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A “What’s New with HirePaths?” webinar has been scheduled for 12-1 p.m., on Jan. 8. Click here for the Zoom link.
HirePaths introduces Kansas kids of all ages to high demand jobs our state will need in the future. Materials are free for educators and families to use.
The Kansas State Department of Education and the Kansas Parent Information Resource Center (KPIRC) are offering new live virtual trainings to deepen educators’ knowledge of the Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ®).
Engaging with families to build strong relationships and support early childhood development is a key strategy to support young children’s success. The ASQ® questionnaires provide a snapshot of children’s developmental milestones and can serve as a powerful tool to support kindergarten readiness.
The next curriculum leaders meeting will be on Jan. 31, at the Bishop Professional Development Center in Topeka. Register here by Jan. 17.
To streamline the customer experience, Renaissance is consolidating their legacy customer support systems for all products, including Nearpod, into a new, comprehensive system. Starting Jan. 1, all support requests will be handled via the new system to provide a more seamless experience for all cases for a customer’s account.
Reminder: If your district has not used allocated virtual professional development hours, schedule a session from the Professional Learning Catalog by Dec. 31. To check if this applies to your district, watch the recording at the 1:37 time stamp.
You do not need to hold the session by Dec. 31, but you must schedule it before then so that it does not expire.
Contact scheduling@renaissance.com for more information and/or schedule sessions here.
January
1: Educator Data Collection System (EDCS) opens for submission of the Licensed Personnel Report (LPR). To access EDCS district training resources (including both PDFs and videos of specific EDCS topics), click here: Licensed Personnel. Contact Leslie Bruton, lbruton@ksde.org, or (785) 296–8011, with questions.
8: Science collaboration for new science teachers, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.
8: KESA 2.0 action plan virtual office hours, 3-4 p.m. Questions can be submitted within 24 hours of the virtual meeting by completing this survey. Click here for the Zoom link. Contact Hayley Steinlage, hasteinlage@ksde.org, with questions.
8: HirePaths informational webinar, “What’s New with HirePaths?”, 12-1 p.m. Click here for the Zoom link. Contact Kristin Brighton, kristin@newbostoncreative.com, or 785-587-8185, with questions.
Mark your calendars for the following dates and locations of the 2025 and 2026 curriculum leaders meetings.
Important note: All Renaissance and Nearpod support emails, website addresses, and phone numbers will remain unchanged so customers can continue to access support with no downtime in service. Contact Renaissance Support or Nearpod Support with any questions.
Reminder: If your district has not used allocated virtual professional development hours, schedule a session from the Professional Learning Catalog by Dec. 31. To check if this applies to your district, watch the recording at the 1:37 time stamp. Please note: You do not need to hold the session by Dec. 31, but you must schedule it before then so that it does not expire.
If you are interested in a FastBridge session below, but are unable to join, use the Newsletter Engagement Form to request additional dates and times using option #5.
December
17: Science collaboration for curriculum leaders, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.
17: Structured literacy training, Smoky Hill, Salina. Register here. Contact Dr. Laurie Curtis, lcurtis@ksde.org, with questions.
18: Science collaboration for science teachers, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.
19: Transportation basics workshop for transportation directors and supervisors, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Bishop Professional Development Center, 3601 S.W. 31st Street, in Topeka. Register for free here. Contact Keith Dreiling, kdreiling@ksde.org, with questions.
Kansas high school students are invited to participate in a special event, Dec. 9-14, to sharpen their cybersecurity skills while having fun.
Hosted by the Kansas State Department of Education in partnership with EnterpriseKC’s Heartland Cyber Range and Wichita State University, a virtual “Capture the Flag” (CTF) event offers a thrilling, hands-on way to dive into topics like encryption, network security, reverse engineering, and programming. Plus, who knows what other surprises might pop up?
The next Kansas curriculum leaders meeting will be on Jan. 30, at the Bishop Professional Development Center in Topeka.
When the curriculum leaders met on Nov. 15, Caitlyn Sharp of The New Teacher Project (TNTP) discussed the coordination of work they are developing with the Kansas State Department of Education. Her presentation included highlights of TNTP’s newly released report, The Opportunity Makers.
Veteran educators, anyone considering a career in education, and anyone in between is invited to Bethany College’s education conference, on Feb. 8.
The deadline to register is Jan. 18.
To encourage teaching science in a rural area, Fort Hays State University is offering scholarships to individuals who have earned a bachelor's degree in science and are considering a career in teaching.
This competitive award program will award recipients a $24,066 stipend to complete coursework that will lead to full teaching licensure.
Spanish teachers are invited to a retreat, April 11-13, to immerse themselves in the Spanish language for a weekend.
The objective is to duplicate the experience of spending the weekend in a Spanish-speaking country engaging in pedagogical activities completely in Spanish. Colombia is the theme for the 2025 retreat.
Reminder: If your district has not used allocated virtual professional development hours, schedule a session from the Professional Learning Catalog by Dec. 31. To check if this applies to your district, watch the recording at the 1:37 time stamp. *Please note: You do not need to hold the session by Dec. 31, but you must schedule it before then so that it does not expire.
6: Deadline to apply for the 2025 Heartland Farm to School Institute. Click here to apply no later than 11:59 p.m., CST. Contact Eryn Davis, edavis@ksde.org, (785) 296-5060, with questions.
9: KESA 2.0 monthly Zoom update, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Click here for the Zoom link.
9: Structured literacy training, Southwest Plains, Sublette. Register here. Contact Dr. Laurie Curtis, lcurtis@ksde.org, with questions.
10: Kansas Preschool Pilot (KPP) grant technical assistance webinar, 10 a.m. Contact Natalie McClane, nmcclane@ksde.org, and Amanda Petersen, apetersen@ksde.org, with questions.
10-11: Kansas State Board of Education meeting. Click here for the agenda and meeting materials.
KSDE is already in the early stages of planning the 2025 Great Ideas in Education conference since the date of the event has been changed to July 27-30, at the Hyatt Regency, in Wichita. Click here to watch a video from this year's Great Ideas in Education Conference: Lighting the Path Forward.
School systems are strongly encouraged to begin planning to send district leadership teams to the annual conference. Learning and collaboration opportunities will emphasize the fundamentals of structured literacy, standards alignment, balanced assessment and quality instruction.
This professional development opportunity is for educators to explore what balanced literacy is and how structured literacy is different.
Attendees will learn the “why” and “how” to make the instructional shifts necessary to teach reading and writing in a way that allows more students to be successful.
During training sessions scheduled for December and January, English language arts (ELA) teachers for grades 3–12 will learn what text complexity is, why complex text is vital to assist in raising the rigor for our students, and how best to scaffold learning using evidence-based strategies. Structured literacy demands teachers present students with appropriately complex texts, explicitly teaching students to grapple with them.
Attendees will practice identifying appropriately complex text for their students and explore how to effectively scaffold to leverage productive struggle and student success.
The KSDE School Bus Safety Unit will host a free transportation basics workshop for transportation directors and supervisors, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., on Dec. 19, at Bishop Professional Development Center, 3601 S.W. 31st Street, in Topeka. Register here.
These workshops will provide a brief overview of the fundamentals and responsibilities associated with the position along with recent updates, changes and developments in school transportation.
In an effort to encourage teaching science in a rural area, Fort Hays State University is offering scholarships to individuals who have earned a bachelor's degree in science and are considering a career in teaching.
By Robert Feeney, Chief Vision Officer, Knowledge as a Service, Inc. (KaaS)
Knowledge as a Service Inc. (KaaS), the Wichita-based company behind Future Ready, has a mission to equip the next generation with vital employability skills by developing programs that reach students and workers across Kansas. The most recent development of the tournament is its Competency Report which provides real-time scoring and badging on vital behaviors.
As of Nov. 18, Jeff Lancial has been supporting Kansas with FastBridge after joining Renaissance Learning in July. His career includes serving as a teacher, coach and administrator in public schools and leading large-scale, high-stakes, statewide assessment programs. He is committed to continuing the great support educators in Kansas received from his predecessor Sheleena Clark. Contact Jeff at jeff.lancial@renaissance.com.
Reminder: Many districts have virtual hours to use to schedule a session from the Professional Learning Catalog. See if this applies to you by watching the recording at the 1:37 time stamp. You do not need to hold the session by Dec. 31, but you must schedule it before then so that it does not expire.
November
30: Data entry for Emergency Safety Intervention (ESI) reports begins. Contact Trish Backman, tbackman@ksde.org, with questions.
3: Kansas MTSS & Alignment preschool team’s standards-based make it-take it event for preschool teachers, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., KU Edwards campus. Contact Lea Harding at lea@kanasmtss.org with questions. (Registration is closed.)
3: Kansas MTSS and Alignment regional reading road show, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Dodge City, Boot Hill Casino & Resort. Contact Vicki Cooper, vicki@kansasmtss.org, with questions. (Registration is closed.)
KSDE is already in the early stages of planning the 2025 Great Ideas in Education Conference since the date of the event has been changed to the last week of July.
School systems are strongly encouraged to send district leadership teams to the annual conference, now set for July 27-30, at the Hyatt Regency, in Wichita. Learning and collaboration opportunities will emphasize the fundamentals of structured literacy, standards alignment, balanced assessment, and quality instruction.
Bring your questions, your colleagues and an interest in learning about literacy practices that can move your school’s literacy initiatives forward.
English language arts (ELA) teachers for grades 3–12 will learn what text complexity is, why complex text is vital to assist in raising the rigor for our students, and how best to scaffold learning using evidence-based strategies. Structured literacy demands teachers present students with appropriately complex texts, explicitly teaching students to grapple with them.
The Kansas State Department of Education has extended its partnership with Renaissance Learning into the 2025-26 school year. Contact your Account Manager for FastBridge pricing through the state contract.
Many districts have virtual hours they can use to schedule a session from the Professional Learning Catalog. See if this applies to you by watching the recording at the 1:37 time stamp. You do not need to hold the session by Dec. 31, but you do need to schedule it before then so that it does not expire.
15: Curriculum directors meeting, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., Bishop Professional Development Center, 3601 S.W. 31st Street, Topeka. Contact Pat Bone, pbone@ksde.org, with questions.
18: KESA 2.0 monthly Zoom update, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Click here for the Zoom link. (Rescheduled due to the Veterans Day holiday.)
18: Individual Plan of Study (IPS) technical assistance session, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m., Orion, Clearwater. Register here. Contact Natalie Clark, ndclark@ksde.org or (785) 296-4351, with questions.
19: Kansas MTSS & Alignment offers behavior intervention protocol training, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, Salina. No cost. Click here to register. Contact Susan Danner, susand@kansasmtss.org, with questions.
21: Question, Signal, Stem, Share and Assess (QSSSA) deep dive, 6-7:30 p.m., virtual. Register here. Contact Heather Musil, hjmusil@fhsu.edu, for more information regarding enrollment and fees for graduate credit.
Early childhood professionals, caregivers, community members working to support local child care efforts, and anyone with an interest in child care in Kansas are invited to join a roundtable event to share your experiences with child care in your region.
This event will be 6:30-8 p.m., on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at the Abilene Childcare Learning Center 2/Nichols Education Center, 1003 N. Brady Street, in Abilene. Click here to register for this free event that is open to the public.
Kansas is a member state of the MBA Research consortium and that means there are numerous resources available for free to our business teachers.
During a free webinar from 3:30-4:15 p.m., on Nov. 13, Tammy Cyrus, vice president of professional learning for MBA Research, will lead teachers through creating a state’s connection account and where to find all of the resources that can help in the classroom.
The KSDE Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) team is offering a special virtual training session for Kansas educators on instructionally embedded assessments to guide classroom instruction, 3-4 p.m., on Nov. 14. Register here.
Mark your calendars for the remaining 2024-25 Local Consolidated Plan (LCP) quarterly meetings that are for administrators (new and veteran) responsible for LCPs.
Administrators will receive timely information and more in-depth support from the KSDE Special Education and Title Services team and statewide experts, with an emphasis on upcoming tasks and special topics as needed.
8: 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year nominations due. Instructions for accessing the online application can be found here. Contact Tamla Miller, tmiller@ksde.org, or (785) 296-4950 for more information or questions.
8: Introduction to the Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ)® training, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., on Zoom. Register at ksdetasn.org/events.
8: Individual Plan of Study (IPS) technical assistance session, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m., ESSDACK, Hutchinson. Register here. Contact Natalie Clark, ndclark@ksde.org or (785) 296-4351, with questions.
12: Kansas MTSS & Alignment Leadership Institute, Topeka. Click this link to register: ksdetasn.org/events. Contact Josh Lee at josh@kansasmtss.org with questions.
he next curriculum leaders meeting will be Nov. 15 at the Bishop Professional Development Center, 3601 S.W. 31st Street, in Topeka.
The Kansas Instructional Leaders Association networking will begin at 9 a.m. The KSDE portion of the meeting will be 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Click here to register.
Nominations for the 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year close on Friday, Nov. 8. KSDE encourages every school district to nominate one exemplary elementary classroom teacher and one exemplary secondary classroom teacher for this prestigious award.
Not only does participating in this program demonstrate your district values exceptional teaching, but you will also be providing critical professional development opportunities for your nominees. Participants say this program is life-changing and has made them better teachers.
Business teachers, DECA and Future Business Leaders of America advisors are invited to a free online seminar on Nov. 13. Participants will do the following:
Register here. Contact Kathy Camarena, kcamarena@ksde.org, (785) 296-3152, with questions.
