The Kansans Can vision for student success focuses on multiple areas that prepare students to be successful adults, including kindergarten readiness, fundamental academic skills, health and safety, civic education and community engagement, preparing for individualized postsecondary success, and meeting economic needs.  

Here is a report on significant developments in these areas from March, with Kansas Can outcomes and measures used for school district accreditation.  

Kindergarten Readiness 

Students and families receive support to help prepare for kindergarten and be successful in elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education through various public and private programs, including school-based programs.  

Kansas Can Outcomes: Kindergarten Readiness, measured by Kansas Star recognition rubric.  

Governor announces members, operational support for early childhood task force  

Gov. Laura Kelly has named 18 task force members charged with reviewing Kansas's early childhood care and education system and developing a plan for a cabinet-level agency that supports the youngest Kansans. The task force was created by an executive order. The administration also announced that The Hunt Institute, an education policy center established by former North Carolina Governor James Hunt, will provide operational and staffing support to the task force. The Hunt Institute has provided similar services in reviewing early childhood programming in states including New Mexico, Missouri, North Dakota, Alabama, and Delaware.  

Grant applications to expand childcare capacity are open through May 15  

The Kansas Children's Cabinet is seeking community-based applications for $40 million in Child Care Capacity Accelerator funding. The grants are funded by federal COVID relief aid provided to the state. The goal is to expand licensed childcare slots in Kansas to meet family needs through new construction, significant expansion, and major renovations of physical childcare facilities, launch operational support, and implement sustainable solutions.  

Projects seeking funding must have a lead applicant, a school district or other educational organization, and demonstrate strong community support. School leaders can work with their partners in their community to apply for these funds, which support the Kansans Can outcome of kindergarten readiness. Click here for more information on the program. The Child Care Capacity Accelerator Grant Request for Proposals, online application form, and other resources to support efforts to identify childcare solutions for your community are available on the All in for Kansas Kids website. This includes four upcoming webinars and an online technical assistance portal. The grant submission is due Monday, May 15, at 5 pm. 

Fundamental Academic Skills 

Students acquire essential reading, writing, math, and other academic and cognitive skills to function individually, in society and the workforce. Students reach levels of competency that give them options for postsecondary choices. 

Kansans Can Outcome: Students are academically prepared for postsecondary education, measured by ACT scores and the percentage of students scoring at levels 3 or 4 of state assessments. 

State Education Department announced virtual supplemental math program at no cost   

The State Department of Education has contracted with IXL Learning to provide schools with a free supplemental instructional program that can help Kansas students improve their math skills. IXL's math curriculum and professional development for educators will be available at no charge to all Kansas-accredited public and private schools, K-12, through June 30, 2024.  

The 2022 Kansas Legislature directed KSDE to contract for a virtual supplemental math program and appropriated $4 million to fund the program for two years. The state requested a proposal (RFP), and IXL Learning was awarded the two-year contract. Legislators raised concerns about a decline in math performance on state assessments. The percentage of all students' test scoring at Level 1, or Limited, increased from 23.1% in 2015 to 34.2% last year, with the most significant increase following the COVID pandemic year.  

State education officials said IXL math is aligned with Kansas students and offers the best program at the lowest cost of any proposals. Many districts already use the program and will receive credit to extend the program. More information is available here.  

State Board of Education discusses assessments as department prepares recommendations  

At its March meeting, the Kansas State Board of Education continued a months-long discussion of student academic achievement, focusing on state assessments. Both state and federal law requires school districts to assess students in core subject areas, particularly math and reading. Kansas State Department of Education research has found that the higher Kansas students scored on the four levels of statements (Limited, Basic, Effective and Advanced), the greater the likelihood they will graduate high school, score higher on the ACT college readiness test, and demonstrate postsecondary success. Since current tests were adopted in 2015, the percentage of students at the lowest level has increased, and the percentage of students at the top levels has declined, leading to criticism from some Legislators and other organizations.  

The State Board approved the current assessment system. Still, some educators, school leaders and even State Board members have been critical of state assessments, saying they present only a one-time snapshot of student learning, are not taken seriously by students, and suggest a more limited view of what students are actually learning. KSDE leaders say they are working on a package of recommendations to local school boards and possible changes in the school accreditation to improve academic learning, which should result in higher assessment results. These changes will likely include a focus on structured literacy for reading instruction, multiple and balanced assessments, ensuring teaching reflects state academic standards (which is what is tested), and the use of high-quality teaching methods and materials.  

