Evidence-Based List and At-Risk

The Kansas State Board of Education at its February meeting will receive recommendations on potential statutory adjustment on Feb. 13, 2024, with possible action to be taken on Feb. 14, 2024. A review of the current list has been conducted.  A process for districts and vendors to submit provisional programs and practices is being developed. Districts should expect to hear more developments on this work Spring 2024.

Graduation Topics – STEM Requirement

There is a requirement for one unit of a STEM elective for each student. Examples include Computer Science, Advanced Math, Advanced Science, Robotics, Advanced Technology, and Agriculture.

While the largest percentage of students should fulfill this requirement by taking advanced courses and/or application courses within a pathway, we also recognize that some students may not find success in advanced coursework.

A computer science course, technology course, or related course is an option for students who may not be able to successfully complete a course that is considered advanced.

Please see our Graduation Requirements FAQ page for more details. New requirements are set to be in place for the Class of 2028. For more information, click here.

FAFSA

The intent with the new graduation requirements beginning with the Class of 2028 (current 8^th graders) is for each student to complete the FAFSA prior to graduation.  Any student, family or school can opt a student out of completing the FAFSA.

ELA and Communication

KSDE’s current guidance provides the following options:

• Systems wishing to have a semester of Communication within ELA can do so and will need a course code affiliated with the Communication class. If this is the route chosen, an appropriately licensed English teacher may teach this class.

OR

• Districts who already require a communication class (speech, debate, forensics, journalism, public speaking) along with the ELA requirements should be fine to continue that.  The appropriately licensed teachers will be needed to teach both the ELA and the communication class if this is the model used.

Financial Literacy

Course Title: Financial Literacy (Employability and Life Skills)

Course Code: 22990

Course Description: Financial literacy course provides students with an understanding of the concepts, principles and skills involved in making and applying sound financial decisions. This course emphasizes earning income, spending, saving, investing, managing credit and managing risk. Published standards can be found on our website: Financial Literacy (ksde.org)

Qualified Teachers: Family and Consumer Sciences, Gen Business, Business Ed Comp, Business Economics, Business Finance, Economics, History and Government, Social Studies Comp (With verifiable Financial Literacy Training)

The Consumer and Personal Finance Course 22210 for .5 credit will not continue to be a funded course in Pathways (Pathway Applications for 2024-2025) since every student in Kansas will be required to take the new course as a graduation requirement.

Please direct your questions to Dr. Robyn Kelso, Career, Standards and Assessment Services (CSAS) coordinator, at (785) 296-3444 or at rkelso@ksde.org; or Dr. David Fernkopf, CSAS assistant director, at (785) 296-8447 or at dfernkopf@ksde.org.