Learning Forward Kansas is offering “Keys to Impactful Learning,” a professional development workshop from 9 a.m.-3:15 p.m., on Nov. 20, at Fort Hays State University.
The 2024-25 Local Consolidated Plan (LCP) quarterly meetings are for administrators (new and veteran) responsible for LCPs.
Registration is open for the 2025 Virtual Health Care Career Day, on Jan. 30, a partnership of the Kansas Hospital Association, Kansas State Department of Education, and Kansas Board of Regents.
Click here to register at no cost and click here for the agenda. This virtual event will be from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Event hosts will send Zoom instructions to participants the week before Jan. 30.
FastBridge is a KSDE-approved universal screener and KSDE-approved screener for dyslexia. KSDE sponsors a variety of in-person and virtual professional learning opportunities to support implementation that are included in the partnership.
To learn more and to register for professional learning, as well as explore resources to support, visit the Kansas Landing Page.
Contact Sheleena Clark, sheleena.clark@renaissance.com, with questions.
1: Kansas State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) virtual retreat for local councils, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Click here to register. Contact Stacy Clarke, sclarke@ksde.org, (785) 296-3953, with questions.
1: Electronic Training Equipment CTE cluster application for FY2025 Perkins Reserve grant due. Contact Helen Swanson, hswanson@ksde.org, with questions.
1: Deadline to register for Learning Forward Kansas’s “Keys to Impactful Learning” professional development workshop, 9 a.m.-3:15 p.m., on Nov. 20, at Fort Hays State University. Click here to register and for more information about the conference. Contact Heather Musil, hjmusil@fhsu.edu, with questions.
Registration is open now for the 2025 Virtual Health Care Career Day, on Jan. 30, a partnership of the Kansas Hospital Association, Kansas State Department of Education, and Kansas Board of Regents.
Click here to register at no cost and click here for the agenda. This virtual event will be from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Zoom instructions will be sent out the week before Jan. 30.
Learning Forward Kansas is offering “Keys to Impactful Learning”, a professional development workshop from 9 a.m.-3:15 p.m., on Nov. 20, at Fort Hays State University.
This conference will focus on equipping educational leaders with impactful strategies to elevate their practice, engage staff, and drive impactful professional learning experiences. Principals, curriculum leaders, instructional coaches, and teacher leaders are invited to attend. Cris Seidel, director of the KSDE Educate Kansas teacher recruitment and retention project, will be the keynote speaker.
Nominations for the 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year close on Nov. 8. Every school district is encouraged to nominate one exemplary elementary classroom teacher and one exemplary secondary classroom teacher for this prestigious award.
FastBridge is a KSDE-approved universal screener and KSDE-approved screener for dyslexia. KSDE sponsors a variety of in-person and professional learning opportunities to support implementation that are included in the partnership.
October
21-25: National School Bus Safety Week. Click here for resources. Contact Keith Dreiling, kdreiling@ksde.org, or (785) 296-4567.
23-25: Great Ideas in Education conference: Lighting the Path Forward, Hyatt Regency, in Wichita. Click here for more information.
28-30: 2024 Kansas Environmental Education Conference, 2-5 p.m. each day; virtual. Register here. Contact info@kacee.org or call (785) 532-3322 for more information.
30: CTE technical assistance session, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Greenbush South, Girard. Click here to register. Registration is $35 and lunch is included. Contact Natalie Clark, ndclark@ksde.org or (785) 296-4351 with questions.
30: Kansas MTSS and Alignment regional reading road show, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Junction City, Courtyard by Marriott. Register here. Contact Vicki Cooper, vicki@kansasmtss.org, with questions.
31: Dropout Graduation Summary Report (DGSR) due. Contact the KIDS help desk, kids@ksde.org, or the DGSR help desk, dgsrhelpdesk@ksde.org with questions.
Applications are due Sunday, Oct. 20, for "History for All: Elementary Social Studies and Structured Literacy," a yearlong cohort program to help elementary teachers improve their social studies teaching with historical content, pedagogy and structured literacy.
The Kansas Environmental Education Conference’s theme for this year is, “Cultivating Community Connections: Exploring the vibrant ecosystem of environmental education in Kansas.”
Kansas MTSS and Alignment is hosting a regional reading road show in October and December.
Attendees will learn about the latest research in Reading for All Pre-K-12th readers and will leave with a plan, resources and practical tools to implement the classroom immediately.
Virtual sessions will be available in November and December to take a deeper dive into QSSSA, an instructional method for all K-12 teachers who are looking for ways to engage their English language learners in academic discussions.
These sessions will highlight and explain in detail each component of the QSSSA strategy: question, signal, stem, share and assess.
If you are interested in a FastBridge session below, but are unable to join, use the Newsletter Engagement Form to request additional dates and times using option #5 on question 4.
18: CommonApp closes for quarterly ESSER reporting. Email esser@ksde.org with questions.
18: District test coordinator mandatory training, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Orion, Clearwater. Register here. Contact Chelsea Pelfrey at cpelfrey@ksde.org or (785) 296-0040 with questions.
18: E-Rate training, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Greenbush North, Lawrence. Register here. Contact Jenni Marlatt, jmarlatt@ksde.org, with questions.
The deadline to register for this year’s Great Ideas in Education conference, “Lighting the Path Forward,” is Friday, Oct. 11.
This year’s conference is focused on the Four Fundamentals and supporting structures necessary for KESA implementation and school improvement. There will also be sessions on safe and secure schools and technology.
Don’t miss out on this excellent opportunity for your leadership team to attend. Teams of four will receive a discount on registration.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is accepting nominations for the 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year. Every school district is encouraged to nominate one exemplary elementary classroom teacher and one exemplary secondary classroom teacher for this prestigious award.
Not only does participating in this program demonstrate that your district values exceptional teaching, you will be providing critical professional development opportunities for your nominees. Participants say year after year this program is life-changing and has made them better teachers.
Kansas Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Alignment is offering an in-person, no cost training session on Nov. 19 for attendees to learn a 5-step research-based behavior intervention protocol to implement across classroom environments.
Pre-K-12 educators are invited to participate in training sessions in October to develop students’ language, understanding, fluency and problem solving across Kansas math standards.
Kansas Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) math specialists and Kansas Math Project facilitators will help participants do the following:
Many districts have virtual hours that they can use to schedule a session from the Professional Learning Catalog. See if this applies to you by watching the recording at the 1:37 time stamp. You do not need to hold the session by Dec. 31, but you do need to schedule it before then so that it does not expire.
1-17: CommonApp open for quarterly ESSER reporting. Email esser@ksde.org with questions.
11: Introduction to the Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ)® training, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., on Zoom. Register at ksdetasn.org/events.
14: KESA 2.0 monthly Zoom update, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Click here for the Zoom link.
14: E-Rate training, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., Greenbush South, Girard. Register here. Contact Jenni Marlatt, jmarlatt@ksde.org, with questions.
15: Deadline for Summer EBT program food benefits online application. Click here for more information that can be shared with families by school districts.
Completed nomination applications for the 2025 Kansas Horizon Award recognition program honoring first-year classroom teachers must be postmarked no later than Oct. 10.
Sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education, this program recognizes and rewards first-year teachers who have served as examples of excellent teaching in their elementary or secondary classroom. Nominated teachers must have completed their first year of teaching and be starting their second year.
Nominations for the Presidential Scholars and Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education (CTE) must be postmarked by Oct. 10.
The Presidential Scholars program recognizes and honors high school seniors who have demonstrated high achievements academically or in the arts — some having to overcome special challenges or hurdles to do so.
Applications for the 2025 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) are due Oct. 10. The students selected will be notified after Dec. 1.
Any high school junior or senior is eligible for the program as long as they have not previously been a delegate to Washington Week and have not received a USSYP scholarship. The student applicant must hold a high-level leadership position in any student government, civic or educational organization during the entire 2024–25 academic year.
The Oct. 11 deadline is fast approaching to register for this year’s Great Ideas in Education conference, “Lighting the Path Forward.”
Don’t miss out on this excellent opportunity for your leadership team to attend. Teams of four will receive a discount on registration. The deadline to register is Oct. 11.
The Curriculum-Based Measures(CBM)math Concepts & Applications (CAP) and CBMmath process are two optional probes within the FastBridge math assessment suite often overlooked. Who might benefit from administering one of these assessments, and what types of data do they generate?
Kansas Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Alignment is offering an in-person, no cost training session in November for attendees to learn a 5-step research-based behavior intervention protocol to implement across classroom environments.
Veteran educators, anyone considering a career in education, and anyone in between is invited to Bethany College’s education conference, Feb. 8, 2025.
Click this link to register by Jan. 18: https://www.bethanylb.edu/education-conference
4: CTE technical assistance session, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., ESSDACK, Hutchinson. Click here to register. Registration is $35 and lunch is included. Contact Natalie Clark, ndclark@ksde.org or (785) 296-4351 with questions.
7: CTE technical assistance session, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Southwest Plains, Sublette. Click here to register. Registration is $35 and lunch is included. Contact Natalie Clark, ndclark@ksde.org or (785) 296-4351 with questions.
8-9: Kansas State Board of Education meeting, Topeka.
Don’t miss out on this excellent opportunity for your leadership team to attend this year’s Great Ideas in Education conference, “Lighting the Path Forward.”
This year the conference is focused on the Four Fundamentals and supporting structures necessary for KESA implementation and school improvement. There will also be sessions on safe and secure schools and technology.
Teams of four will receive a discount on registration. The deadline for registration is Oct. 11.
September
27: District test coordinator mandatory training, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Smoky Hill, Salina. Register here. Contact Chelsea Pelfrey at cpelfrey@ksde.org or (785) 296-0040 with questions.
27: KESA 2.0 information meeting, Greenbush, Lawrence. In-person; registration required. (Click here to register for the 9:30-11:30 a.m. session; click here to register for the 12:30-2:30 p.m. session.) Contact Rue Huereca-Retana, RHuereca-Retana@ksde.org, for more information.
27: FastBridge assessment system information session, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Courtyard by Marriott, Junction City. Click here to register: https://www.ksdetasn.org/mtss/trainings. Contact Todd Wiedemann at todd@kansasmtss.org with questions.
27-28: Kansas Teacher of the Year conference, Wichita.
30: CTE technical assistance session, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Smoky Hill, Salina. Click here to register. Registration is $35 and lunch is included. Contact Natalie Clark, ndclark@ksde.org or (785) 296-4351 with questions.
Did you know there are more than 300 different national sign languages? Each year for International Day of Sign Languages, celebrated on Sept. 23, the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) encourages public buildings, landmarks and more, to be spotlighted in a blue light to promote and recognize these languages.
The “Shine a Blue Light on Sign Languages” campaign aims to unite the world, its citizens, communities and societies through the blue light. Be on the lookout on KSDE’s social media channels leading up to Monday, Sept. 23, for a video from students from the Kansas School for the Deaf.
Don’t forget to register your leadership team to attend this year’s Great Ideas in Education Conference: Lighting the Path Forward, Oct. 23-25, in Wichita.
KSDE is encouraging districts and buildings to bring a leadership team to learn together. Each district will be slightly different according to size and district needs.
Teams of four will receive a discount on registration.
Every district must have a district test coordinator and each district test coordinator is required to attend annual security and ethics training before training all other district staff involved in administering state assessments.
Each training session will be 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Many districts have virtual hours they can use to schedule a consultant-led FastBridge or Star session. See if this applies to you by watching the recording at the 1:37 time stamp. You do not need to hold the session by Dec. 31, but you do need to schedule it before then so that it does not expire. Contact scheduling@renaissance.com for more information and/or schedule sessions here.
If you are interested in a FastBridge session below, but would be unable to join, use the Newsletter Engagement Form to request additional dates and times using option #5.
24: KESA 2.0 information meeting, 9:30-11:30 a.m. or 12:30-2:30 p.m., ESSDACK, Hutchinson. In-person; no registration required. Contact Rue Huereca-Retana, RHuereca-Retana@ksde.org, for more information.
24: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., FastBridge assessment system information session; Lee Richardson Zoo, Garden City. Click here to register: https://www.ksdetasn.org/mtss/trainings. Contact Todd Wiedemann at todd@kansasmtss.org with questions.
24: School Transportation informational meeting, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., Osborne High School auditorium, north door. Questions? Contact Keith Dreiling at kdreiling@ksde.org or (785) 296-4567.
25: KESA 2.0 information meeting, 9:30-11:30 a.m. or 12:30-2:30 p.m., Smoky Hill, Hays. In-person; no registration required. Contact Rue Huereca-Retana, RHuereca-Retana@ksde.org, for more information.
25: School Transportation informational meeting, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., Greenbush, Ottawa board office. Questions? Contact Keith Dreiling at kdreiling@ksde.org or (785) 296-4567.
Do you want to recognize and reward first-year educators in your district? The Kansas Horizon Award program offers school districts the opportunity to honor outstanding teachers after their first year in the classroom.
The program, sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education, recognizes and rewards first-year teachers who have served as examples of excellent teaching in their elementary or secondary classroom.
Horizon Award winners receive special recognition during the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN) state education conference which takes place annually in February, in Topeka.
The Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education (CTE) program also offers recognition of high-achieving students who have demonstrated excellence in CTE. This program started in 2016.
These two separate programs require separate nomination forms.
Applications are being accepted for the 2025 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) and are due Oct. 10. The students selected will be notified after Dec. 1.
