Kansas teachers union plans lawsuit against state

The largest teachers union in Kansas plans to file a lawsuit after the July Fourth holiday challenging new education polices enacted this spring, including the elimination of guaranteed tenure in public schools.

Marcus Baltzell says Tuesday that attorneys for the Kansas National Education Association intended to file the lawsuit in Shawnee County District Court.

The union plans to contest the tenure issue and other provisions that were attached to a $129 million school funding bill by conservative Republicans and signed by Gov. Sam Brownback. The KNEA supported the funding increases in the bill, which were aimed at complying with a Kansas Supreme Court decision.

Other policies included loosening teacher licensing requirements and creating of a scholarship program for at-risk students funded by corporate donations in exchange for tax credits.

This story was originally published July 2, 2014 at 7:02 AM with the headline "Kansas teachers union plans lawsuit against state."