April  

7: Deadline for districts that plan on offering an alternative school during the 2023-2024 to complete Google form at https://forms.gle/5sAidnRkpvb63pMc7.  

11: 9-10 a.m., Star Assessments Spring Virtual Learning, sponsored by KSDE. “April Star Burst: Closing Out of the School Year with Star Assessments.” Learn more about the month’s topic or join the Office Hours Breakout Room. Registration: https://renaissance.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIrd-yrqDMqHtQE3TXZAettbokJ6qRUdh3c.  

11: 9-9:45 a.m. KSDE’s Accreditation and Design team’s monthly update on Zoom (register here). 

11-12: Kansas State Board of Education meeting. View the live stream at https://www.ksde.org/Board/Kansas-State-Board-of-Education/Streaming-Media. 

12: 6:30-8:30 p.m., session three of Youth Mental Health First Aid Community of Practice. Virtual.  

12: 8 a.m.-3 p.m., “Stop Assigning Writing! Raise Diverse Leaders Achievement by Showing Them How,” by Dr. Gina Kuker. Andover CAPS, 1401 W. 13th St. in Andover. Continental breakfast provided. To register, click here.  

12: Kansas One-Day Stop Arm Violation Count day. District school bus operators should observe and report all instances of motorists illegally passing their school buses. Please ensure drivers only report illegal passes (passes occurring while the school bus is stopped with red warning lights flashing and stop arm(s) deployed). Each district will enter data compiled from their collection method directly into KSDE’s survey. 

13: 8 a.m.-3 p.m., “Stop Assigning Writing! Raise Diverse Leaders Achievement by Showing Them How,” by Dr. Gina Kuker. Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), 900 S.W. Jackson, Suite 102, in Topeka. Continental breakfast provided. To register, click here.   

14: 3-6 p.m., Kansas State School for the Blind preschool open house. Irwin Building, 1100 State Ave. in Kansas City, Kansas. Registration is required for the open house. To register or for more information, click here. For questions, contact Jeanne Goodin by phone at 816-808-6175 or by email at jgoodin@kssdb.org.  

14: 9 a.m.-noon, Strategies for Supporting Deaf/Blind Individuals with Additional Disabilities, Envision, fifth floor, 610 N. Main St. in Wichita. Presented by Helen Keller National Center. This hands-on training will introduce communication systems; developing meaningful activities; human guide techniques; and simulation/experiential activities. Registration capacity is 30 people in person. There is no cost to attend. This workshop also will be made available virtually via Zoom. To full participation in the simulation activities, in-person attendance is encouraged. To register: https://forms.office.com/r/2vRkD6LreN.  

17: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Mondays through May 15, “The Reading Comprehension Blueprint.” Virtual event. Dive into the aspects of reading comprehension with Amanda Witty and Mary Williams. Learn how syntax, inferences, text structure, background knowledge and vocabulary impact reading, and then collect the tools to bring these together into cohesive learning plans. Sessions offer guidance for K-12 teachers, coaches and curriculum leaders. Register here.  

17: 10:59 p.m., deadline to submit feedback for National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Science Assessment Framework.  

1. Click the link to access the draft document.  
2. Read through the Guiding Questions and the full draft.  
3. Take notes and organize your feedback.  
4. Respond to the Guiding Questions on the feedback form. 

18: 3:30-4:30 p.m., Star Assessments Spring Virtual Learning, sponsored by KSDE. Star Power Hour. Share best practices, collaborate with colleagues and hear from a special guest KSDE educator. Registration: https://renaissance.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAldu6hrTMuHNxwXX7lRCu2B-bLGGoTgfo4.  

19: 6:30-8:30 p.m., session four of Youth Mental Health First Aid Community of Practice. Virtual.   

19: 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. 2023 Kansas Health Care Virtual Career Day. To register, https://web.kansaschamber.org/events/2023-Kansas-Health-Care-Virtual-Career-Day-3143/details.  

20: 10-10:30 a.m., KSDE’s ESSER team office hours. The Office Hour Zoom Link is: https://ksde.zoom.us/j/87815848572. 

20: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., State Cybersecurity Education Innovation Summit. Johnson County Community College, Regnier Center, Room 145, 12345 College Blvd. in Overland Park. Virtual via Zoom is available, too. This event will bring together stakeholders from across Kansas to discuss the current state of Kansas’ K-12 and higher education cybersecurity pathways of study. It also will provide an opportunity to engage with national leaders in cybersecurity education. Also, learn how to incorporate these materials into your existing curriculum: new NSA CAE K-12 cybersecurity curriculum; interactive cybersecurity activities/emates; Cyber.org program; GenCyber Program Camps; and free faculty development workshops. Email Andrew Lutz, associate professor of information technology at Johnson County Community College, at alutz4@jccc.edu and indicate if you will attend in person or virtually. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Please indicate if you have any dietary restrictions.  

21: Quarterly reporting for ESSER funds closes. Please contact esser@ksde.org for any questions on this.  

24-June 16: Spring 2023 Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training. Eight-week virtual, self-paced program. Some scholarships are available for the training with priority given to those who serve in rural areas or behavioral health settings in Kansas. Sponsored by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Kansas Health Foundation, Masonic Cancer Alliance and KU Tobacco Treatment Education. Those who can apply include community health workers, health educators, social workers, respiratory therapists, dental hygienists, substance abuse counselors, RNs/LPNS, administrators, physicians and other health/social service professionals Applicants must be tobacco-free for at least six months before the training. 24-June 16: Spring 2023 Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training. Eight-week virtual, self-paced program. Some scholarships are available for the training with priority given to those who serve in rural areas or behavioral health settings in Kansas. Sponsored by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS), Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), Kansas Health Foundation, Masonic Cancer Alliance and KU Tobacco Treatment Education. Those who can apply include community health workers, health educators, social workers, respiratory therapists, dental hygienists, substance abuse counselors, RNs/LPNS, administrators, physicians and other health/social service professionals Applicants must be tobacco-free for at least six months before the training. While the application for the spring training has closed, you can be added to the waitlist or submit interest in future trainings by visiting https://redcap.kumc.edu/surveys/?s=9PXRJ3CHLH7KKYYN.