The KSDE TASN School Mental Health Initiative is excited to share the following professional development opportunity: Mindfulness and School-Based Yoga: Tools for the Classroom
Teams of four will receive a discount on registration. *Please note: The hotel room block at the Wichita Hyatt Regency is filling up quickly.
Every district must have a district test coordinator and each district test coordinator is required to attend annual security and ethics training before training all other district staff involved in administering state assessments. Each training session will be 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Kansas Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Alignment announces the upcoming Kansas MTSS & Alignment Leadership Institute, a dynamic, one-day professional development event tailored for building and district leaders in November.
Districts with virtual learning to complete now have until Dec. 31 to schedule your session(s). Check this recording at the 1:37 time stamp to see if this deadline applies to your district. Districts can use their allotted virtual learning for any 60-minute session(s) in the Professional Learning Catalog. You do not need to hold the session by Dec. 31, but you do need to schedule it before then so that it does not expire.
13: Counting KIDS Workshop, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Hiawatha USD 415 High School Auditorium. Email auditing@ksde.org with questions.
17: School Transportation informational meeting, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., Arkansas City, Avery Learning Center. Questions? Contact Keith Dreiling at kdreiling@ksde.org or (785) 296-4567.
17: School Transportation informational meeting, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., Great Bend, Front Door Community Center. Questions? Contact Keith Dreiling at kdreiling@ksde.org or (785) 296-4567.
The KSDE TASN School Mental Health Initiative is excited to share the following professional development opportunity:
Mindfulness and School-Based Yoga: Tools for the Classroom
If students are gaining decoding skills and STILL struggling with comprehension, what might be the problem? Join us to learn from a leading scholar about Developmental Language Disorder, or DLD.
KSDE will host a free webinar with Dr. Tiffany Hogan to teach educators about DLD, 4-5 p.m., on Tuesday, Sept. 24. (registration link below). You will learn what this disorder looks like alongside dyslexia; how it may present without dyslexia; and how we might identify it with our youngest of students and get them the help they need before they struggle with comprehension as they get older.
There will be a follow-up panel discussion with Dr. Hogan and Kansas educators and specialists, 4-5 p.m., on Oct. 8.
Contact scheduling@renaissance.com for more information, schedule sessions here, and/or join Sheleena Clark for professional learning office hours for assistance on Sept. 19 in the morning or afternoon.
6: Counting KIDS Workshop, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Maize USD 266 Performing Arts & Aquatic Center. Email auditing@ksde.org with questions.
6: Curriculum leader meeting, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Fort Hays State University Union Ballroom. Questions? Contact Pat Bone, pbone@ksde.org or (785) 296-2303.
9: Counting KIDS Workshop, 1-4:30 p.m., Southeast Kansas Education Service Center, Girard. Email auditing@ksde.org with questions.
9: KESA 2.0 monthly Zoom update, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Click here for the Zoom link. (Mark your calendars for these future Zoom meetings: Oct. 14, Nov. 11, Dec. 9, Jan. 13, Feb. 10, March 10, April 14, and May 12.) Email accreditation@ksde.org with questions.
10-11: Kansas State Board of Education meeting, Topeka.
Are you looking for a specialized professional development opportunity for Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) educators in your district? This two-day training in Salina, Sept. 9-10, is tailored directly to the needs of FCS educators in Kansas and will cover topics like work-based learning in the FCS classroom, managing an effective Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapter, methods for running a high-quality FCS program, and much more.
Whether you are a new or veteran test coordinator, make plans to attend one of the mandatory trainings held across the state beginning in September.
Every district must have a district test coordinator and each district test coordinator is required to attend annual security and ethics training before training all district staff involved in giving state assessments.
Make plans to attend this year’s Great Ideas in Education Conference, “Lighting the Path Forward,” Oct. 23-25 in Wichita, by clicking here to register, make room reservations, access the schedule and see the list of titles, strands and audiences for the breakout sessions.
Chris Perry, co-founder and executive director of Cultivate Education, an educational consulting company based in Baldwin City, will be the keynote speaker on Oct. 23.
College credit is now available for attending this conference. Click here for information.
FastBridge screening assessment measures give instructional teams a wealth of data. Yet, how do teams harness that data to inform instructional practice at the ground-level?
During this free, one-day event, the Kansas Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) and Alignment team will guide districts in navigating several key FastBridge reports to make sense of the data and connect it to specific practices that ultimately impact student learning.
Click this link to register: https://www.bethanylb.edu/education-conference
2: KSDE offices closed in observance of Labor Day.
3: Counting KIDS Workshop, 1-4:30 p.m., Kansas City USD 500 Central Office. Email auditing@ksde.org with questions.
4: Counting KIDS Workshop, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Olathe USD 233 Instructional Resource Center. Email auditing@ksde.org with questions.
5: Blue-Ribbon Task Force on Student Screen Time, 4-5:30 p.m. Click here to access the livestream.
5: Counting KIDS Workshop, 1-4:30 p.m., Andover USD 385 District Office Board Room. Email auditing@ksde.org with questions.
5: School Transportation informational meeting, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., Bishop Professional Development Center, Topeka. Questions? Contact Keith Dreiling at kdreiling@ksde.org or (785) 296-4567.
Are you looking for a specialized professional development opportunity for Family and Consumer Sciences educators in your district? This two-day training in Salina is tailored directly to the needs of FCS educators in Kansas and will cover topics like work-based learning in the FCS classroom, managing an effective FCCLA chapter, methods for running a high-quality FCS program, and much more.
Every district must have a district test coordinator. It also is required that each district test coordinator attend annual security and ethics training before training all district staff involved in giving state assessments.
Make plans to attend this year’s Great Ideas in Education Conference, “Lighting the Path Forward,” Oct. 23-25, by clicking here to register, make room reservations, access the schedule and see the list of titles, strands and audiences for the breakout sessions.
Veteran educators, anyone considering a career in education, or anyone in between is invited to Bethany College’s education conference, Feb. 8, 2025.
Attention teachers and other district staff: Please share with your future educators the 11th annual northeast regional Educators Rising Kansas conference will be 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Nov. 6.
This conference takes place at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe. More information will be shared later this month.
During a no cost, one-day event, the Kansas Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) and Alignment team will guide districts in navigating several key FastBridge reports in order to make sense of the data and connect it to specific practices that ultimately impact student learning.
Calling all school districts – time is of the essence! Check this recording at the 1:37 time stamp to see if your school or district has virtual learning to schedule. You can use yourvirtual learning for any 60-minute session(s) in the Professional Learning Catalog. You can hold the session(s) at any point in the school year, but you do need to schedule it before Sept. 1 so that it does not expire.
August
26: Counting KIDS Workshop, 1-4:30 p.m., Northwest Kansas Educational Service Center, Oakley. Email auditing@ksde.org with questions.
27: Counting KIDS Workshop, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m., Dodge City USD 443 district office building. Email auditing@ksde.org with questions.
28: KESA 2.0 facilitator training, in-person, Southwest Plains, Sublette. Click here to register. Contact Pat Bone at pbone@ksde.org for more information.
29: Counting KIDS Workshop, 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-4:30 p.m., Auburn-Washburn USD 437 district office building. Email auditing@ksde.org with questions.
29: KESA 2.0 facilitator training, in-person, Northwest Plains, Oakley. Click here to register. Contact Pat Bone at pbone@ksde.org for more information.
Make plans to attend this year’s Great Ideas in Education conference, “Lighting the Path Forward,” Oct. 23-25, by clicking here to register, make room reservations, access the schedule and see the list of titles, strands and audiences for the breakout sessions.
NEW: College credit is now available. Click here for information.
Calling all school districts – time is of the essence! Check this recording at the 1:37 time stamp to see if your school or district has virtual learning to schedule. You can use the remaining virtual learning for any 60-minute session(s) in the Professional Learning Catalog. You can hold the session(s) at any point in the school year, but you do need to schedule it before Sept. 1 so that it does not expire.
Reach out to scheduling@renaissance.com for more information or schedule your time here.
The KSDE required dyslexia training modules have been updated and are available for all districts to use in training new teachers and teachers new to teaching in Kansas based on teacher licensure (see link below for details).
There are five modules included in the training, and all are accompanied by supportive materials, a slide deck with presentation video, and a facilitation guide.
Make plans to attend this year’s Great Ideas in Education conference, “Lighting the Path Forward,” Oct. 23-25, by clicking here to register.
For room reservations for the Hyatt Regency Wichita, click here. For the Fairfield Inn and Suites room reservations, click here.
NEW: Click here to see the conference draft schedule.
NEW: Click here for a list of titles, strands and audience for each of the breakout sessions. Stay tuned for more details on these sessions in the near future.
Calling all school districts! Check this recording at the 1:37 time stamp to see if your school or district has virtual learning to schedule. You can use the remaining virtual learning for any 60-minute session(s) in the Professional Learning Catalog. You do not need to hold the session by Sept. 1, but you do need to schedule it before then so that it does not expire.
11: Conclusion of Sunflower Summer, a program of Kansas Tourism. For a complete list of participating locations and more information about the program, click here. Have questions? Email sunflower.summer@ks.gov.
12: KESA 2.0 monthly Zoom update, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Click here for the Zoom link. (Mark your calendars for these future Zoom meetings: Sept. 9, Oct. 14, Nov. 11, Dec. 9, Jan. 13, Feb. 10, March 10, April 14, and May 12.) Email accreditation@ksde.org with questions.
13-14: Kansas State Board of Education meeting, in Topeka.
The KSDE required dyslexia training modules have been updated and are available for all districts to use in training new teachers and teachers new to teaching in Kansas based on teacher licensure (see link below for details). There are five modules included in the training, and all are accompanied by supportive materials, a slide deck with presentation video, and a facilitation guide.
Registration is open and registration deadlines are approaching for KSDE’s annual Counting Kids workshops presented in advance of the state’s official student count day on Friday, Sept. 20. Each year, KSDE Fiscal Auditing Director Laurel Murdie updates school districts on the information needed to enter for funding purposes.
Make plans to attend this year’s Great Ideas in Education conference, “Lighting the Path Forward,” Oct. 23-25, by clicking here.
NEW: Click here for a list of titles, strands, and audience for each of the breakout sessions. Stay tuned for more details on these sessions in the near future.
If your district previously used or is currently implementing Star Assessments, you may have virtual learning to schedule. Schools can use their remaining virtual learning for any 60-minute session(s) in the Professional Learning Catalog. You do not need to hold the session by Sept. 1, but you do need to schedule it by then so that it does not expire. Reach out to scheduling@renaissance.com for more information.
6: ASQ® Training for School Leaders, 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Visit ksdetasn.org/events to register.
The Kansas State Department of Education announces the postponement of all upcoming English Language Arts (ELA) and English Learners (EL) professional development sessions scheduled to occur between July 20 and Oct. 30.
Training for the Ages & Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ) Screeners to engage with families and prepare classrooms for kindergarteners will be presented by KSDE, Kansas MTSS & Alignment, and the Kansas Parent Information Resource Center (KPIRC) at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30, and at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 6.
The Kansas State Department of Education is looking for six to eight high school students to participate in a panel discussion at the KSDE Great Ideas in Education: Lighting the Path Forward conference. This discussion will take place during a general session at the conference, Oct. 23-25, in Wichita.
July
30: Deadline to apply for Patterson Family Foundation’s School Districts and Community-Based Centers grants for rural child care programs. Contact Denise Schuele, denise@pffkc.org, Patterson Family Foundation program officer, with questions.
30: ASQ Training for School Leaders, 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Visit ksdetasn.org/events to register.
The Kansas State Department of Education is looking for six to eight high school students to participate in a panel discussion at the KSDE Great Ideas in Education: Lighting the Path conference. This discussion will take place during a general session at the conference, Oct. 23-25, in Wichita.
Star Assessment learning sessions:
If your district previously used or is currently implementing Star Assessments, you may have virtual learning to schedule. Schools can use their remaining virtual learning for any 60-minute session(s) in the Professional Learning Catalog. You don’t need to hold the session by Sept. 1, but you do need to schedule it by then, so it doesn’t expire. Contact scheduling@renaissance.com for more information.
19: Window closes for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds quarterly reporting in CommonApp. Email esser@ksde.org for questions or more information.
23-24: School Bus CDL Proxy Testing and ELDT Theory event at Southeast of Saline USD 306; Note: ELDT Theory will be administered on July 23; Register here: https://events.ksde.org/sf/CDLTESTING3.aspx
If your district previously used or is currently implementing Star Assessments, you may have virtual learning to schedule.
1-19: Window open for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds quarterly reporting in CommonApp. Email esser@ksde.org for questions or more information.
17: School Bus Reasonable Suspicion Training for CDL supervisors at the Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB), in Topeka; Register here: https://events.ksde.org/sf/AlcoholandDrugTraining.aspx Note: This is mandated training for anyone who supervises CDL holders. This is free training and the KSDE School Bus Safety Unit offers it once a year.
If your district previously used or is currently implementing Star Assessments, you may have virtual learning to schedule. Schools can use their remaining virtual learning for any 60-minute session(s) in the Professional Learning Catalog. You don’t need to hold the session by Sept. 1, but you do need to schedule it by then so it doesn’t expire. Contact scheduling@renaissance.com for more information.
1-19: Quarterly reporting for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds open in CommonApp. Email esser@ksde.org for questions or more information.
4: KSDE offices closed in observance of Fourth of July.
9: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Joint School Nutrition Program (SNP) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) administrative training, hosted by the KSDE Child Nutrition and Wellness (CNW) team. Join the training here: https://ksde.zoom.us/j/89730050845?pwd=SlBIWWQ0akhUeUc0N0tBUTNOOHMxZz09(Passcode: 259874)
9-10: Kansas State Board of Education meeting, Topeka.
