Legal Briefing: KSDE’s 2026 Agreement and Anti-Discrimination Clause Changes
June 11, 2025
Description
On Wednesday, KSBRC hosted a critical legal update and Q&A session with Fritz Edmunds of Edmunds Law Offices, LLC, the new SBAE Legal Hotline attorney supporting school boards across Kansas.
Mr. Edmunds will discuss the legal and compliance implications of the recent changes to the Kansas State Department of Education’s 2026 SPN Agreement, which now requires use of gender ideology language in relation to Federal Child Nutrition Programs.
State Child Nutrition & Wellness services fall under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Executive Order by President Trump signed to end government support for programs promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. In compliance with this order, the Department of Agriculture removed all DEI language from its website: Non-Discrimination Statement | Home.
Some have raised the issue that districts may be faced with falling out of compliance with federal and state law, risk losing federal funding, could be in danger of legal action if they sign the contract, and may be simultaneously at risk of losing funding from KSDE for student food programs if the agreement is not signed by June 30.
KSBRC is excited to introduce you to Fritz Edmunds, the new SBAE Legal Hotline attorney serving Kansas School Boards. Mr. Edmunds will also discuss the process for serving Kansas school board members through the SBAE Kansas Legal Hotline. The SBAE Kansas Legal Hotline provides (free) education and guidance on various legal issues related to applicable state statutes, policy implementation, compliance with state and federal laws, reconciling needed policy reforms with existing state and local statutes, or other legal concerns.
Panelist:
Mr. Edmunds, a more than 30-year legal veteran, serves as outside general counsel to small businesses and interest groups, and as litigation counsel when all other reasonable options have been exhausted. He has served as a presidential appointee to a federal board in Washington, DC, and has litigated cases in state and federal courts throughout his career.
If you have a legal question for Mr. Edmunds, you can send your inquiry through the SBAE Legal Hotline: Have a legal question? – School Boards for Academic Excellence or through the link at the KSBRC website: Legal Hotline – Kansas School Board Resource Center