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 February, 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.  

Kansas receives $4 million planning grants for early childhood system  

Gov. Laura Kelly announced that the state has received a $4 million 2023 Preschool Development Birth through Five Planning Grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. The funding will help Kansas update its early childhood plan, “All in for Kansas Kids,” supported by earlier federal grants.  

The grant will also help support the work of the Governor's Early Childhood Transition Task Force, created by an executive order on January 10 to develop a transition plan for a single cabinet-level agency for early childhood education and childcare programs. Restructuring early childhood program oversight was also recommended by the Governor's Education Council in its 2022 final report.  

State Board receives reports on Early Childhood programs  

The Kansas State Board of Education was briefed on the work of the State Department of Education's Early Childhood team at its January meeting. This includes support for the Parents as Teachers program, which provides $8.4 million in state grant funding this year to support 64 affiliates serving 168 school districts. These programs provide parents with skills and knowledge to help prepare children for school. Districts can offer preschool programs through several models, including contracting with partners to deliver preschool services. Last year, school districts served 22,579 preschool students and 34,351 kindergarten students.  

KSDE also partners with the Kansas Parent Information Resource Center to provide “Kindergarten in Kansas,” a booklet for families of young children getting ready to begin kindergarten. Since August 2021, more than 46,000 free copies of Kindergarten in Kansas have been distributed. KSDE works with elementary schools, parents and caregivers to collect kindergarten-entry data and supports adopting and utilizing early learning and family engagement standards. 

Grants available for childcare capacity accelerators 

The Kansas Children's Cabinet is seeking community-based applications for $40 million in Child Care Capacity Accelerator funding. The goal is to expand licensed childcare slots in Kansas to meet family needs. 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.

Fundamental Academic Skills 

Students acquire essential reading, writing, math, and other academic and cognitive skills to function individually, in society and in 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. 

Kansas Education Opportunity Grants for learning recovery available 

Qualifying Kansas parents may begin applying for $1,000 one-time grants to pay for educational goods and services that promote learning recovery and academic enrichment on February 22. Businesses and organizations can apply to provide 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. 

State Board updated on literacy initiatives  

The Kansas State Department of Education's Program Manager for Early Literacy/Dyslexia briefed the State Board of Education on the status of initiatives to address dyslexia and improve reading proficiency, many of which were launched in 2021. They focus on three areas: screening all students three times per year for reading difficulties; required dyslexia training for all new teachers and annual training for teachers specifically involved in reading instruction; and requiring all districts to implement “structured literacy” to teach literacy skills to all students and promote early intervention for students with characteristics of dyslexia. These efforts are based on the body of knowledge about how the brain works when learning to read, called “the science of reading.” 

The board also heard how KSDE is providing more professional learning for educators; is working to make sure the science of reading is reflected in college teacher training programs; the creation of a Literacy Advisory Council and development of an optional pilot second-grade reading assessment and possible revisions to literacy initiatives based on feedback. More information can be found at KSDE Early Literacy/Dyslexia resources. 

Spotlight: Recognition of 2022 National ESEA Distinguished Schools 

In February, the State Board of Education heard presentations from the two Kansas schools honored as federal ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) Distinguished Schools. For closing the achievement gap between student groups: Westview Elementary School, USD 233 Olathe. For exceptional student performance for two consecutive years: Hillsboro Elementary School, USD 410 Durham-Hillsboro-Lehigh. 

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 interfering with students' learning abilities.  

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

Safe and Secure Schools Conference addresses a wide range of challenges 

An estimated 250 educators, support staff, law enforcement and others participated in the 2023 Safe and Supportive School Conference, held Jan. 30-31 – the first in-person format in three years. Panels addressed various issues, including active shooter preparedness and response, drug prevention, human trafficking, cybersecurity, school resource officers, trauma and mental health, and student, school and community relationships. The conference was sponsored by KSDE's Safe and Secure Schools division. 

Kansas launches new resource app to address youth suicide 

The Kansas Attorney General's Office has partnered with the Jason Foundation, a national suicide prevention organization, to develop a free mobile app called “Kansas – A Friend AsKS” to connect youth to tools and resources to help a friend, or themselves, who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide. 