Kansas Education Opportunity Grants for learning recovery now available  

Qualifying Kansas parents may now apply for $1,000 one-time grants per student to pay for educational goods and services that promote learning recovery and academic enrichment. Grants are available for actively enrolled K-12 Kansas students aged 5-18 whose household income is less than 185% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines are eligible. Subject to funding availability, future waves of funding may be provided with expanded household income eligibility parameters.   

Businesses and organizations will provide these goods and services through an online marketplace. Click here for more information about the program for parents and providers.    

The grants are provided through the Kansas Educational Enrichment Program (KEEP) and funded by $50 million in federal COVID relief aid approved by the State Finance Council. Parents and guardians can receive $1,000 for education-related camps, tutoring, language and music lessons, curriculum materials, supplies and technology. More information is available from the Governor's media release and KASB's report.  

Spotlight: Hillsboro Elementary, 2022 National ESEA Distinguished School  

Hillsboro Elementary School in USD 410 Durham-Hillsboro-Lehigh was one of two Kansas schools honored as federal ESEA Distinguished School for positive educational advances and outstanding academic achievement. ESEA stands for Elementary and Secondary Education Act. KASB profiled the school, which was recognized for exceptional student performance for two consecutive years. 

Health and Safety 

Students learn in a safe and healthy environment and understand physical and mental health. Schools work with families, communities, and other partners to address issues that interfere with students' ability to learn.  

Kansans Can outcome: Social-emotional skills, measured locally, using Kansas Star recognition rubric.  

School Social Work recognized in March 

March 5-11 was School Social Work Week. School social workers are trained mental health professionals who can assist with mental health concerns, behavioral concerns, positive behavioral support, academic and classroom support, consultation with teachers, parents, and administrators, and provide individual and group counseling/therapy. School districts hire them to enhance their ability to meet their academic mission, especially where home, school and community collaboration is the key to achieving student success. This year, Kansas school districts employed 738 licensed social workers, an increase of over 311 positions since 2017, when school funding began to increase under the Gannon school finance plan, and an increase of over 460 over the past two years. These increases have occurred as schools responded to rising concerns about student mental health and behaviors.  

National report on youth risk behaviors released  

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control has released a new report on 10-year trends from 2011 through 2021 on behaviors and experiences among high school students in the United States related to health and well-being. It is the first report since the COVID pandemic began. Based on survey data, the report looks at trends in sexual behavior, substance use, experiences of violence, mental health, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.  

The report finds some areas of adolescent health and well-being are continuing to improve overall, including risky sexual behavior and substance use, as well as a decrease in youth who said they were bullied at school. But several experiences of violence are increasing, and mental health among students continues to worsen, including significant increases in the percentage of youth who have seriously considered suicide, made a suicide plan, or attempted suicide. On almost all measures, girls are doing worse than boys. In 2021, nearly 60% of female students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness during the past year, compared to less than 30% of males.  

School food programs in focus  

Two food programs under the Kansas State Department of Education’s Child Nutrition and Wellness Division were spotlighted this month: National School Breakfast Week was March 6-10, and National Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Week was March 12-18.   

The School Breakfast Program is a federal program that provides states with cash assistance for non-profit breakfast programs in schools and Resident Child Care Institutions. Kansas schools served an average of over 160,000 school breakfasts that meet federal nutrition standards and are provided free or at a reduced price to eligible children.  

CACFP is a federally funded program designed to provide reimbursement for healthy meals and snacks served to children and adults receiving daycare. This program can help schools serve nutritious meals and snacks to young children in preschool or daycare programs. The CACFP can also help afterschool programs serving low-income areas offer healthy meals and snacks to program participants.   

See how Kansas schools and Child Care providers celebrated National School Breakfast and CACFP Week at #FuelingKSKids. For more information, contact the KSDE Child Nutrition & Wellness team at 785-296-2276 or check out their new website at https://cnw.ksde.org.  

$525,000 awarded for community suicide prevention grants.  

Fifteen community organizations, including several specifically focusing on youth, have received $35,000 each to develop community-specific strategies to prevent suicide among at-risk Kansans. The awards were funded by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) through its Kansas Community Suicide Prevention Grant program.  

Earlier this year, Kansas launched a new youth suicide prevention app. According to the Kansas State Child Death Review Board 2020 Report, 26 children in Kansas between the ages of 10-17 died by suicide in 2020. In 2019, another report from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment showed there were 83 deaths by suicide for the ten-year age range of 15-24. Suicide was the second leading cause of death in those ages, accounting for 29 percent of 285 deaths.    

Civic Education and Community Engagement

Students learn about political and economic systems and cultural heritage with an opportunity to engage with their community. 

Kansans Can outcome: Civic Engagement, measured by Kansas Star recognition rubric. 

