Legislative Alerts

This page contains information on legislation that involves non-accredited private schools in Kansas. KSHE encourages all homeschool families to stay informed - read bills as they work through the system, and listen to the hearings on these bills. Watch your email and our Facebook group for updates and alerts!

Legislative Watch: SB491 “Haylee Weissenbach Protecting Students Act”

• Status: UPDATED 3/6/26 - THIS BILL WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FURTHER THIS SESSION.

• Date Introduced:February 5, 2026

• Latest Action:Referred to the Senate Education Committee (February 6, 2026)

• The bill is scheduled for hearing Monday, March 2, 2026 at 1:30 pm

This bill is in the Senate Education Committee: SB491 Establishes the office of education inspector general; authorizing the education inspector general to conduct audits, investigations and reviews of educational institutions; requiring reporting of suspected professional and criminal misconduct by school employees and agents; requiring certain individuals to register on an educator misconduct registry established by the education inspector general; requiring school employees and agents to submit to a criminal history record check; providing for civil penalties for violations of the act. The issue for homeschool families and NAPS in particular, is the definition of ‘Educational institution’, section (e), "Educational institution" means any school district or nonpublic school that operates any of the grades kindergarten through 12 in Kansas. "Educational institution" includes charter schools, virtual schools and alternative educational programs.

Remember, what effects NAPS can also effect homeschools. Because there is no formal definition of ‘homeschool’ bills like this can become an issue for any type of educational program under NAPS. KSHE recommends reviewing the bill and contacting the members of the Senate Education Committee to be sure to protect homeschool families from being included in this bill.

HB2717 proposes that the compulsory minimum age for school attendance be changed from 7 years old to 6 years old. This bill is scheduled for hearing Thursday, February 12, 1:30 pm before the Committee on Education. UPDATE: HB 2717: Representative Estes said the reason she introduced this bill is she heard the comment several times, “I’m surprised that the Kansas minimum age for school is seven years old.”  She thinks that seven is too late and that there is too much essential education that is missed at a younger age. There will be discussion and action on it Monday, February 16, 2026 at 1:30 PM. UPDATE: HB 2717 passed favorably out of the House Education Committee and has been sent to the House for vote.

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