$228M
Kansas special education
funding shortfall
$30M
Diverted to private schools
via HB 2468 voucher bill
$6M
Senate's proposed increase
for special education
✉What his campaign mailers said
Liberty First Project Mailer
"TJ Rose Is An Education Champion" — Committed to improving school funding formula, supports keeping all Kansas schools FULLY FUNDED, supports unprecedented investments in special education.
TJ Rose for State Senate Mailer
"Lower Taxes. Successful Schools. Safe Communities." — Vote TJ Rose For State Senate.
Liberty First Project SMS
"TJ Rose Puts Kansas Students First!" — Committed to fully funding Kansas schools for the best education for our kids. Supports full funding for special education.
Liberty First Project Mailer
"Kansas Students Deserve… Fully Funded Schools. Safe Classrooms. More Opportunities." — As our Johnson County schools grow, we need leaders who ensure our schools stay fully funded!
TJ Rose Campaign Website
"I believe public schools should be fully funded, including special education." — I will work across the aisle to ensure our students and teachers experience success in the classroom.
AFP Kansas Mailer
TJ Rose knows you need freedom to choose what is best for your child and your family. An independent voice for the State Senate who trusts YOU know best.
TJ Rose for State Senate Mailer
"Balance the State Budget & Fully Fund Necessary Services" — Reduce property taxes. Support small businesses.
⚖How he actually voted in office
HB 2468 — School Voucher Bill
Voted YES — Expands the Tax Credit Scholarship voucher program, doubling the cap from $10M to $20M (potentially $30M), diverting state tax dollars to private schools. Also opts Kansas into a new uncapped federal voucher program. This bill passed both chambers and headed to the governor's desk — while Kansas has a $228 million special education shortfall.
State Budget — Special Ed Funding
The Senate budget included only a $6 million increase for special education despite a $228M shortfall. The House's proposed $10M enhancement was cut back by the Senate. Note: Rose did vote for Sykes' $21M special education amendment — one of just 3 Republicans to do so — but the amendment failed 26-12.
The Math Doesn't Add Up
Campaign promise: "Fully fund" public schools and special education.
In office: Voted to divert up to $30 million in tax dollars to private schools while only $6M was added for special education — covering just 2.6% of the shortfall.
Impact on Local Property Taxes
When the state fails to fund special education, local districts must cover the gap. In Kansas, 39% of local property taxes for public schools are being used to backfill the special education shortfall — contradicting Rose's promise to "reduce property taxes."
Who Benefits From HB 2468?
The voucher program primarily benefits families already enrolled in private schools. Less than 1% of eligible low-income Kansas students received scholarships from private schools through the existing program. Meanwhile, over 470,000 public school students are impacted by the special education shortfall.
Who Paid for the Campaign?
Rose's pro-education mailers were funded by Americans for Prosperity (AFP Kansas) — a Koch-backed organization that actively promotes school voucher programs — and Liberty First Project Inc., which also supports school choice policies.
Promised "Fully Funded Schools" — Voted to Divert Millions to Private Schools
TJ Rose's 2024 campaign mailers told Johnson County voters he was an "Education Champion" who would keep public schools fully funded. In office, he voted for HB 2468, which diverts up to $30 million in public tax dollars to private schools through a voucher scheme — while Kansas special education remains underfunded by $228 million.
Campaign Mailers Were Paid For By
Americans for Prosperity (AFP Kansas) — PO Box 97102, Topeka, KS 66667
Liberty First Project Inc. — PO Box 8162, Topeka, KS 66608
Kansas Republican Party — Mike Brown, Chairman; Alan Townsend, Treasurer
TJ Rose for Kansas — Tina Dollar, Treasurer