Kansas lawmakers reject requiring in-person classes March 26

(AP) A Republican proposal to require all Kansas public schools to offer every student full in-person classes by March 26 has failed in the state House. Some lawmakers had complained that it would take too much power away from local school boards. The GOP-controlled House’s 69-55 vote against the measure Tuesday showed that some Republicans had misgivings. The bill would have overridden a few local school districts’ decisions to wait longer because of the coronavirus pandemic. Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, pushed for the mandate, and his GOP-controlled chamber approved it earlier this month with no Democratic support. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly was skeptical of it.