Spotlight: Basehor-Linwood High School's “Time Cats" Community Partnership  

In March, the State Board of Education received a presentation from students, educators and mentors from a community partnership between Basehor-Linwood High School's Innovation Academy, and two companies, Restored Aircraft and Siemens corporation.  

The students are working on a project to improve and automate a "time machine" module to display the work of Restored Aircraft, LLC, at the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture Show, the largest airshow of its kind in the world. The businesses use this project to showcase their design industry's software, Solid Edge. The students are learning real-world skills from industry mentors at Restored Aircraft and Siemens, including industry-recognized training in mechanical design, electronics, industrial technology, construction, documentation, etc. The students can earn both English and Industrial Robotics or Business Economics credits through Basehor-Linwood's Innovation Academy programs.   

Innovation Academy at BLHS is a project-based program launched in 2019 as a result of the district's Kansans Can Redesign initiative. It is a cross-curricular, co-taught, project-based program emphasizing real-world learning and community partnerships, with more than 25 core and Career Technical Education Courses for students to select. The IA program becomes the student's Individual Plan of Study (IPS) with meaningful work-based learning experiences. 

Preparing for Individualized Postsecondary Success  

Students are supported in developing skills for education and employment after high school based on their individual interests, including broader skills than academics alone. This includes more flexibility in when, how and where students can learn, and more hands-on learning experiences.  

Kansans Can Outcome: Individual Plans of Study with Career Focus, measured by Kansas Star recognition rubric.  

State Board moves toward final draft of new high school graduation regulations  

At its March meeting, The State Board continued the discussion of regulations to change graduation as approved by the board last November, based on a year-long study by a special task force. The changes, which would take effect for the high school class of 2027, currently propose adding 1.0 units of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) elective for all students, which could include computer science, advanced math or science, advanced CTE or agriculture; splitting the current requirement of 1.0 unit of physical education into 0.5 units of physical education and 0.5 units of health; and a new requirement of 0.5 units of personal financial literacy. A reduction in required electives would offset the newly required units. Virtually all districts currently require more than the minimum 21 units set by the State Board.  

Students would also be required to achieve at least two "postsecondary assets" aligned with their individual plan of study. The state board would have to approve what would count for these accomplishments, which could be a career/real work focus (such as work-based learning or technical credentials, scouting or 4H programs, athletics and activities) or academic measures (such as high scores on standardized academic tests and college programs). Finally, students would be expected to complete a federal college student financial aid application before graduation, but any student, family or school could file a waiver to opt out of this requirement. The board may take final action in April, but that step would send the proposed regulations to the Attorney General for a legal review that could take more than a year before coming back to the board for a public hearing and final approval. 

Meeting Economic Needs 

Students acquire the skills needed for individual economic security and meeting workforce needs in an economy where most jobs require both high school graduation and additional education.  

Kansans Can Outcomes: high school graduation, postsecondary success, and how the district compares to districts with similar rates of student poverty and other risk factors.  

Kansas high school graduates reach new high; postsecondary awards still below 2019  

Kansas set a record number of high school graduates in 2022, but the number of postsecondary credentials awarded by Kansas postsecondary institutions has still not recovered from the COVID pandemic.   

Kansas public and private schools graduated 35,724 students in 2022, the highest number in Kansas State Department of Education records dating back to 1993. Since that year, the number of graduates has increased by 37.5 percent, while total enrollment has increased by just 5.4 percent, showing how schools have become more successful in having students complete a high school diploma.  

The Kansas State Board of Regents reported that state and municipal universities, community colleges and technical colleges awarded 42,801 credentials in 2022, a slight 0.3% decline from last year but 0.3% over the five years since 2017. Total credentials awarded topped 45,008 in 2019 but have declined since the COVID pandemic struck in 2020. However, total credentials are still up 20% from 2009, when 35,682 were awarded. A big part of the increase has been students earning credentials or credit toward a degree in high school. Credentials earned by students under age 18 through 19 more than doubled, from 2,494 in 2009 to 5,668 in 2022, and those earned by students up to age 24 increased by 35%.  

Increasing the number of students who graduate high school is a key Kansans Can outcome both for projected state employment needs as more jobs require higher levels of education, and for individual economic health, since higher educational attainment on average results in higher income and lower poverty rates. A KASB report shows the increasing number of Kansans completing high school and earning postsecondary degrees has increased earnings by almost $8.5 billion compared to what earnings would be at 1990 education levels.  

Information on high school graduates can be found at the KSDE website on the Data Central page. Click on Kansas K-12 Reports. Information on credentials awarded by Kansas colleges and universities can be found on the Board of Regents website under Data. Click on Higher Education Statistics.