Applications for School Improvement Days Facilitators open

Beginning in the 2024-25 school year, the new accreditation model, KESA 2.0, will involve school systems meeting together once per year for School Improvement Days. As part of this process, KSDE is recruiting teams of facilitators to lead these sessions. The facilitators will be in teams of three and will lead school leadership teams through data conversations, reflective questions and action planning. We are recruiting interested educators for these roles over the next few months and will conduct training sessions later this spring.  Some of the characteristics we are looking for in our facilitators include: 

• Skilled in large group facilitated discussion.
• Systems-thinker and passionate about school improvement & instruction.
• Flexibility for 2 or 3 days per year.
• Willingness to learn and teach the KS School Improvement Model.
• Understand the importance of building relationships and trust.

If you are interested in being a facilitator or want to learn more about this role, we ask that you complete the survey at this link. Please let us know if you have any questions.


High Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM)
The work to support KSDE’s implementation of the Four Fundamentals will begin soon. KSDE is partnering with The New Teacher Project (TNTP) to collect information on the materials currently in use in Kansas systems. Districts are asked to participate in a materials data collection survey coming from TNTP. The information from this survey will be used to grow understanding of the importance of high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) and develop a vision in Kansas for HQIM adoption. This work is all about supporting school systems in the selection of materials that are high-quality and most aligned to state standards.

Kansas Math Project (KMP)

KSDE’s Kansas Technical Assistance System Network (TASN) has released the Kansas Math Project (KMP) via Moodle. The website enables Kansas math teachers, Pre-K-12, to begin their asynchronous KMP journey.

The purpose of this project is to strengthen math teachers’ understanding of evidence-based teaching strategies and math content knowledge. Kansas MTSS and Alignment and KSDE have worked in partnership with Dr. Sarah Powell and Dr. Badley Witzel.  Over 200 Kansas educators have reviewed the modules and participated in pilots and trainings, as well as provided feedback. For more information contact: kmp@kansasmtss.org.

Several in-person KMP Foundational Modules trainings will be offered this school year and next. For the 2023-2024 school year, two training sessions are available:

• April 2-3, 2024, at Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Dodge City. Register at https://ksdetasn.org/events/JQ9Qvg (attendance required both days).
• April 4-5, 2024, at The Oread Hotel Hancock Ballroom in Lawrence. Register at https://ksdetasn.org/events/5Sk3RQ (attendance required both days).

For the 2024-2025 school year, the following trainings are scheduled:

• Oct. 14-15, 2024, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Hays (attendance required both days).
• Oct. 16-17, 2024, at the Sunflower Foundation, Topeka (attendance required both days).
• Feb. 24-25, 2025, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Hays (attendance required both days).
• February 26-27, 2025, at the Sunflower Foundation, Topeka (attendance required both days).
• April 28-29, 2025, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Hays (attendance required both days).
• April 30 and May 1, 2025, at the Sunflower Foundation, Topeka (attendance required both days).

Registration for these trainings will be available at https://ksdetasn.org/mtss/kmp-information once all logistical information is confirmed.


Every Child Can Read Act

According to the Every Child Can Read Act, school districts are required to submit a report to KSDE prior to June 30 of each year that will include:

• Interventions and the outcomes of the interventions.
• Any programs used for Tier 2 and Tier 3 students.
• Fall and Spring screening aggregate screening data.
• The number of third grade students in the district.
• The screening and assessment data the district used to evaluate literacy.
• The percent of students and subgroups who are proficient and moving toward proficient in each district.

KSDE will use district submissions to create a report for the Governor’s Office and the Kansas Legislature, which also is required. 

Evidence-Based List and Provisional Application

KSDE will provide school districts with an application process to submit programs and practices that are not currently on the approved evidence-based practices list but meet the statutory definition for a provisional at-risk educational program.

The application includes district evidence that the program or practice is producing or is likely to produce measurable success and which above and beyond category the provisional at-risk program meets.

The new evidence-based list is contingent upon the Kansas Legislature eliminating the five-year research requirement. If the legislature eliminates the five-year research requirement, the new evidence-based list has 72 programs and 78 practices. If the legislature does not eliminate the five-year research requirement, the new evidence-based list will have nine programs and 78 practices.

An updated at-risk list can be found at this link. The application to have a program or practice reviewed for the provisional list will be released soon. The provisional list items accepted are for use in only the system that applies to use them. They will meet the legal requirements for at-risk funding.