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.

KASB has posted a report on major developments for July 2022 in these areas, along with the Kansas Can outcomes and measures used for school district accreditation. Here are the highlights:

    – The Kansas Children’s Cabinet released an issue brief on Early Childhood and Literacy with recommendations aimed at the Every Child Can Read Act passed by the 2022 Legislature and requested increased funding for several early childhood programs.

    – The State Board of Education has approved $350 million in federal COVID aid to school districts targeted at teaching and learning, with $130 million earmarked by districts to address student learning loss during the pandemic. The U.S. Department of Education has released a new initiative to help schools accelerate student learning recovery.

    – Legislative leaders created an interim education committee to study special education and the State Board approved a budget recommendation calling for an increase in special education state aid over a five-year period to reach the level required in state law.

    – The State Board awarded $5 million in school safety grants and $10.3 million in grants for school-based mental health services approved by the Kansas Legislature. The Board has already approved $24 million in federal COVID funding for school districts for mental health services, and over $70 million for addressing COVID-related health issues.

    – The State Board has approved a new set of model financial literacy standards districts can use for local financial literacy courses at all grade levels.

    – The State Board approved 18 more schools to launch their school plans in the Kansans Can School Redesign Project this year. The Redesign project includes a focus on personalized and project-based “real world” learning efforts.

    Gov. Laura Kelly signed onto a multi-state agreement to expand computer science education, following passage of a computer science bill by the 2022 Legislature.