If your district previously used or is currently implementing Star Assessments, you may have virtual learning to schedule. Schools can use their remaining virtual learning for any 60-minute session(s) in the Professional Learning Catalog. You don’t need to hold the session by Sept. 1, but you do need to schedule it by then so it doesn’t expire. Reach out to scheduling@renaissance.com for more information.
June
28: 1-3 p.m., Pittsburg Public Library, Large Meeting Room; the KU Center for Public Partnerships and Research and KDHE’s Maternal and Child Health program will host an open house to gather information about beliefs about systems of care for women, infants, children and adolescents across Kansas. Contact Ashley Lafond at alafond@ku.edu or kucppr-mch@ku.edu for more information.
The Kansas State Department of Education is looking for six to eight high school students to participate in a panel discussion at the KSDE Great Ideas in Education: Lighting the Path conference.
Mark Perna, a national expert on workforce and education, will be at Topeka West High School to speak during the Education and Industry Summit on July 25.
Districts with Star Assessments should be sure to schedule their customized virtual learning before it expires in September.
25-26: School Bus CDL Proxy Testing and ELDT Theory event, at Maize USD 266; ELDT will be administered on June 25; Register here: https://events.ksde.org/sf/CDLTesting2.aspx
25: FastBridge Lightning Round, 1-2 p.m., on Tuesday, June 25, virtual. Register here.
Join Renaissance for a webinar to learn more about eduCLIMBER, Renaissance’s interactive system for integrating whole child data.
The last session of KSDE Information Technology (IT) team’s cybersecurity series, “Disaster Recovery Plans for IT,” is scheduled for 1 p.m., on Wednesday, June 19.
Are you a Kansas educator who wants to integrate STEM and literacy in your elementary classroom?
17-22: School Bus Train the Trainer event, in Topeka; Register here: https://events.ksde.org/sf/TraintheTrainer.aspx
18: (repeated session) 9-11 a.m., KSDE is hosting a free, virtual workshop for Kansas educators who want to integrate STEM and literacy in their elementary classrooms. This session is for kindergarten through second grade. Click here to register.
19: KSDE offices closed in observance of Juneteenth.
Join Renaissance for a webinar to learn more about eduCLIMBER, Renaissance’s interactive system for integrating whole child data into a single platform.
10-11: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Learning through the Arts workshops, Wichita Northwest High School, in Wichita. Click here to register.
11: 9-11 a.m., KSDE is hosting a free, virtual workshop for Kansas educators who want to integrate STEM and literacy in their elementary classrooms. This session is for grades 3-5. Click here to register.
11-12: Kansas State Board of Education meeting, Topeka.
Districts with Star Assessments should schedule their customized virtual learning before it expires in September.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is hosting a free two-day Learning Through the Arts workshop for all K-12 teachers, June 10-11, at Wichita Northwest High School, 1220 N. Tyler, in Wichita.
Researchers at the Center for Public Partnerships and Research at the University of Kansas (KU-CPPR) are teaming up with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Maternal and Child Health Program to learn more about beliefs about systems of care for women, infants, children and adolescents across the state.
The 2024 Sunflower Summer season runs through August 11 and will include more than 220 tourism attractions.
5: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Playful Learning Across the Day in Pre-K, Emporia State University Memorial Union, in Emporia. Click here to register.
6: 9 a.m -3 p.m., Playful Learning Across the Day in Pre-K, Hilton Garden Inn, in Salina. Click here to register.
Registration is open for the 2024 KSDE Great Ideas in Education Conference: Lighting the Path Forward.
KSDE’s Information Technology (IT) team has assembled a team of experts to help school technology directors and staff members, along with superintendents, principals and others who are interested, navigate the complex and critical practices of cybersecurity and data privacy.
The 2024 Sunflower Summer season, operated by Kansas Tourism, will run May 25 through August 11 and will include more than 220 tourism attractions.
27: KSDE offices closed in observance of Memorial Day.
Click here to register for the 2024 KSDE Great Ideas in Education conference, Oct. 23-25. Hotel reservation information is also posted on this site.
Summers in Kansas are an exciting time thanks to Sunflower Summer! Entering its fourth year, the program offers Kansas K-12 students and their families a way to explore and fall in love with Kansas by providing complimentary access to tourism attractions across the state.
You can help shape the future of health services for Kansas families!
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is sponsoring several professional learning opportunities. Now is a great time to start planning and scheduling your back-to-school professional learning! The fall calendar will fill up before you know it.
May
25: The 2024 Sunflower Summer season opens on May 25 and runs through August 11. For a complete list of participating locations and more information about the program, click here.
30-31: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Science Summit centered around the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and standards alignment/storyline process at Maize South High School, 3701 N. Tyler Road, in Wichita.
Registration is now open! https://events.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=771
The 2024 Great Ideas in Education Conference: Lighting the Path Forward, will focus on the tools necessary to strengthen school improvement efforts to support each Kansas student. Through professional development and networking opportunities, the KSDE Great Ideas in Education Conference will help school personnel improve policies and strategies to produce safe learning environments and quality teaching and learning practices for each student.
Submissions for the 2024 KSDE Great Ideas in Education conference’s student art contest must be postmarked by Friday, May 24.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is hosting a free two-day Learning Through the Arts workshop for all K-12 teachers,June 10-11, at Wichita Northwest High School, 1220 N. Tyler, in Wichita.
14-15: Kansas State Board of Education meeting, in Topeka.
14: The Sunflower Foundation, Kansas Fights Addiction Grant Review Board in the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, and The University of Kansas Center for Public Partnership and Research (KU-CPPR) are hosting a webinar, “Intergenerational Response to Substance Use Prevention,” from noon – 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is hosting a free two-day professional learning workshop for all K-12 teachers on June 10-11 at Wichita Northwest High School, 1220 N. Tyler, in Wichita.
The 2024 Great Ideas in Education Conference: Lighting the Path Forward, will focus on the tools necessary to strengthen school improvement efforts to support each Kansas student.
Safe Kids Kansas and the Topeka Zoo are partnering to host a family safety day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Saturday, May 4, to help teach children and their grown-ups how to be safe and healthy throughout the year. This year’s theme is “Building a safer world for Kansas kids.”
The Sunflower Foundation, Kansas Fights Addiction Grant Review Board in the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, and The University of Kansas Center for Public Partnership and Research (KU-CPPR) are hosting a webinar, “Intergenerational Response to Substance Use Prevention,” from noon – 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is sponsoring several professional learning opportunities.
KSDE has opened applications statewide to districts for the Kansas Registered Teacher Apprenticeship (RTA) program. To assist districts in learning more about the program and its potential, KSDE is hosting an informational Zoom meeting for districts to gain more information about the program.
4: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Kansas Safe Kids “Building a Safer World for Kansas Kids” family safety event at the Topeka Zoo. For more information, go to safekidskansas.org or follow Safe Kids Kansas on Facebook and Instagram.
The Dole Institute of Politics in Lawrence is hosting the 17th Annual Civic Engagement and Election Conference for Kansas teachers, July 24-26.
Kansas students have two opportunities to be showcased during the 2024 Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) Great Ideas in Education Conference.
April
25: 4 p.m., KSDE’s Teacher Licensure team is hosting an informational Zoom meeting to assist districts in learning more about the Kansas Registered Teacher Apprenticeship program. The meetings can be accessed here: https://ksde.zoom.us/j/89518729747.
Applications are still being accepted for the 17th annual Civic Engagement and Election Conference at the Dole Institute of Politics at The University of Kansas. The event, July 24-26, is for Kansas government, history and social studies teachers.
Are you a Kansas educator who wants to integrate STEM and literacy in your elementary classroom? Learning straight from award-winning NSTA Press authors Karen Ansberry and Emily Morgan, this introductory workshop will help you build a solid understanding of STEM and literacy integration and the 5E Model through participation in engaging picture book-inspired lessons, lively discussion, and interactive learning tasks.
KSDE has opened applications statewide to districts for the Kansas Registered Teacher Apprenticeship program. To assist districts in learning more about the program and its potential, KSDE will be hosting a series of informational Zoom meetings over the next several weeks for districts to gain more information about the program.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is hosting a free two-day professional learning workshop for all K-12 teachers this summer.
19: Brown v. Board of Education 70th Anniversary Conference, in Lawrence and Topeka. The registration for this event at Burge Union on KU’s Lawrence campus is full; however, click here to be put on a walk-up list for no-shows for this event that will also be live-streamed. The community discussion will take place on Friday, April 19, at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Museum, 1515 S.E. Monroe, in Topeka.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is hosting informational webinars on the Kansans Can Star Recognition Program: Individual Plan of Study (IPS).
KSDE has opened applications statewide to districts for the Kansas Registered Teacher Apprenticeship program. To assist districts in learning more about the program and its potential, KSDE will be hosting a series of informational Zoom meetings over the next six weeks for districts to gain more information about the program.
13: Innovative Next Steps in Pre-K-12 Learning Education Conference, Bethany College, in Lindsborg. The registration fee of $40 for teachers and $10 for high school students includes lunch. College credit is available for $150 per credit hour (total of two hours). Register at https://bethanylb.edu/education-conference.
The KSDE Technical Assistance System Network (TASN) will host an in-person, full-day Kansas Early Childhood Outcome (ECO) Rating Process Workshop in Hays on April 5.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is hosting the Safe and Supportive Schools Conference April 15-16 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan. Colleagues from across Kansas will present on topics to empower, inspire and motivate your staff, and provide information and new ideas to take back to your schools.
KSDE’s Information Technology (IT) team put together a team of experts to help school technology directors and staff members, along with superintendents, principals and others who are interested, navigate the complex and critical practices of cybersecurity and data privacy.
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case, the University of Kansas and the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park will host an event series and conference April 18-19.
The KSDE Kansas Technical Assistance System Network’s (TASN) School Mental Health Initiative (SMHI) is hosting Trauma-Responsive School Community: Facilitation Workshop.
5: All programs that want to be funded for Preschool-Aged At-Risk Approval must submit forms by April 5. The Preschool-Aged At-Risk Approval form for the 2024-2025 school year is available on the Early Childhood Preschool Programming Webpage.
Save the date for the 2024 Kansas State Department of Education Great Ideas in Education Conference.
As recently announced, KSDE has opened applications statewide to districts for the Kansas Registered Teacher Apprenticeship program. To assist districts in learning more about the program and its potential, KSDE will be hosting a series of informational Zoom meetings over the next six weeks for districts to gain more information about the program.
The Kansas Volunteer Commission and Emporia State University School of Humanities + Social Sciences are excited to announce the 2024 Civic Engagement Conference. The conference will be held Wednesday, April 10 at Emporia State University Memorial Union, in Emporia. The theme of the conference is “Empowering Kansas through Civic Engagement.”
The Kansas Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) and Alignment is hosting this year’s final in-person session of the Kansas Math Project.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is hosting the Safe and Supportive Schools Conference scheduled for April 15-16 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan. Colleagues from across Kansas will present on topics to empower, inspire and motivate your staff, and provide information and new ideas to take back to your schools.
The Kansas State Department of Education is hosting a free two-day professional learning workshop for all K-12 teachers this summer.
3: All programs that want to be funded for Preschool-Aged At-Risk Approval must submit forms by today. The Preschool-Aged At-Risk Approval form for the 2024-2025 school year is available on the Early Childhood Preschool Programming Webpage.
March
22: 9 a.m. to noon, Introduction to Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) Training.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is offering a professional development event that addresses a balanced assessment system and structured literacy on March 19.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is offering a new Introduction to ASQ training to be offered virtually.
Bethany College is hosting its first Bethany College Education Conference on April 13. It's an opportunity for teachers to pick up some more tools for their classroom, collaborate with teachers from across the state, get reinvigorated about teaching, gain professional development points and earn graduate credit hours.
Adaptive Schools training will again be offered to schools in the 2024-2025 school year.
19: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., KSDE’s “CLUES: What Do We Do with All of This Data?” Greenbush Service Center, Lawrence. $35. Register HERE.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is currently seeking proposals for presenters and vendors for the Safe and Supportive Schools Conference scheduled for April 15-16 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan. Colleagues from across Kansas will present on topics to empower, inspire and motivate your staff, and provide information and new ideas to take back to your schools.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Is offering a new Introduction to ASQ training to be offered virtually.
11-12: Kansas State Board of Education meeting, Topeka. Click here to watch the live stream.
February
Through March 4: Educator Data Collection System is open now through March 4 for submission of Licensed Personnel Report.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is currently seeking proposals for presenters and vendors for the Safe and Supportive Schools Conference scheduled for April 15-16 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan.
The Kansas Volunteer Commission and Emporia State University School of Humanities + Social Sciences are excited to announce the 2024 Civic Engagement Conference. The conference will be held Wednesday, April 10 at Emporia State University Memorial Union, in Emporia. The theme of the conference is “Empowering Kansas through Civic Engagement."
In 2024-2025 Kansas will begin an updated system of accreditation, focused on structured literacy, a balanced assessment system, standards alignment, and high quality instruction.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is offering a professional development event that addresses a balanced assessment system and structured literacy.
21: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., KSDE: Meaningful Feedback to Fuel Instruction. Greenbush, Lawrence. Cost is $35. Meals provided. In person. To register, click here.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is conducting a 2024 Kansas Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Grant competition. The 21st CCLC grant provides funds for out-of-school time programs serving students that attend a school with a 40% or higher free/reduced lunch population. The Request for Application can be found at: https://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=740.
