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 November and December, 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 Children’s Cabinet releases annual report and recommendations 

The Kansas Children’s Cabinet has released its 2022 annual report. The cabinet was created by state law to advise the governor and the legislature on use of money from the master tobacco settlement credited to the Children’s Initiatives Fund. They also evaluate programs funded by the CIF, assist in developing and implementing a coordinated delivery system to serve children and families, and support the prevention of child abuse and neglect. The cabinet also became the designated Early Childhood Advisory Council and lead applicant on renewal funding for the federal Preschool Development Grant. The annual report details the cabinet's activities and recommends financing and policy, including several proposals to improve early literacy.  

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. 

New efforts pledged to boost academic achievement  

Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) leaders outlined initial plans to help schools address and account for low academic performance before the State Board of Education in December. KSDE researchers looked at sophomore scores on state assessments in 2017 correlated with graduation and postsecondary success rates (defined as the percentage of students who obtained a postsecondary credential or are enrolled in a postsecondary program two years after graduation).  

For students scoring in Level 1, about 80% graduated from high school and 30% had postsecondary success. At Level 2, about 90% graduated and over 50% had postsecondary success. Finally, at levels 3-4, about 95% graduated and over 75% had postsecondary success.  

Last Spring, about one-third of Kansas scored in Level 1; one-third in Level 2 and one-third in Levels 3-4. The percentage in Level one has been increasing, especially during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.  

KSDE recommended several strategies to increase student success in these areas: 

• addressing student attendance which fell during the COVID-19 pandemic  
• ensuring subject standards are aligned by using a balance of assessments  
• promoting early literacy and numeracy  
• implementing tiered systems of support based on different student needs  
• focusing on kindergarten readiness  

Special Education Recognized  

National Special Education Day is held on December 2 to commemorate the nation's first federal special education law passed in 1975 as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA). It guaranteed access to free appropriate education in the least restrictive environment for every child with a disability. The law was amended in 1990 to become the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Kansas state law provides additional guarantees for special education services, including programs for gifted students.  

In Kansas, 78,273 Kansas students received special education and related services through IDEA in the 2021-2022 school year, including 7,794 infants and toddlers. Over 8,000 students received gifted services.  

Spotlight: Blue Ribbon Schools profiled  

Earlier this fall, the U.S. Department of Education recognized three Kansas schools as among the state’s highest-performing schools measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests. KASB visited each of those schools to learn about their success and challenges. Follow these links to learn more about each school: Cottonwood Elementary School, Andover Unified School District 385; Morris Hill Elementary, Geary County USD 475; and R.L. Wright Elementary School, Sedgwick USD 439.  

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 the Kansas Star recognition rubric.  

School bus safety survey posted 

The Kansas State Department of Education has posted an annual national school base survey of fatalities by state. Six students in five states were killed in school bus loading and unloading accidents last year. Kansas was one of 44 states that participated in the survey and reported no fatalities.  

Safe and Secure School Conference registration is open  

The Kansas State Department of Education is holding the Safe and Secure Schools Conference on January 30-31, 2023, at the Hilton Garden Inn, 410 South 3rd St., Manhattan. Click here for registration information and program details.  

Parent Support resources are available 

1-800-CHILDREN is a resource service for parents to find helpful, nearby resources and support near you, including crisis support. It can be reached through the 1-800-CHILDREN website by clicking here or connect with a real person by calling 1-800-CHILDREN. This support line is free and confidential and is available in English, Spanish and multiple other languages.  

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 the Kansas Star recognition rubric.  

Next Sunflower Summer to be bigger   

Sunflower Summer is a program that used a portion of COVID-relief funds to provide free entry to Kansas parks, museums, and other attractions for children and families. This program has run for the past two summers and will be back for the last time in 2023. Last summer, 118,477 students across Kansas benefitted from the program, visiting 90 different venues. In 2023, from Memorial Day to August 6, the program will offer free admission to 104 venues for students and families. 

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 the Kansas Star recognition rubric.  

State Board approves new graduation requirements  

In November, the Kansas State Board of Education approved a new set of high school graduation requirements that will take effect for the class of 2028 (current seventh graders).  

