TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas public school districts are finding it harder to fill vacant teaching positions this year, even though increased funding allowed many districts to offer higher salaries, according to a report released this week by the Kansas State Department of Education.

The report said 612 teaching positions are vacant this fall — a 19 percent increase from the same time last year. Most of the vacancies are in special education, followed by elementary education, English language arts, science and math.

MoDeputy Education Commissioner Brad Neuenswander told the Lawrence Journal-Worl...