The Kansans Can Star Recognition Program is now in its fifth year of recognizing school districts for the great work taking place to help the state achieve its vision of leading the world in the success of each student.
The Kansas Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) and Alignment is offering Playful Learning Across the Day in Pre-K, a professional development opportunity.
5-9: National School Counseling Week.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is conducting a 2024 Kansas Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Grant competition. The 21st CCLC grant provides funds for out-of-school time programs serving students that attend a school with a 40% or higher free/reduced lunch population.
The path to leading the world in the success of each student starts in early childhood, long before a 5-year-old child begins kindergarten. Join the Kansas State Department of Education from 1-2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8, to discuss the 2024-2025 Kansans Can Star Recognition Program for Kindergarten Readiness. KSDE staff will review the 2024-2025 Kindergarten Readiness Rubric, which has been updated to simplify the self-assessment process. Attendees will be invited to share success stories and ideas with their peers.
The Spring Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program will be offered online between Feb. 12-April 12.
The 2024 School Bus Safety Poster Contest, co-sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) School Bus Safety Unit and the Kansas State Pupil Transportation Association, is now open for any Kansas student.
School districts are invited to participate in an informational session about hosting a Visiting International Teacher (VIT) in the 2024-2025 school year. The webinar will be held from 12-1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the Visiting International Teacher webpage afterwards. Access the webinar at: https://ksde.zoom.us/j/86185961234.
The path to leading the world in the success of each student starts in early childhood, long before a 5-year-old child begins kindergarten. Join the Kansas State Department of Education from 1-2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8, to discuss the 2024-2025 Kansans Can Star Recognition Program for Kindergarten Readiness. KSDE staff will review the 2024-2025 Kindergarten Readiness Rubric, which has been updated to simplify the self-assessment process.
The Kansas Digital Learning Conference is scheduled for Feb. 15-16 at the Andover eCademy, 1411 N. Main in Andover.
Through March 4: Educator Data Collection System is open now through march 4 for submission of Licensed Personnel Report.
The Spring Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program will be offered online Feb. 12-April 12.
19: Quarterly reporting for ESSER funds on CommonApp closes.
To help celebrate January being Kansas/National Mentoring Month, the Kansas Volunteer Commission is hosting an informational session with Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters (KBBBS) from 1-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), in conjunction with BTU Consultants, will provide two additional opportunities for E-Rate training via Zoom this month.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) will be the topic of the first workshop of the Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Professional Development Webinar Series that kicks off at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17.
Through March 4: Educator Data Collection System open now through March 4 for submission of License Personnel Report.
12: Submission deadline for fiscal year 2023 annual reporting survey for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds.
Applications for the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Association of Educational Office Professionals (AEOP) Margaret Van Horn Scholarship must be postmarked by Friday, Jan. 12.
Experts from across Kansas will help attendees of the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) 2024 Summer Academy learn evidence-based methods and strategies that can help positively impact instruction and assessments.
Register now for the Kansas Annual Career and Technical Education Conference in order to lock in discounted pricing.
The Spring Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program will be offered online between Feb. 12-April 12
The deadline to register for the 42nd annual Kansas Division for Early Childhood Conference (KDEC) is quickly approaching.
5: Deadline for test coordinators to submit requests for accommodations for ACT.
5: Deadline to submit accommodations requests for ACT through the Test Accessibility and Accommodations System (TAA). It takes time for approval, so please submit requests early.
Register now for the Kansas Annual Career and Technical Education Conference to lock in discounted pricing.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is sponsoring two in-person trainings next month. There is no cost to attend either training.
Several health careers will be highlighted during the 2024 Virtual Health Care Career Day, scheduled for 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Feb. 1.
The Spring 2024 Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program will be Feb. 12-April 12, 2024.
“Inclusion Matters” is the theme for the 42nd annual Kansas Division for Early Childhood Conference (KDEC).
CALENDAR
1: KSDE offices closed in observance of New Year’s.
1-March 4: Educator Data Collection System open for submission of Licensed Personnel Report (LPR).
2: Star Assessments Regional Training. Star educators can join the session at Waconda USD 272. Learn more and register here.
WorkCTE, like ChatGPT, is becoming even more technical, automated and essential for the future. How are Kansas students being prepared for that? Find out more about WorkCTE at the Kansas Annual Career and Technical Education Conference, scheduled for Feb. 5-7 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is sponsoring two regional in-person trainings early in January 2024. There is no cost to attend either training.
Bethany College has announced registration is now open for its 2024 education conference, Innovative Next Steps in Pre-K-12 Learning.
Registration is now open for the 2024 Virtual Health Care Career Day, which is scheduled for 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Feb. 1.
The Spring 2024 Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program is an eight-week course beginning Feb. 12 and concluding on April 12, 2024.
The 42nd annual Kansas Division for Early Childhood (KDEC) Conference offers attendees an opportunity for professional growth and through an array of sessions, networking experiences and other activities.
25: KSDE offices closed in observance of Christmas holiday.
Learning Forward Kansas is hosting Marcia Tate and her presentation “Sit and Get Won’t Grow Dendrites: 20 Professional Learning Strategies that Engage the Adult Brain” from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Feb. 7.
Melissa Rooker, executive director of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund, has been announced as one of the featured speakers at the First 1,000 Days Kansas Summit.
The 42nd annual Kansas Division for Early Childhood Conference (KDEC) offers attendees an opportunity for professional growth and an array of sessions, networking experiences and other activities.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Kansas Crime Stoppers Association collegiate scholarships.
Celebrate Access! is a new event that explores the unique ways people with visual impairment access the world, and it also celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Braille code.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE)’s Kansas Individual Data on Students (KIDS) staff members are offering KIDS staff training in person and via Zoom in December and January.
The Kansas State Department of Education School Bus Safety Unit will be holding a Transportation Basics Workshop for transportation directors/supervisors from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, in Great Bend.
Kansas Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) and Alignment will host one-day free trainings to help expand understanding of the FastBridge assessment system.
15: Deadline for Kansas counselors to submit feedback survey on 2023 fall professional development.
19: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Kansas Individual Data on Students (KIDS) training, via Zoom. To register, visit the KSDE Training Portal. You must have an account to register. Upon login, click KIDS and KIDS Training to access courses. The course will focus on using KIDS data, understanding submission types and methods and be more hands-on than in previous years.
The Innovative Next Steps in Pre-K-12 Learning Education Conference will take place April 13 at Bethany College and will feature several leaders in education.
As Renaissance begins planning professional learning opportunities sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), the company is seeking educator input.
Kansas Multi-Tier Systems of Support (MTSS) and Alignment will host one-day free trainings to help expand understanding of the FastBridge assessment system.
The KSDE Technical Assistance System Network (TASN) will host in-person, full-day Kansas Early Childhood Outcome (ECO) Rating Process Workshops in 2024.
Stakeholders are invited to attend an event focused on better understanding surveys administered to students in Kansas schools.
The University of Kansas has announced the Spring 2024 Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training Program for Feb. 12-April 12, 2024.
8: 4-5 p.m. KSDE’s monthly math meeting. Topic: Tier Intervention. Zoom: https://ksde.zoom.us/j/88043941824. For more information, contact KSDE’s Jennifer Hamlet via email at jhamlet@kse.org or by phone at 785-296-6823.
The Early Childhood Outcomes (ECO) and the Child Outcome Summary (COS) process were developed to capture the impact of early childhood special education services on young children with disabilities.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) will host Science Regional Professional Learning Communities in February and April 2024.
The Association of Teacher Educators of Kansas (ATE-K) is currently accepting session proposals for the 2024 ATE-K/Kansas Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (KACTE) Spring Conference.
4: 4-4:30 p.m., Coffee with Counselors, Ugly Sweater Party, Zoom. Connect with KSDE school counselor leader coordinators to celebrate the holidays. Registration Link.
Four Kansas Parents as Teachers affiliates have been named Blue Ribbon affiliates by the Parents as Teachers National Center.
There are two remaining FastBridge and Star trainings for the month of November, said Sheleena Taylor, a Renaissance customer success manager for Kansas.
20: Last day to request December federal funds (Form 240) if funds are available. More information, Rose Ireland, 785-296-4973.
20: 3-3:30 p.m., Coffee with Counselors, Connecting Rural Counselors, Zoom. Connect with rural counselors to discuss topics related to being a counselor in a rural area. Registration Link
23-24: KSDE offices closed in observance of Thanksgiving.
The Kansas Volunteer Commission has been selected as a finalist for the 2023 Commission Innovation Awards sponsored by America’s Service Commissions (ASC).
The Kansas Volunteer Commission, which is a program of the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), is one of three finalists in the Innovation in Civic Engagement and Volunteerism category, according to the ASC website.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Early Childhood team and the Kansas Parent Information Resource Center (KPIRC) are partnering for an online training on the Ages and Stages Questionnaires ® Third Edition (ASQ:3) and Ages and Stages ®: Social-Emotional, Second Edition (ASQ: SE-2).
Additional details have been released regarding the Kansas Digital Learning Conference, which is scheduled for Feb. 15-16 at the Andover eCademy, 1411 N. Main in Andover.
Nominations for the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9.
Each FastBridge user has access to FASTflix through a state partnership, said Sheleena Taylor, a Renaissance customer success manager for Kansas.
Through Nov. 10: Testing window for PreACT 8/9.
Through Nov. 10: Request for State Foundation Aid for December. More information, contact Rose Ireland at 785-296-4973.
10: KSDE offices closed in observance of Veterans Day.
Wednesday, Nov. 8, is National Parents as Teachers Day, and the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is honored to support 64 Kansas Parents as Teachers (PAT) affiliates across the state.
The nomination deadline for the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year is Thursday, Nov. 9.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Family Leadership Team is seeking parents who would like to participate in one of two roundtable sessions in November.
The Kansas Leadership Center (KLC) is hosting an online discussion from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, about demographic shifts and the impact they have on Kansas schools.
Each FastBridge user has access to FASTflix through the state partnership, said Sheleena Taylor, a Renaissance customer success manager for Kansas.
3: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., IPS Technical Assistance Opportunity, Greenbush, 947 W. 47 highway, Girard. Click here to register.
8: 10-11 a.m., KSDE staff members will be available to answer questions via Zoom about migrant student reporting. Join the Zoom meeting here. The meeting ID is 894 3382 3936 and the passcode is 388813.
8: Kansas Vaping ECHO for Education program, Part 5.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE)’s Kansas Individual Data on Students (KIDS) staff will offer training in the southwestern part of Kansas in November.
The Kansas Educational Leadership Institute (KELI) is hosting a learning opportunity about teacher recruitment and retention.
Career and technical education (CTE) instructors, coordinators and administrators are invited to attend the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCEER) CTE New Skilled Trades Instructor Workshop Conference on Nov. 8 at the Wichita Airport Hilton DoubleTree.
Two different dates and locations are set for the Kansas MTSS (Multi-Tier System of Supports) and Alignment Reading Roadshow.
Renaissance has announced upcoming FastBridge and Star trainings, said Sheleena Taylor, a Renaissance customer success manager for Kansas.
1-31: National Bullying Prevention Month.
1-31: National Farm to School Month.
Career and technical education (CTE) instructors, coordinators and administrators are invited to attend the National Center for Construction Education and Research CTE New Skilled Trades Instructor Workshop Conference on Nov. 8 at the Wichita Airport Hilton DoubleTree.
Renaissance has announced a new Kansas Landing Page where educators can go for updates, resources and avenues for support, said Sheleena Taylor, a Renaissance customer success manager for Kansas.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s math team will host monthly math meetings to go over topics educators wanted to learn more about.
Kansas's first Apply Free Days will be held Nov. 7-9 for Kansas residents.
Save the date for the Kansas Digital Learning Conference in February.
Join the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and Andover Unified School District 385 for an Elementary Science Summit centered around the best thematic units.
The deadline to submit session proposals and poster session proposals for the 42nd Annual Kansas Division for Early Childhood Conference has been extended to Wednesday, Oct. 20.
The deadline to register for the Great Ideas in Education Conference: Empowered Together is Friday, Oct. 13.
Visit Kansas Safe Routes to Schools for ways to get more kids walking, biking, and rolling to school, improve route safety, and increase health and physical activity. Safe Routes to Schools programs can decrease the number of families driving to school, which can reduce traffic, improve air quality, and reduce costs for families.
The Kansas Technical Assistance System Network (TASN) School Mental Health Initiative (SMHI) is hosting a Trauma-Responsive School Community Facilitation Workshop in January 2024.
Representatives from colleges, businesses, military and certification programs will be on hand to talk to students about career opportunities during the sixth annual ESSDACK Career Expo.
The Kansas State Department of Education has several Science Regional Professional Learning Communities planned around the state in February 2024.
If you haven’t registered for the Great Ideas in Education Conference: Empowered Together, do it soon because registration closes on Oct. 13.
Several FastBridge and Star trainings are scheduled throughout the month of October.
2-6: Kansas Anti-Bullying Awareness Week.
The Kansas Digital Learning Conference will take place Feb. 15-16 at the Andover eCademy, 1411 N. Main in Andover.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) administers several award programs for districts to recognize outstanding students and teachers throughout the state.
The 71st annual Fall Conference for School Counselors, slated for Nov. 17, will feature a keynote presentation from award-winning educator Brandi Heather.
