�鶹ӰԺ

CHAPTER 40

House Bill No. 2487

An Act concerning postsecondary education; relating to the �鶹ӰԺ 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 �鶹ӰԺ:

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 �鶹ӰԺ education opportunity scholarship program act.

(b) As used in this act:

(1) “�鶹ӰԺ education opportunity scholarship program” means a program under which the state provides financial assistance through the award of �鶹ӰԺ education opportunity scholarships to �鶹ӰԺ education opportunity scholars.

(2) “�鶹ӰԺ education opportunity scholarship” means a financial award made by this state under this act to a �鶹ӰԺ education opportunity scholar.

(3) “�鶹ӰԺ education opportunity scholar” means a person an individual who:

(A) (i) Is a resident of �鶹ӰԺ;

(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 �鶹ӰԺ 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 �鶹ӰԺ 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 �鶹ӰԺ 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 �鶹ӰԺ; 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 �鶹ӰԺ 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 �鶹ӰԺ 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.

(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.

Approved April 6, 2026.