Kansas Joins Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Push After Legislature Overrides Kelly Veto

The Kansas House voted 85-38 and the Senate voted 29-10 to override Governor Kelly's veto of SB 361, clearing the way for Kansas to participate in the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program beginning in 2027. The program mirrors Kansas' existing Low Income Students Tax Credit Scholarship initiative, which has served just over 1,000 students since its inception more than a decade ago—fewer students than are typically absent on any given day in the Wichita school district, according to education policy analysts. Under the new federal program, individuals and married couples can donate to scholarship-granting organizations and receive tax credits of up to $1,700 and $3,400 respectively. These organizations then distribute scholarships to students meeting income-qualification criteria at accredited public or private schools. The program represents a significant expansion of Kansas' school choice options as the state seeks to broaden educational alternatives beyond traditional public school districts. The override vote reflects deep divisions within Kansas' education policy debate. While school choice advocates argue the program enhances parental options and educational flexibility, opponents—including the governor—have raised concerns about funding impacts on public schools. Kansas now joins 28 other states in adopting the federal tax credit scholarship model, positioning the state alongside a growing national movement toward private school choice programs.