Several FastBridge and Star trainings are scheduled throughout the month of October, including a fall Star Regional training on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
Presenters are needed for the 42nd annual Kansas Division for Early Childhood Conference, which is scheduled for Feb. 28-March 1 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Wichita Airport in Wichita.
29: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., CTE Technical Assistance opportunity, Orion, 13939 Diagonal Ave., Clearwater. Click here to register.
29: Noon-1 p.m., KSDE weekly “ASQ Tips and Questions Session.” KSDE staff members will be available to answer questions and help with the ASQ. Visit the KSDE TASN Calendar at ksdetasn.org/events to register.
The Kansas State Department of Education is sponsoring a Star regional training on Wednesday, Oct. 4.
22: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., CTE Technical Assistance opportunity, Greenbush, 1104 E. 1100 Road, Lawrence. Click here to register.
22: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Kansas MTSS and Alignment Regional FastBridge training session, DoubleTree by Hilton, 200 McDonald Drive, Lawrence. Click here to register. Space is limited. The training sessions are sponsored by Kansas MTSS and Alignment.
22: Noon-1 p.m., KSDE weekly “ASQ Tips and Questions Session.” KSDE staff members will be available to answer questions and help with the ASQ. Visit the KSDE TASN Calendar at ksdetasn.org/events to register. This series will conclude Friday, Sept. 29.
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Safe Routes to School program is providing planning assistance and kick-start grants to schools and communities interested in Safe Routes to School.
It may be several months away, but now is a great time to add the 42nd annual Kansas Division for Early Childhood Conference to your calendar.
Last week, the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund announced a new grant opportunity. The Capital Projects Fund Accelerator will award $38 million in construction-only grants for community multi-purpose facilities to expand on the state’s efforts to create new licensed child care slots while adding space to enable work, health monitoring and education supports.
Participants of the Kansas Multi-Tier System of Supports and Alignment’s pre-K make-and-take trainings will learn how to intentionally plan for centers and small group instruction within the preschool classroom.
15: 8:30 a.m.-noon, Counting KIDS Workshop, Cimmaron High School Auditorium, 400 N. 5th in Cimmaron. https://learning.ksde.org/.
The sixth annual Kansas Vision Symposium will be Oct. 27 at the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview, 400 West Douglas Ave. in Wichita.
The 2023 Great Ideas in Education Conference: Empowered Together offers three outstanding keynote speakers, breakout sessions, networking opportunities and the chance to meet like-minded educators from across the state.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is sponsoring an upcoming panel discussion and a fall Star regional training.
A four-week, text-dependent book study can assist English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teachers and general education teachers in understanding language acquisition; planning, teaching and assessing English language lessons; and using evidence-based skills and activities.
Kansas school districts are encouraged to nominate one exemplary elementary classroom teacher and one exemplary secondary classroom teacher for the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year award program.
The Kansas State Department of Education is hosting a 10-week professional development study via Zoom focusing on structure literacy interventions.
September is Suicide Prevention Month, and the School-Based Mental Health 2023-2024 ECHO series is gearing up to equip and empower school-based professionals with resources to address suicide in their school communities.
8: Noon-1 p.m., KSDE weekly “ASQ Tips and Questions Session.” KSDE staff members will be available to answer questions and help with the ASQ. Visit the KSDE TASN Calendar at ksdetasn.org/events to register. This series will conclude Friday, Sept. 29.
8: 9 a.m.-2 p.m., CTE Technical Assistance opportunity, Smoky Hill Education Service Center, 605 E. Crawford St., Salina. Click here to register.
A four-week text dependent book study can assist English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teachers and general education teachers in understanding language acquisition; planning, teaching and assessing English language lessons; and using evidence-based skills and activities.
If you haven’t already registered to attend one of this year’s Counting KIDS workshops, there is still time to sign up for one of the September sessions.
Kansans are invited to celebrate literacy Sept. 4-10, which Gov. Laura Kelly has proclaimed Kansas Literacy Week.
There are several IXL Math resources available to help teachers and students have a successful 2023-2024 school year.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is providing Individual Plan of Study (IPS) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Technical Assistance training opportunities this fall at educational service centers across the state.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is offering free access to videos and support documents from four professional development sessions provided this summer.
Teachers who are comfortable expressing honest opinions and concerns are four times more likely to be excited about their future careers in education, according to a survey by the Quaglia Institute for School Voice and Aspirations (QISVA).
Back by popular demand, the Fresh Look at Phonics text-based professional learning opportunity will start at 5 p.m. Sept. 20.
31: 5 p.m., deadline for completed Stronger Connections Grant (SCG). Instructions and required forms are located in the Request for Application at the following link: https://www.ksde.org/Default.aspx?tabid=792.
This fall, the U.S. Department of Education invites high schools to enter the Your Place in Space Challenge — a CTE Momentum challenge to create new solutions for space and inspire students to envision careers in the space industry.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is offering free access to videos and support documents from four professional development sessions that were provided this summer.
FastBridge screening assessment measures give instructional teams a wealth of data. However, how do teams harness that data to inform instructional practice at the ground level?
The Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) annual Counting KIDS Workshops begin Monday, Aug. 28, and continue on selected dates through Sept. 13, in advance of the Sept. 20 Count Day.
25: Noon-1 p.m., KSDE weekly “ASQ Tips and Questions Session.” KSDE staff members will be available to answer questions and help with the ASQ. Visit the KSDE TASN Calendar at ksdetasn.org/events to register. This series will conclude Friday, Sept. 29.
28: 1-4:30 p.m. Counting KIDS Workshop, Oakley, Northwest Kansas Educational Service Center, 703 W. 2nd, Oakley. Register by Aug. 21 on the KSDE Training Portal at https://learning.ksde.org/.
29: 8:30 a.m.-noon, Counting KIDS Workshop, Cimarron High School Auditorium, Cimmaron USD 102, 400 N. 5th, Cimarron. Register by Aug. 21 on the KSDE Training Portal at https://learning.ksde.org/.
All eligible students are encouraged to apply for the 2024 United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP).
FastBridge screening assessment measures give instructional teams a wealth of data. However, how do those teams utilize that data to inform instructional practice at the ground level?
Calendar
18: Noon-1 p.m., KSDE weekly “ASQ Tips and Questions Session.” KSDE staff members will be available to answer questions and help with the ASQ. Visit the KSDE TASN Calendar at ksdetasn.org/events to register. This series will conclude Friday, Sept. 29.
23: 9 a.m., School-Based Mental Health 2023-2024 ECHO series begins via Zoom. For more information, topics, dates and to register for this free opportunity, visit https://www.kumc.edu/community-engagement/our-divisions/project-echo/current-series/school-based-mental-health-echo.html.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) administers several award programs that can help districts recognize outstanding students and teachers throughout the state.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is providing Individual Plan of Study (IPS) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Technical Assistance opportunities this fall at educational service centers across the state.
Kansas high schools are invited to register for the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) 2023 Apply Kansas Campaign.
11: Noon-1 p.m., KSDE weekly “ASQ Tips and Questions Session.” KSDE staff members will be available to answer questions and help with the ASQ. Visit the KSDE TASN Calendar at ksdetasn.org/events to register. This series will conclude Friday, Sept. 29.
13: Last day of Sunflower Summer program.
Applications for the 2024 Kansas Horizon Award program are now available.
Registration is open for the virtual Kansas Vaping ECHO for Education Summit, which will take place 9-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30.
As the state prepares for singer-songwriter Dolly Parton’s visit and students are preparing to return to school, it is a great time to remind families that every Kansas child from birth to age 5 can receive free books every month from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
The Kansas Children’s Service League (KCSL) is offering several child abuse prevention and strengthening families training topics in August and September, including some evening opportunities.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and the Kansas Association of Teachers of Science (KATS) are partnering to host a monthly virtual professional learning community for educators in their first through third years of teaching science.
8-9: Kansas State Board of Education meeting. View the live stream at https://www.ksde.org/Board/Kansas-State-Board-of-Education/Streaming-Media.
9: 1-1:45 p.m. Informational webinar on Mindfulness and School-Based Yoga: Tools for the Classroom E-Learning Course. Register for the informational webinar here.
Human trafficking is the fastest growing and second largest – after drug dealing - criminal industry in the world, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Several resources are available to support schools in engaging with the families of incoming kindergarteners to complete the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®, Third Edition (ASQ-3) and the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®: Social-Emotional, Second Edition (ASQ: SE-2).
28: KSDE will host a Zoom meeting to review the steps schools can take to prepare for a successful Kindergarten Readiness Snapshot. Click here to register for the Get Ready for the 2023 Kindergarten Readiness Snapshot Zoom (10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Friday, July 28).
31: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., in-person training appropriate for K-12 school counselors to set up 2023-2024 comprehensive school counseling program for success, Southwest Plains Conference Center, 810 W. Lark Ave. in Sublette. Registration is $25 per person, which includes lunch. For more information, click here. To register for the training, click here.
Eighty-two students from the SkillsUSA Kansas delegation competed in skilled trades and leadership competitions at the annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Championships Conference from June 19-23 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Gary Scott, of Olathe, has been selected as a Teacher of Excellence by the National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF) and the American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association (ADTSEA).
21: Quarterly reporting for ESSER funds closes on CommonApp.
24: 9-11 a.m., FastBridge Essentials: Progress Monitoring Day 1. Virtual. Get started with a quick tour of how to navigate the FastBridge system and then dive into assessments you can use to progress monitor students: CBM Automatically, CBM Reading and Early Reading Nonsense Words. Register here.
Registration for the 2023 Kansas Home Visiting Virtual Conference opened Monday, July 10.
17: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 2023-2024 School Year Kick-Off Event for Jump Start Your Success in School Nutrition Programs. Jump Start offers a blend of in-person, live virtual, on-demand and personalized training opportunities for new and aspiring school food service directors and managers. This training opportunity is for those with less than three years of experience. For more information about the program or event, contact KSDE’s Kelly Chanay at kchanay@ksde.org. All participants must register at https://ksde.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_577eu6HSSn2VhRk.
17: Registration deadline for Fort Hays State University’s Trauma-Informed Practices virtual workshop. The workshop is 9-11 a.m. July 25-26. The cost is $40. To register, contact Mary Cooper by email at mccooper2@fhsu.edu or by phone at (785) 628-4283.
Registration for the 2023 Kansas Home Visiting Virtual Conference will open Monday, July 10.
Melanie Scott, a Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) school counselor leader coordinator, is facilitating a training on July 31 that can help each school counselor set up their 2023-2024 comprehensive school counseling program for success.
7: 11 a.m. to noon, Kansas counselors group chat. Watch for an email from KSDE’s Kent Reed for a link to this event.
9: Deadline for applications to become a HirePaths teacher ambassador. For more information, email info@hirepaths.com. Learn more and apply here: https://hirepaths.com/for-educators/become-a-hirepaths-ambassador.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s Child Nutrition and Wellness (CNW) team is hosting a kickoff event for the Jump Start program from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 17 at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library in Topeka.
Reasonable Suspicion Training for Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Supervisors will be offered for free from 9 a.m. to noon July 19 at the Kansas Association of School Boards, 1420 S.W. Arrowhead Road, in Topeka.
Thanks to a United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) Team Nutrition grant, there are three regional Local Foods Culinary Workshops scheduled in July and August.
The Kansas Parents as Teachers Association (KPATA) hosts a variety of professional development for early childhood providers and members, including monthly trainings that are topic specific.
The University of Kansas School of Medicine’s virtual fall 2023 Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training will be Aug. 14-Oct. 13.
30: Deadline for Child Nutrition and Wellness KANSANS CAN 2022-2023 Best Practice Awards. One-page nomination form is available here.
30: Deadline to submit and correct chronic absentee data via the End of the Year Assessment (EOYA) record.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Child Care Licensing Team is conducting a comprehensive review of Kansas child care licensing regulations.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) are partnering to offer Reasonable Suspicion Training for commercial driver’s license (CDL) supervisors from 9 a.m. to noon July 19 at the Kansas Association of School Boards, 1420 S.W. Arrowhead Road, in Topeka.
The deadline to register for the Kansas State Department of Education’s New Superintendents Budget Workshop is 4 p.m. Friday, June 23.
The University of Kansas School of Medicine has announced its fall 2023 Tobacco Treatment Specialist Training, which will be Aug. 14-Oct. 13.
Fort Hays State University is hosting three workshops via Zoom this summer designed for school counselors and K-12 educators.
23: 4 p.m., registration deadline for New Superintendents Budget Workshop. The workshop will take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Thursday, June 29, at the Salina District Office, 1511 Gypsum Ave. in Salina. Registration is limited to new superintendents and first-year board clerks or business managers. Register by contacting Deborah Howard via email at deborah.howard@usd305.com or via phone at 785-309-4727. There is a $15 fee to cover a meal and refreshments.
Educators are invited to learn more about IXL Math in Kansas through webinars being offered on Tuesdays in June.
It isn’t too late to register for a 2023-2024 Kansas State Department of Education Budget Workshop.
19: 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. KSDE Budget Workshop, Southeast Kansas Education Service Center, 947 West 47 Highway, Girard. Register here by June 16. Registration fee is $25, which includes lunch.
20: 10-11 a.m. FastBridge FastTrack 101: Grades 4-5. Virtual. This KSDE-sponsored professional development opportunity will teach participants about universal screening with FastTrack Reading and Math at your grade level. This session will be an overview of assessments and reports for fourth and fifth grades. Register here.
The deadline to submit applications for the Mental Health Intervention Team (MHIT) grant and the Safe and Secure Schools grant is 5 p.m. Friday, June 9.