The app can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. It also offers the option for users to call or text the 988 mental health crisis line, launched in Kansas in July. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across the United States. The Lifeline comprises a national network of over 200 local crisis centers, combining local custom care and resources with national standards and best practices. (Click here for more details.) 

State Board appoints new Kansas Children’s Vision Health and School Readiness Commission  

In January, the State Board of Education appointed members to begin the work of the Kansas Children's Vision Health and School Readiness Commission, created in 2022 by Senate Bill 62. The duties of the commission, as specified in the bill, are to oversee state vision screening requirements and guidelines; provide standardized vision screening referral letters and eye professional examination reports; identify state resources to help provide opportunities to offer free or low-cost eye exams for students who fail vision screenings and are unable to afford an examination on their own; collect data on screenings and referral outcomes and issue an annual report. 

Celebrating School Counselors 

Feb. 6-10 was National School Counseling Week. School counselors help all students apply academic achievement strategies, manage emotions and apply interpersonal skills, and plan for postsecondary options (higher education, military, workforce). This year, Kansas school districts employed 1,314 school counselors for 484,060 students, a ratio of one counselor to 368 students. 

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.  

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 begins drafting new high school graduation regulations 

In February, the State Board received a first draft of regulations to change graduation as approved by the board last November. The changes, which would take effect for the high school class of 2027, include adding a 0.5 communications course but reducing the current English requirements from 4.0 to 3.5 units; 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, 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. 

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 prior to graduation, but any student, family or school could file a waiver to opt-out of this requirement. 

Career and Technical Education celebrated in February 

The value of Career and Technical Education and the achievements of CTE programs and students were celebrated nationwide in February, including the designation of Career and Technical Education Month in Kansas by a proclamation signed by Gov. Laura Kelly last week. CTE is defined as organized educational activities with a sequence of courses called pathways that provide individuals with rigorous academic content and relevant technical knowledge and skills to prepare for further education and careers in current or emerging professions. Those professions may include high-skill, high-wage or in-demand industry sectors or occupations. 

Last year, out of 146,000 high school students, over 85,000 Kansas students enrolled in CTE courses. Of those students, 54,774 Kansas students earned one credit in a single CTE pathway, and 30,441 students earned at least two credits. There were 23,657 Kansas students who were members of Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs), which provide “real world” applications and skills. 

According to KSDE data, CTE “concentrators,” who earn at least two credits in a CTE pathway, have a higher graduation rate than Kansas students overall, score higher on state reading, math and science assessments, and over 53 percent of concentrators who graduated also attained postsecondary credit, allowing them to either complete or get a head start on postsecondary credential that, on average, means higher income, more employment opportunities and lower poverty rates than those without credentials – and helps meet state workforce needs. 

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 student poverty rates and other risk factors.  

Governor’s Education Council Recommendations on Certification in Data Analytics, Diplomas Plus and CTE Pathways 

Governor Laura Kelly's Council on Education has presented its 2022 report with recommendations to increase the number of students who graduate from the K-12 system with more credentials than a high school diploma. 

The report calls for training 500 teachers statewide over the next five years who can teach students to earn a certification in Data Analytics from the National Coalition of Certification Centers (NC3). It recommends the state provide nine hours of academic college credit through dual or concurrent enrollment for under-resourced students at no cost while in high school. 

The report encourages postsecondary career technical education courses offered to high school students include the attainment of credentials, (such as the NC3 certification), in these programs; and creating the “Diploma Plus Kansas” oversight panel consisting of education, business and state government stakeholders to strengthen partnerships between K-12 and higher education that help high school students to earn credentials in addition to a regular diploma. Finally, the report calls for enhancing communication about CTE pathways and credentials that the business sector demands. (Click here for more details.) 

State Board of Education, Board of Regents seek concurrent enrollment agreement 

In February, the State Board of Education adopted a resolution, developed with the State Board of Regents, encouraging high schools to accept certain concurrent or dual enrollment courses to meet graduation requirements in core subjects, regardless of which postsecondary institution offers the courses. The goal is a statewide agreement on how college credit is applied for high school graduation requirements, using courses that have equivalent outcomes and transfer to all public postsecondary institutions offering the courses.