The current minimum of 21 credit hours to graduate will remain the same. Still, the new requirements make several changes in "course classification" and add new requirements within those 21 hours.  

• The current requirement of 4 units of English language arts (ELA) changed to 4 units of communications to include 3.5 units of ELA (reading, writing, literature, technical) and 0.5 units of communications (speech, debate, forensics, journalism, public speaking).  
• The current requirement of 3 units of history and government and 1 unit of fine arts changed to four units of Society and Humanities, with 3 units of social studies (world, US, government) and 1 unit of fine arts (music, dance, art, theater, etc.)  
• The current requirement of 3 units of math and 3 units of science changed to 7 units of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), with 3 units of math (algebraic and geometric concepts), 3 units of science (physical, biological, earth/space) and 1 unit of STEM elective (computer science, advanced math, advanced science, robotics, advanced CTE, advanced technology, agriculture).  
• The current requirement of 1 unit of physical education and 6 electives changed to 6 units of Employability and Life Skills, including 0.5 units of physical education, 0.5 units of health, 0.5 units of financial literacy and 4.5 units of an individual plan of study choices (with an emphasis on CTE/Pathway courses).  

The State Board also added a requirement for students to complete at least two “postsecondary assets” from two categories: "career and real world" and "academic." Career and real-world examples include job experiences such as youth apprenticeships and other work-based learning, community service hours, industry-recognized certifications, and recognition for scouting, athletics and other activities. Academic examples include scoring at defined minimum standards on tests like the ACT, WorkKeys, SAT and Advanced Placement exams and at high levels on state assessments. Also, by completing college hours or the Regents college prep curriculum. 

Kansas CTE Conference 

Registration is now open for the Kansas Annual CTE Conference, Feb. 6-8, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan. The theme for this year's conference is "Connect the Dots," hosted by the Kansas State Department of Education and the Kansas Association of Educational Service Agencies. Click here for registration and program information.  

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.  

Work Based Learning projects involve 46,000 students  

Last year, 46,000 students participated in some form of work-based learning experience through the Kansas WBL project, according to the Kansas Association of Workforce Boards. The project involved 101 schools in 28 districts, partnering with 516 employers in the state's workforce areas.  

Over 8,800 students participated in Career Preparation, such as internship and placement with business, industry and community, youth registered apprenticeship, simulated work-based experience in the school district, entrepreneurship/ownership and service learning. In the Career Exploration category, over 9,000 participated in job shadowing, mock interviews, field trips and career mentoring. Over 28,000 participated in Career Awareness activities, such as guest speakers, career fairs, field trips and tours.  

State Board approves next step in professional development for computer science  

The Kansas State Board of Education authorized the Commissioner of Education to initiate the contract bid process for applicants to provide computer science professional development to Kansas educators. The 2022 Legislature appropriated $1 million for education training in computer science in HB 2466 (PACK Act) for 12/1/2022 - 6/30/2023. Grant applicants include Kansas State University (Cyber Pipeline Program), The College Board, Olathe Public Schools, Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology (WSU Tech) and Orion Education and Training.  

Spotlight: The Neodesha Promise Scholarship Program fulfilling its promise  

Since 2019, 92 students have received $368,000 in scholarships and devoted 5,345 hours of community service under the Neodesha Promise Scholarship Program. The program, funded by the Marilyn Cram Cutler Charitable Foundation, provides tuition and fees for the postsecondary work of Neodesha High School graduates. To receive a scholarship, a student must have at least a 2.5 grade point average, be in good standing with the district and commit to at least 40 hours of community service. If the student plans to attend a four-year university, they must score at least 20 on the ACT. Scholarship officials told the State Board of Education in December that they believe enough funding is available to continue providing assistance for at least another 25 years.  

Spotlight: Cheney presents strategies for postsecondary success  

Leaders from Cheney USD 268 reported to the Kansas State Board of Education on strategies that increased their postsecondary success rate from 51.6 percent for the class of 2014 to 73.6 for the class of 2020 – among the highest rates in the state. They expanded course offerings and helped teachers receive licensure in more areas. They began working with five area colleges in concurrent enrollment programs and expanded career technical education pathways, created a strong partnership with the local Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations They also received feedback from students, families and teachers through surveys.