The Kansas Volunteer Commission is hosting a civic engagement training opportunity.
The 2023-2024 KSDE Budget Workshops kick off Wednesday, June 14, at Southwest Plains Regional Service Center in Sublette.
12: 9 a.m.-noon, KSDE Summer School Counseling Virtual Academy. Registration required. For more information or to register, click here.
12-13: 9 a.m.-noon, KSDE and Phenomenon Elementary Science Education virtual training. There will be approximately two hours of additional asynchronous engagement before, during and after the training. Applicants will be asked to commit to engaging during this time. College credit is optional, and certificates of professional learning will be provided. There is no cost to participants. Please email mrichard@ksde.org with questions.
Attention superintendents, clerks and business managers of school districts: Mark your calendars now and make plans to attend a budget workshop presented by Deputy Commissioner Dr. Craig Neuenswander and Dale Brungardt, director of the Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) School Finance team.
Kansas school counselors are invited to join the free KSDE Summer School Counseling Virtual Academy from 9 a.m. to noon Monday, June 12.
4: 3-5 p.m. Orientation session for Kodály Certification Courses at Wichita State University. To register, or for more information, visit www.wichita.edu/kodaly or email Steve Oare or Matt Hanne.
5-16: 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. (Monday-Friday) Kodály Certification Courses at Wichita State University. Cost for the noncredit workshop is $600. Courses also can be taken for graduate credit. Housing is available. All classes take place at the Duerksen Fine Arts Building on the Wichita State University campus. To register, or for more information, visit www.wichita.edu/kodaly or email Steve Oare or Matt Hanne.
Join Nick Hurd, Kansas’ IXL Professional Learning Lead, as he shares best practices and resources for using IXL this summer, both for summer school and for independent summer learning, on Tuesday, May 30.
Are you looking for a way to sharpen your teaching skills and musicianship? Or perhaps a way to renew yourself musically at the end of the year? Would you like to join a community of educators interested in refining their pedagogical processes?
Every year, the Kansas Art Education Association (KAEA) recognizes exemplary contributions, achievements and service to the profession by educations within the state of Kansas.
Mark your calendar and make plans to attend a budget workshop presented by Deputy Commissioner Dr. Craig Neuenswander and Dale Brungardt, director of KSDE’s School Finance team.
25: Due date for Remote Learning Report (spring semester).
23: 3:30-4:30 p.m., FastBridge Lightning Round. A space for collaboration, resources and asking questions. Exclusively for Kansas educators. Virtual event. Register here.
Is vaping an issue at your school? Are you ready to address it and get students connected to the help they need? If yes, then enroll now to take part in the Kansas Vaping ECHO for Education program for the 2023-2024 school year.
The Early Childhood Transition Task Force will have its second meeting next week on Tuesday, May 16.
Kansas teachers have been in the spotlight this week as we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week from May 8-12.
The Kansas State Department of Education and the Kansas Association for Career and Technical Education (KACTE) have announced that the deadline for the 2023 KACTE Summer Conference Perkins funds grant application has been extended to May 31.
Two free online science professional development opportunities are available for educators this summer.
12: Deadline for KSDE Great Ideas in Education Conference: Empowered Together session proposals. Proposal form: https://ksde.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eaL4WlfFowNIyz4.
16: 2 p.m., School Nutrition Program Renewal Training, at https://ksde.zoom.us/j/84920437369?pwd=dXgrdE5ickp6VVVHRTFWbkowN0FJUT09. KSDE will record this session and make the recording available to sponsors following the training if sponsors are unable to attend.
The Kansas State Department of Education and the Kansas Association for Career and Technical Education (KACTE) has announced that the deadline for the 2023 KACTE Summer Conference Perkins funds grant application has been extended to May 31.
The Kansas State Department of Education has canceled all Summer Academies because of low registration numbers.
5: Last day for early bird registration for Kansas School Transportation Safety Conference and State Driving Competition. The conference program, registration form and more can be found here.
Funding from the Promoting Advancement in Computing Knowledge (PACK) Act has allowed the Kansas State Department of Education to partner with The College Board to provide training opportunities, many at no cost, to Kansas educators and administrators this summer.
April 2023 marks one year since Learning Forward released revised Standards for Professional Learning. Since then, educators have learned about standards through webinars, networks and professional learning communities, as well as how to use standards tools.
All Kansas educators are encouraged to make a reservation today for upcoming Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Summer Academies.
The Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) and Educate Kansas are co-hosting the #EpicEducators23 Summer Retreat on July 20-21 at the Alvin E. Morris Administrative Center, 903 South Edgemoor St. in Wichita.
The University of Kansas is hosting the 2023 GenCyber Summer Camp for Teachers from July 24-28.
1: Participant evaluation survey due for Youth Mental Health First Aid Community of Practice.
1: 5 p.m., KSDE Mentor Programs system closes.
A teacher workshop scheduled for July 27-28 will allow attendees to investigate the pedagogical benefits of effective arts include across content areas while addressing deeper learning opportunities, fostering curiosity and exploring ways for increasing student engagement.
The 2023 Kansas Multi-Tier System of Support (MTSS) and Alignment Symposium will take place in person Sept. 12-14 at the Wichita Hyatt Regency.
If you have oversight responsibility for special education, school improvement, title services or early childhood, consider attending the 2023 KSDE Special Education and Title Services (SETS) Leadership Conference on July 26-27 at the Wichita Hyatt Regency.
A four-week Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) book study beginning June 8 will cover the nature and reading of dyslexia, diagnosing dyslexia, turning struggling readers into proficient readers and success after high school and beyond.
People who work for schools in Johnson County or for agencies that serve the public in Johnson County can pursue one of two certificate programs tuition-free through Emporia State University.
21: Quarterly reporting for ESSER funds closes. Please contact esser@ksde.org for any questions on this.
Beginning next week, IXL Math will host a series of 30-minute webinars to provide an overview of IXL Math to Kansas educators.
The Kansas Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) and Alignment is hosting “Celebrating the Power of Voice by Developing Greater Partnerships and Purpose” from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 27.
The 2023 Kansas Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) and Alignment Symposium will take place in person Sept. 12-14 at the Wichita Hyatt Regency.
Two different science collaboration meetings have been scheduled for this month.
Reserve your seat today for upcoming Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Summer Academies – coming soon to a location near you.
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 fully participate in the simulation activities, in-person attendance is encouraged. To register: https://forms.office.com/r/2vRkD6LreN.
The Kansas School Transportation Safety Conference and State Driving Competition will be May 31-June 2 at the Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview in Wichita.
There are now two opportunities to learn how writing can be incorporated in a variety of settings for diverse student needs.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Summer Academies will take place in June and July at four schools across the state.
The U.S. Department of Education has announced the launch of the Your Place in Space Challenge.
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.
The 2023 Kansas State Department of Education’s Special Education and Title Services (SETS) Leadership Conference will take place in person on July 26-27 at the Wichita Hyatt Regency.
There are upcoming professional development sessions that can help with writing and reading comprehension.
Dr. Carol Salva, author of “Boosting Achievement for Students with Interrupted or Minimal Education,” will engage audiences with “Boosting Achievement for Interrupted Learners” from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. April 26 in Topeka.
The Kansas Vaping ECHO for Education program is allowing school districts in Kansas to engage in a year-long process to learn more about vaping education and best practices for cessation.
31: Final deadline for systems entering year five of KESA to have on-site Outside Visitation Team visit.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Great Ideas in Education Conference, formerly known as the KSDE Annual Conference, will take place Oct. 25-27 in Wichita.
Building and district leaders are encouraged to attend one of the 30-minute IXL webinars scheduled for next week.
25: 11 a.m., Kansas Teacher of the Year Regional Awards Banquet, Region 4, Wichita Marriott Hotel, 9100 E. Corporate Hills Drive.
The Kansas Technical Assistance System Network (TASN) is offering the opportunity to join Barbara Kaiser for a deep dive into the science of childhood behaviors and what to do about them.
Music educators and students from across the state gathered at the Kansas Statehouse on Monday, March 13, to celebrate Music in Our Schools Month®.
21: 9-11:30 a.m., Progress Monitoring with FastBridge. Discover the basics of progress monitoring with FastBridge, including a working definition, purpose and available measures. Learn how to select students for monitoring, set up progress monitoring groups, choose the details needed for each group’s schedule, how to indicate the specific intervention and where to go to conduct monitoring. Use the Individual Progress Monitoring Report, such as the trend, goal and projection lines, as well as specific student errors, in order to interpret the data, evaluate intervention effectiveness and intensify interventions. Register here.
Gov. Laura Kelly signed a proclamation designating March 12-18 as National Child and Adult Care Food Program Week.
Kansas school districts celebrated School Social Work Week, which is March 5-11, and National School Breakfast Week, which is March 6-10, in a variety of ways through social media.
The 2023 Kansas Federal Education Funds Administration Forum will begin at 8:30 a.m. March 30 at the Wichita Marriott, 9100 E. Corporate Hills Drive.
The Help Me Grow Kansas project is offering free virtual Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) trainings in March.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s Summer Academies will take place in June and July. Choose an in-person option from four districts across Kansas.
10: Deadline for state-level School Bus Safety poster contest. Entries must be received in Topeka by this date to qualify for the contest.
Does your district have concerns about vaping policies, practices or procedures? Then, consider working with Project ECHO to engage in a year-long process to learn more about vaping education and best practices for cessation.
The deadline to nominate people for this year’s School Social Worker of the Year and Champion for Children awards is approaching.
The Kansas School Nurses Organization wants to emphasize the contribution of Kansas school nurses by recognizing one professional registered school nurse and one professional registered school nurse administrator who demonstrate excellence and professionalism in school nursing practice.
The last three years have brought a surge of much needed federal relief aid to Kansas school districts, but those new funds come with a variety of conditions and requirements that will all be monitored for compliance.
College Board is offering the following AP professional learning opportunities for Kansas teachers and administrators during the summer.
Save the date for Summer Academies. Choose an in-person option from four districts across Kansas.
The Kansas State Department of Education is looking for volunteers from pre-K-12 and higher education to review educator preparation programs.
The Kansas State School for the Blind will host an open house for its interactive Preschool Enrichment Program from 3-6 p.m. April 14.
The Kansas Department of Commerce is encouraging cities and counties to take a fresh look at Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding in 2023.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is seeking information on the KSDE Great Ideas in Education Conference through a survey.
An additional date and location for commercial driver’s license (CDL) proxy testing and Entry-Level Driving Training (ELDT) Theory has been created.
23-24: 41st annual Kansas Division for Early Childhood Conference in Wichita. Educators and service providers can earn continuing education units. Lunch is provided. Ellen Drolette, author of “Overcoming Teacher Burnout in Early Childhood,” is the keynote speaker. Registration: https://cvent.me/Wq7WL7.
The Kansas State Department of Education is hosting a student art contest for the 2023 Great Ideas in Education: Empowered Together! conference.
The Kansas Department of Agriculture is expecting to receive $327,000 from the United State Department of Agriculture to fund projects that will enhance the competitiveness of the Kansas specialty crop industry.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s School Bus Safety Unit is offering a five-hour informational workshop for any mechanic performing the Part I Mechanical School/Activity Bus Safety Inspection.
Join the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and K-State Olathe for a science summit centered around the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Storyline process.
Prospective school bus drivers are invited to commercial driver’s license (CDL) proxy testing and an Entry-Level Driving Training (ELDT) Theory event.
Science professional development will take place Feb. 20 in six regions across Kansas.
Additional dates and locations have been added for the Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) in-person dyslexia professional learning.
Calendar of Events
oin the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and K-State Olathe for a science summit centered around the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Storyline process.
SPARK funding announced in late December is being administered through the Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund under the Child Care Capacity Accelerator grant program.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is hosting workshops for the 2023 Kansas 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant competition.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is sponsoring a six-hour virtual professional development opportunity focused on the science of reading on Feb. 13.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and College Board have partnered to offer statewide informational sessions on AP Seminar: English 10.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is excited to offer a grant opportunity that can help support existing and potential HOSA – Future Health Professionals chapters and also support high-quality health science instruction.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is conducting a 2023 Kansas 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) grant competition.
Additional dates and locations have been added for Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) in-person dyslexia professional learning.
Is your community working to address a need for child care. If so, join the All In For Kansas Kids webinar at noon Wednesday, Feb. 8.
School districts are invited to participate in an informational session about hosting a Visiting International Teacher (VIT) in the 2023-2024 school year. The webinar will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10.
Because of the interest in AP Seminar: English 10, the Kansas State Department of Education and College Board have added two experience workshops – one from 1-4 p.m. Feb. 9 at Smoky Hill Education Center and one from 9 a.m.-noon Feb. 10 at the Landon State Office Building in Topeka.
Nominations are being sought for this year’s School Social Worker of the Year and Champion for Children awards.
The Kansas Volunteer Commission announces monthly webinars on mentoring, volunteerism and civic engagement topics.
Did you know that the Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) Safe and Secure Schools Unit is available for trainings on a variety of topics, including safety drills and incident command systems?
The Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) team will host office hours via Zoom on Wednesday, Jan. 25.
School staff members are invited to attend the Kansas State Department of Education’s Safe and Supportive Schools Conference on Jan. 30-31 in Manhattan.
Preparations are underway for the 40th annual Governor’s Scholars Award program, which will take place Sunday, May 7, in Topeka at Washburn University’s Petro Allied Health Center, Lee Arena.
