 72-5178, and amendments thereto.
(C) The provisions of this paragraph shall expire on July 1, 2029.
(d) Each school year, on such date as specified by the state board, each school district shall submit the Kansas education system accreditation report to the state board in such form and manner as prescribed by the state board.
(e) Whenever the state board determines that a school district has failed either to meet the accreditation requirements established by rules and regulations or standards adopted by the state board or provide curriculum based on state standards and courses required by state law, the state board shall so notify the school district. Such notice shall specify the accreditation requirements that the school district has failed to meet and the curriculum that it has failed to provide. Upon receipt of such notice, the board of education of such school district is encouraged to reallocate the resources of the school district to remedy all deficiencies identified by the state board.
(f) Each school in every school district shall establish a school site council composed of the principal and representatives of teachers and other school personnel, parents of students attending the school, the business community and other community groups. School site councils shall be responsible for providing advice and counsel in evaluating state, school district, and school site performance goals and objectives and in determining the methods that should be employed at the school site to meet these goals and objectives. Site councils may make recommendations and proposals to the school board regarding budgetary items and school district matters, including, but not limited to, identifying and implementing the best practices for developing efficient and effective administrative and management functions. Site councils also may help school boards analyze the unique environment of schools, enhance the efficiency and maximize limited resources, including outsourcing arrangements and cooperative opportunities as a means to address limited budgets.
Sec. 8. K.S.A. 72-7114 is hereby amended to read as follows: 72-7114. (a) Any association with a majority of the high schools of the state as members and the purpose of which association is the statewide regulation, supervision, promotion and development of any of the activities defined in K.S.A. 72-7117, and amendments thereto, and in which any public high school of this state may participate directly or indirectly shall:
(1) On or before September 1 of each year make a full report of its operation for the preceding calendar year to the state board of education. The report shall contain a complete and detailed financial statement under the certificate of a certified public accountant.
(2) File with the state board a copy of all reports and publications issued from time to time by such association.
(3) Be governed by a board of directors which shall exercise the legislative authority of the association and shall establish policy for the association.
(4) Submit to the state board of education, for its approval or disapproval prior to adoption, any amendments, additions, alterations or modifications of its articles of incorporation or bylaws. If any articles of incorporation, bylaws or any amendment, addition or alteration thereto is disapproved by the state board of education, the same shall not be adopted.
(5) Establish a system for the classification of member high schools according to student attendance.
(6) Be subject to the provisions of the Kansas open meetings law.
(7) Be subject to the provisions of the open records law.
(8) Recognize and accept accreditation of a nonpublic school by a regional or national agency.
(b) (1) The board of directors shall consist of not less than 60 members as follows:
(A) At least eight directors shall be members of boards of education, elected by local boards of education. At least two of such directors shall be elected from each congressional district of the state;
(B) at least two directors shall be representatives of the state board of education, appointed by the state board;
(C) (i) directors who are representatives of the senior high schools which are affiliated with a league shall be elected by the league;
(ii) the senior high schools which are not affiliated with a league shall be represented by at least one director;
(D) at least four directors shall be representatives of the middle/junior high schools, elected by the middle/junior high schools;
(E) at least one director shall be representative of and selected by athletic administrators;
(F) at least one director shall be representative of and selected by coaches;
(G) at least one director shall be representative of and selected by speech communications educators;
(H) at least one director shall be representative of and selected by music educators; and
(I) at least one director shall be representative of and selected by scholars’ bowl coaches.
(2) The directors appointed by the state board of education from the public at-large prior to July 1, 2014, whose terms are set to expire after July 1, 2014, may continue to serve on the board of directors until such director’s term expires. Upon the expiration of the term of any such director, the governor shall appoint a successor member of the board of directors. In the event of a vacancy or the expiration of the term of any director appointed by the governor, the governor shall appoint a successor member of the board of directors. Any person appointed by the governor shall not be employed by any school affiliated with a league in the Kansas state high school activities association, nor shall such person be a member of the state board of education. The governor shall be provided a list of those directors appointed pursuant to subsection (b)(1). The governor shall make appointments pursuant to this subsection in order to attain, when necessary, and insofar as possible, representation of ethnic minority groups and both genders on the board of directors and to ensure that a resident from each congressional district is appointed to the board of directors.
(3) All directors are limited to six consecutive years of service.
(c) (1) An executive board which shall be responsible for the administration, enforcement and interpretation of policy established by the board of directors shall be elected by the board of directors from its membership, provided that a director shall serve at least one year as a member of the board of directors prior to being elected to the executive board.
(2) At least two members of the board of directors elected to the executive board shall be directors appointed by the governor under subsection (b)(2), provided such directors are eligible for election to the executive board under this subsection. Members of the executive board elected pursuant to this paragraph shall only be eligible to serve on the executive board during the second, fourth and sixth years of such director’s term.
(3) Insofar as possible, membership on the executive board shall be representative of ethnic minority groups, both genders, and all geographical areas of the state.
(d) An appeal board which shall be responsible for conducting hearings provided for in K.S.A. 72-7118, and amendments thereto, shall be elected as provided in this subsection. The appeal board shall consist of eight members. The membership of the appeal board shall include four members who are board of education members, elected by the boards of education of the member schools of the association; and four members who are school administrators, elected by the member schools of the association. No member of the board of directors shall be eligible for election to membership on the appeal board. All members of the appeal board are limited to six consecutive years of service.
(e) The executive board is authorized to employ an executive director and such other personnel as may be necessary to the exercise of the powers and the performance of the functions and duties of the board of directors, the executive board, and the appeal board. The executive director and all other personnel, except custodial, clerical or maintenance personnel, employed by the executive board pursuant to this subsection, shall file written statements of substantial interests, as provided by K.S.A. 46-248 through 46-252, and amendments thereto.
Sec. 9. K.S.A. 72-7114 and K.S.A. 2025 Supp. 72-5170 are hereby repealed.
Sec. 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication in the statute book.
Approved March 19, 2026.
