At their February meeting the Kansas State Board of Education took its strongest stance yet on directing how reading is taught in Kansas. They also approved a narrower list of programs and practices that districts can use with At-Risk funds.

Science of Reading

The Board adopted a statement on literacy instruction that “requires all accredited schools in Kansas to use evidence-based methodology fully aligned with the Science of Reading, specifically Structured Literacy.” The statement expressly prohibits reading instruction that is identified to be ineffective. The Board also details the specific approaches related to literacy that must be utilized. 

This action comes amid efforts to improve reading instruction in Kansas. The state assessment results offer evidence supporting the need for adjustments in instruction. There has been a growing focus on reading ability, especially for the estimated 15-20 percent of students with characteristics of dyslexia.

Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson reviewed actions supporting strong literacy practices. This includes ensuring Science of Reading concepts are part of teacher preparation programs and addressing these criteria in applicable educator licensure areas. Specific funding has been directed to train teachers and education college faculty in Science of Reading principles.

Commissioner Watson is seeking further funding for training along with expanded assessments.  All teachers and administrators will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of the Science of Reading.

The Board’s actions ensure that reading instruction based on the Science of Reading, and specific instructional efforts called Structured Literacy, are actually being used in Kansas schools and other methods are not. While the State Board does not directly control the content or method of instruction, they do set requirements for school accreditation. Structured literacy is expected to be embedded in the accreditation revision currently underway by Kansas State Department of Education.

At-Risk-Weighting Funds

The Board approved a change in how school districts are allowed to spend the almost $400 million in state At-Risk Weighting funds.  This may require districts to change their programs and practices or prove the success of programs currently in use.

Under the state school finance law, districts receive additional funding based on the number of students eligible to receive free meals. Research shows a connection between family income and academic achievement. Funding can only be spent on programs and practices that meet a proven standard of effectiveness and are approved by the State Board. Exceptions can be granted by the Board if a district uses an approach that shows evidence of success.

A recent Legislative Post Audit study found that many programs on the State Board approved list lacked adequate peer-reviewed evidence of success. The report also found that the five-year requirement for tracking effectiveness was impractical since most research did not extend that long. It was recommended that the Legislature remove that five-year requirement.

The State Board took the following action on at-risk funding: 

• Voted to support the LPA recommendation to remove the five-year requirement.
• Approved an updated list that includes 72 programs and 78 practices that have peer-reviewed evidence of supporting at-risk students. Most on the list do not meet the five-year tracking standard and would not be in compliance if the Legislature fails to remove that requirement.  
• Approved a new application process to submit programs and practices that are not currently on the approved evidence-based list but meet the requirements for exceptions.

The new list adopted by the Board has fewer options than before so districts will have to switch to approved programs or prove the success of non-listed programs. 

Other February Meeting Items

The Board received updates on the following: 

• Districts using a four-day school week and how that has impacted staffing and achievement.
• Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program.
• Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) framework.
• Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and its potential impact on education.
• 2024 legislative session.
• Special Education Advisory Council.
• ESEA Distinguished Schools in Valley Heights USD 498 and Valley Center USD 262.
• Maria Cibrian-Vazquez of the Uniontown USD 235 FFA Chapter, winner of the inaugural FFA Spanish Creed Speaking Contest.
• Students from Valley Falls USD 338, one of two winning teams of the KSDE Child Nutrition and Wellness Recipe Challenge.
• Six food service professionals who recently earned their Kansas Certificate in Child Nutrition Management. 

In addition, the Board took the following action at the February meeting:

• Approved proposed revisions to the Elementary PreK-6 Teacher Preparation Standards.
• Accepted recommendations from the Commissioner’s Task Force related to funding.
• Awarded a $250,000 grant to Olathe USD 233 for an assessment project.

The State Board will meet next on March 12-13.