Kansas State Department of Education staff members will give an overview of the CTE (Career and Technical Education) Scholar program and walk through the application process from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, via Zoom.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief team will host office hours via Zoom on Wednesday, Jan. 25.
The Help Me Grow Kansas project is offering free virtual Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) training in January and March.
A grant opportunity is available so that FCCLA advisers can attend a pre-conference session of the Kansas Annual CTE Conference for free on Monday, Feb. 6, at the Hilton Garden Inn Conference Center in Manhattan.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s Accreditation and Design (AD) team will host its monthly Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) update from 9-9:45 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, via Zoom (register here).
The Kansas Multi-Tier System of Supports (MTSS) and Alignment preschool team is offering a free in-person professional development opportunity with Dr. Mary Louise Hemmeter in Hays and Topeka.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) new Schools and Nonprofits Program is making $500 million in grant funding available to some of the nation’s highest-need K-12 public schools for critical energy upgrades.
During its regularly scheduled meeting on Dec. 13, 2022, the Kansas State Board of Education started its public hearing to consider the adoption of proposed rules and regulations of the Kansas State Board of Education on a permanent basis.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s Division of Learning Services will have a planning retreat on Friday, Dec. 16 and will be out of the office.
The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the highest honors bestowed by the United States government specifically for K–12 science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics (STEM) teaching. This is a great opportunity to nominate your district’s exceptional STEM teachers. Secondary STEM teachers can also apply this year.
The National School Bus Safety Poster Contest is sponsored each year by the National Association for Pupil Transportation, the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services and the National School Transportation Association.
The Kansas Division for Early Childhood is seeking nominations for five special awards.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s Division of Learning Services will have a planning retreat on Friday, Dec. 16 and many team members will be out of the office.
Dr. Suzanne Adlof will offer two virtual opportunities to learn about connections between dyslexia and language development.
If you missed the fall 2022 Jump Start Your Success in School Nutrition Programs, mark your calendar now to join the Kansas State Department of Education’s Child Nutrition and Wellness (CNW) team for the spring kickoff event Jan. 12 in Salina.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Safe and Secure Schools Conference will take place Jan. 30-31 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 410 South 3rd, in Manhattan. This year’s event will feature former Kansas State University Coach Bill Snyder as the closing keynote speaker.
The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) Division of Aviation is currently accepting artwork for the 2023 National Association of State Aviation Officials art contest.
Star Assessments spring virtual learning events, which are sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), will take place throughout January, February, March and April via Zoom.
Mark your calendar and plan to join the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) for annual summer development through the Summer Academy for Teachers.
A meeting will take place at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, to offer school counselors critical information pertaining to newly updated financial literacy standards.
A text-dependent professional development course will be offered via Zoom from 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays from Jan. 11-Feb. 8.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) invites you to celebrate American Education Week (AEW) with us Nov. 13-19.
Did you know that participating in the Kansas Teacher of the Year program is one of the most important investments you can make in your teaching staff?
The Kansas Technical Assistance System Network (TASN) and Kansas Infinitec Coalition (KIC) are hosting the 16th annual TASN KIC Technology Conference and Outstanding Technology Student Awards Luncheon from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2.
Natalie Johnson-Berry, a member of the 2022 Kansas Teacher of the Year Team and a restorative justice facilitator at Wyandotte High School, is one of five recipients of the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence.
Nearly 150 Kansas educators will be in Dodge City on Nov. 18-19 to attend the Kansas LEADs (Linking Educators Across Districts) Conference.
Registration is now open for the Kansas Annual CTE Conference, which will take place Feb. 6-8 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan.
Brian Skinner, the 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year, is available this year through the Hubbard Foundation Kansas Teacher of the Year Ambassadorship to conduct workshops for school personnel, visit with team members of teachers or serve as a keynote speaker for your school district.
Time is running out for school districts to nominate one exemplary elementary classroom teacher and one exemplary secondary classroom teacher for the 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year program.
Congratulations to Dr. Mike Argabright, who was named the 2023 Kansas Superintendent of the Year earlier this month by the Kansas School Superintendents’ Association (KSSA).
Susan Severin, a former school psychologist at Emporia USD 253 and a specialized learning services support consultant for Greenbush Education Service Center, was recently named the 2022 Kansas School Psychologist of the Year.
21: ESSER quarterly reporting closes.
25: 9 a.m.-noon, fall professional development for administrators, “Using Star Assessments to Strengthen Data Culture,” Beloit Junior-Senior High School, 1711 N. Walnut St. in Beloit. To reserve a seat, https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfimnqrRcgaFFhMg_4PdOlMYKQ24GWF8flMopVtsVSP3fvJ-Q/viewform.
Congratulations to Julie Scott, principal of R.L. Wright Elementary School, Sedgwick USD 439. On Wednesday, Oct. 19, Scott was announced as one of nine recipients of the Terrell H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership for 2022.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
14: Deadline for completed Horizon application.
18: 9-10 a.m., Star Assessments Virtual Fall Training for Administrators and Teachers, “October Star Burst: Understanding the Screening Data.” To register, Meeting Registration - Zoom.
America’s Safe Schools Week, which is observed Oct. 17-21, is the perfect opportunity for Kansas schools to review and/or enhance their crisis plans.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is offering a free virtual opportunity that can enhance teacher practice related to structured literacy and the explicit teaching of phonics.
School districts still have time to nominate one exemplary elementary classroom teacher and one exemplary secondary classroom teacher for the 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year program.
October 7: 8:30-10:30 a.m. Kansas MTSS and TASN 2022-2023 Preschool Webinar Series: Leadership webinar, “Addressing Challenging Behavior in young Children: The Leadership Role.” Barbara Kaiser. Free book for the first 75 registered. Register here. 10: “Structured Literacy: The 90-Minute Block Party,” Keystone Learning Center, Ozawkie. Register here: http://www.keystonelearning.org.
Science regional professional learning communities are scheduled across the state in November.
The fourth annual Mountain Plains Crunch Off will take place Oct. 12.
23-24: Kansas Teacher of the Leadership Conference, Wichita..
24: Kansas Teacher of the Year Banquet, Wichita.
Applications are now available for the Kansas State Department of Education Association of Educational Office Professionals (KSDE AEOP) Margaret Van Horn Scholarship.
A grant will allow school districts with paid affiliated FCCLA chapters to attend a workshop for free to learn about integrating FCCLA into the Family and Consumer Science (FCS) classroom. It also will provide funding to purchase two national program curriculums, said Pam Lamb, the state FCCLA adviser.
The Annual Kansas Division for Early Childhood (KDEC) conference is scheduled for Feb 23-24, 2023, at the Double Tree by Hilton in Wichita.
Two and a half wonderful days of professional learning are available during the Great Ideas in Education Conference – The ART of Teaching conference, Oct. 19-21 in Wichita.
Kansas Multi-Tier System of Supports and Alignment (MTSS) is offering a four-part preschool webinar series this school year with Barbara Kaiser.
The Ready to Learn ECHO Series will take place from noon to 1 p.m. the first Thursday of every month beginning Oct. 6.
16: 9 a.m.-noon, fall professional development for administrators, “Using Star Assessments to Strengthen Data Culture,” South Hutchinson Elementary School, 405 S. Poplar St. in Hutchinson. To reserve a seat, https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfimnqrRcgaFFhMg_4PdOlMYKQ24GWF8flMopVtsVSP3fvJ-Q/viewform.
In-person district and building test coordinator regional trainings have been scheduled throughout September and October. Whether you are a new or veteran test coordinator, make plans to attend one of these trainings.
Six science professional learning communities are scheduled throughout the month of September.
Breakout sessions for the Kansas State Department of Education’s Great Ideas in Education Conference, which takes place Oct. 19-21 at the Hyatt Regency in Wichita, have been announced.
The Kansas State Interagency Coordinating Council invites families, professionals and community partners who support children ages birth to 5 to join the Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC) Retreat.
The Kansas Coordinating Council on Early Childhood Developmental Services – more commonly referred to as the State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) – will meet from 1-4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16.
A full-day workshop focused on structured literacy will be offered at four locations throughout Kansas.
The date for the next Kansas Linking Educators Across Districts (LEADS) conference has been announced. The next event will take place Nov.18-19 in Dodge City. Kansas educators can register for this event at www.kansasleads.mystrikingly.com.
The KSDE Great Ideas in Education Conference, “The Art of Teaching” will take place October 19-21, 2022, at the Hyatt Regency in Wichita
The deadline for students to enter the art contest for the Great Ideas in Education: The Art of Teaching conference is Friday, Sept. 9.
2: 1-4:30 p.m., Counting Kids Workshop, Hiawatha High School. (Registration ended Aug. 26).
Training for new Outside Visitation Team (OVT) members will be from 9-11 a.m. Sept. 6 and from 1-3 p.m. Sept. 8.
Six-week fall and winter online courses, designed for middle and high school teachers, counselors, social workers and related service providers for students in grades seventh through 12th, are being offered on behalf of the Kansas State Department of Education.
William Parrett and Kathleen Budge, of Boise State University’s Center for School Improvement and Policy Studies, have been announced as keynote speakers for the first keynote address of KSDE’s Great Ideas in Education Conference: The Art of Teaching, Oct. 19-21 in Wichita.
The Presidential Scholars Program recognizes and honors high school seniors who have demonstrated high achievement academically or in the arts; some having to overcome special challenges or hurdles to do so.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) will provide a training workshop for reviewing higher education teacher preparation programs from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 6 in person at the Landon State Office Building, 900 S.W. Jackson in Topeka.
29: 11 a.m., Register here for 1-800-CHILDREN training and demo via Zoom.
29: 1-4:30 p.m., Counting Kids Workshop, Northwest Kansas Educational Service Center, Oakley. (Registration ended Aug. 22)
30: 8:30 a.m.-noon, Counting Kids Workshop, Cimarron High School. (Registration ended Aug. 23)
Six-week fall and winter online courses, designed for elementary teachers, counselors, social workers and related service providers for students in grades kindergarten through sixth, are being offered on behalf of the Kansas State Department of Education.
Telehealth ROCKS, in partnership with Kansas Suicide Prevention Headquarters, will present an introductory webinar from noon to 1 p.m. Sept. 8 via Zoom.
The Kansas Partners in Empowering Youth for Suicide Prevention is hosting a Youth Suicide Prevention Art Contest to provide opportunities for youths to let their voices be heard.
23: 9 a.m.-noon. Register here for the Introduction to ASQ-3 training via Zoom.
23: 3:30 p.m., Register here for 1-800-CHILDREN training and demo via Zoom.
Applications for the 2023 U.S. Senate Youth Program are available now.
There’s still time to register for this year’s Counting Kids Workshops.
All sponsors contracting with a Food Service Management Company (FSMC) are strongly encouraged to participate in the FSMC Fall Update and Monitoring Training at 9 a.m. Sept. 15.
The Kansas State Interagency Coordinating Council invites families, professionals, and community partners who support children ages birth to 5 to join the Local Interagency Coordinating Council (LICC) Retreat.
The Kansas State Department of Education School Bus Safety Unit will be hosting Transportation Meetings/Forums for the 2022-2023 school year at 17 locations across the state during the month of September. We understand you are all busy but please consider attending one of these meetings. This may be the only occasion during the year where some of you have an opportunity to attend a meeting at a close, convenient location to your district. All meetings are from 9:30 a.m. to noon.
The 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year nomination packet is available. Every school district is encouraged to nominate one exemplary elementary classroom teacher and one exemplary secondary classroom teacher for this prestigious award.
The 2022 KSDE Great Ideas in Education Conference: The Art of Teaching includes new networking opportunities.
Educators Rising Kansas will be hosting its Northeast Regional Conference on Nov. 2, 2022, at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe.
All school systems are invited to attend the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) kick-off event Aug. 23 and Aug. 25.
Are you interested in reviewing teacher preparation programs at higher education institutions across Kansas? If so, we have the opportunity for you!
In order to encourage students to use their creativity, the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is once again hosting a student art contest for the KSDE annual conference. This year’s theme is Great Ideas in Education: The Art of Teaching.
Nominations are currently being accepted for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).
The KSDE Great Ideas in Education: The Art of Teaching Conference will take place Oct. 19-21 in Wichita at the Hyatt Regency and Century II Convention Center.
Join educators for the 13th annual Kansas MTSS Symposium Sept. 7-8 in Wichita at the downtown Hyatt.
The Kansas Multi-Tier System of Supports and Alignment (MTSS) is hosting an in-person event to help people increase student engagement, motivation and academic achievement.
Quarterly science professional development will take place in six different regions of the state.
Join instructional leaders who support educators in their implementation of K-8 science for a book study.
The Kansas Horizon Award program offers Kansas school districts an excellent opportunity to honor exemplary first-year teachers.
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1-800-CHILDREN is a statewide 24/7 judgment-free parent helpline powered by Kansas Children’s Service League. At 1-800-CHILDREN, families can easily connect with the information, local resources and support they need 24/7, even if what they need is a listening ear.
August-September events. Click read more for the full list.
In this edition | Feature Story | Assessments and Accountability | Reporting and Operations Standards and Instruction | Student Health and Nutrition | Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition
Questions about this page contact:
Denise Kahler (785) 296-4876 dkahler@ksde.org
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The Kansas State Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. (more information...)
To accommodate people with disabilities, on request, auxiliary aides and services will be provided and reasonable modifications to policies and programs will be made. To request accommodations or for more information please contact the Office of General Counsel at gc@ksde.org or by 785-296-3201.