Kansas State Board of Education members will hear a presentation on the fentanyl crisis; receive an update on the new Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) framework, also known as KESA 2.0; and are scheduled to act on the Kansas Early Learning Standards during their January meeting. 

The state board will meet Tuesday, Jan. 9, and Wednesday, Jan. 10, at the Landon State Office Building, 900 S.W. Jackson, Suite 102, in Topeka. 

As part of a series of presentations to the state board, Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) staff members will provide an update on the development of KESA 2.0. 

This month, the focus will be on two key areas related to the Kansas School Improvement Model and KESA 2.0. Those are the Kansans Can Competency framework and an overview of a standards-based benchmark assessment aligned to Kansas standards in mathematics and English language arts. 

Additionally, KSDE staff members will share an update on the overall progress of the development of the KESA 2.0 model scheduled for implementation during the 2024-2025 school year. 

Board members will hear from Reylli Lopez, a 2023 graduate of Highland Park High School, Topeka Unified School District 501, on his experience as a student apprentice. In 2021, KSDE partnered with Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) and the Kansas Department of Commerce to develop the first approved youth apprenticeship in Kansas. 

The following year, USD 501 was the first school district to pilot this state paid apprenticeship program to promote college and career readiness. Lopez, a high school junior at the time, was selected to join KSDE’s Information Technology (IT) team as its first paid apprentice. 

During the afternoon portion of Tuesday’s meeting, Jenni Ebert, Riley County Health Department coordinator, and Tony Mattivi, Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) director, will present information on the fentanyl crisis. 

Other items to be presented at the meeting include: 

• A review of the Jan. 5 meeting of the Special Education and Related Services Funding Task Force. 
• Evidence-Based Practices with At-Risk Funds. 
• Elementary Pre-K-6 Teacher Preparation Standards. 
• A presentation of Kansas Certificates in Child Nutrition Management. 
• Information on the State Board’s role in transferring territory between school districts. 

During Wednesday’s meeting, board members are scheduled to act on the updated Kansas Early Learning Standards (KELS). 

A collaborative group of Kansas early childhood partners worked together to review and complete this fourth revision to the KELS. Board members received a presentation describing the process to revise the KELS and the proposed updates in November 2023. 

In December, staff members shared adjustments made to the proposed updates following feedback. 

Also on Wednesday, elected state leaders of Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) will present on how CTSOs have impacted them personally.  

The meeting begins at 10 a.m. Tuesday. To see the full agenda, click here. 

To view the live stream, click here.