School officials across central Kansas say a newly approved state education law could significantly impact Career and Technical Education programs, reducing funding for school districts, limiting free college credit opportunities and complicating long-standing partnerships between high schools and community colleges.
Leaders from Hutchinson Public Schools, Hutchinson Community College, Buhler USD 313 and Newton USD 373 all say changes tied to House Bill 2485 could force districts and colleges to rethink how workforce training programs operate beginning next school year.
During a recent interview, USD 308 Superintendent Dawn Johnson said the district is still working through the full impact of the legislation but acknowledged some students could lose access to free college credit opportunities tied to Career and Technical Education classes…