Members of the Kansas State Board of Education will vote on recommendations for how Kansas students interact with digital technology and social media during their monthly meeting in Topeka, Dec. 10-11. 

The recommendations from the Blue-Ribbon Task Force on Student Screen Time presented to board members in November provide guidance for school districts’ policies around students’ use of non-instructional technology and social media. The 36-member task force began meeting virtually in August and ended its work in November.   

Board members also will vote on their priorities for the 2025 Kansas legislative session that begins in January. Priority areas include academic support; health and safety; funding; and education policy governance. They also will receive an update on the statutorily required at-risk accountability plan pilot. Dr. Frank Harwood, KSDE deputy commissioner for fiscal and administrative services, told board members in September that all districts will need to begin submitting their at-risk accountability plans beginning in the 2026-27 school year.  

Members of the Kansas State Department of Education’s Accreditation and Design team will report on the process of reviewing school improvement action plans that have been submitted by some districts. The school improvement model is the foundation for the second iteration of the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation, known as KESA 2.0. Dr. Ben Proctor, KSDE deputy commissioner of the Division of Learning Services, also will provide an overview of the partnership with The New Teacher Project (TNTP) and the initiatives that will support school systems as educational leaders allocate resources toward the adoption of high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) and implementation of HQIM through professional learning, collaboration and evaluation. 

Board members also will receive an update on the Kansas Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program and hear from current apprentices and district representatives who are supporting them as they work toward earning their bachelor's degrees to become licensed teachers. This program was created to help address the teacher shortage in Kansas. 

Other items on the board’s November agenda include the following:   

• Hear a presentation on what formative assessments are and why they are an important part of a balanced assessment system; 
• Hear a presentation from several Junction City High School students who participate in the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG-K) program. 
• Act on request from Healy USD 468 to disorganize the district. 

Click here for the agenda and materials for the board’s December meeting.