Proposed funding cuts in Kansas schools could result in reduced mental health services in schools across the state due to state law requirements to cover 92% of excess special education costs, which has not been met. The state's Special Education Funding is set to drop to 65% next year, according to Frank Harwood from the Kansas State Department of Education. The proposed cuts could impact services such as counseling services, fifth-grade orchestra, and school-based mental health intervention teams. The Blue Valley School District is already facing a $10 million shortfall, and another proposed bill, House Bill 2513, would reduce funding from 16 million to $10 $10m, a 37% decrease, affecting about 80 districts statewide. Harwood said districts are shifting roughly $440 million from other areas to fill the gap. Statewide, districts are transferring about $440m to fill this gap. School districts across Kansas are facing difficult decisions as gaps in special education funding grow.