KSDE Newsroom

The Oct. 31 edition of KSDEweekly is now available for viewing. Read more about what attendees learned at the Great Ideas in Education annual conference as well as what several Kansas high school students had to say about what makes a great teacher. Also, read more about what recommendations the Blue-Ribbon Task Force on Screen Time will present during the Kansas State Board of Education's November meeting and how two Kansas districts are maximizing their USDA "Beef for Schools" grant funds to make healthier, tastier meals for their students.

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Members of the Kansas State Board of Education will meet on Nov. 12-13, in the first floor board room of the Landon State Office Building, 900 S.W. Jackson, in Topeka.

Click here for an agenda and meeting materials.

The Oct. 23 KSDEweekly is available for viewing. Read more about the first Kansas school bus driver to win first place at the National School Transportation Association School Bus Driver International Safety Competition, an opportunity for school districts to participate in a livestream event featuring civil rights icon Ruby Bridges, a first-day wrap-up of the Great Ideas in Education conference and a reminder the 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year nominations are due Nov. 8.

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The Great Ideas in Education: Lighting the Path Forward conference, hosted by the Kansas State Department of Education, is Oct. 23-25, in Wichita. Attendees can access the conference information here, including the program and breakout sessions. Chris Perry, co-founder of Cultivate Education, will be the keynote speaker.

The Oct. 17 edition of KSDEweekly is now available. Read more about how Rolanda Root, the 2024 KAEA Art Teacher of the Year, provides a creative outlet for her students, what areas districts are encouraged to review during America's Safe Schools Week and the first in a series of stories about KSDE's modernization of the state's student data collection system. 

Click here to get KSDEweekly in your inbox. Email ksdeweekly@ksde.org with questions, comments or story ideas.

243 systems recognized through Kansans Can Star Recognition Program

Southern Lyon County USD 252 only district to be recognized in eight areas for four consecutive years

TOPEKA — The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) recognized 243 public school districts and eight private systems through the 2024 Kansans Can Star Recognition Program that has been in place since the 2019-20 school year.

Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson announced the recipients of this year’s awards during the Kansas State Board of Education’s October meeting. The recipients will also be announced and celebrated at KSDE’s annual conference, Great Ideas in Education: Lighting the Path Forward, Oct. 23-25, in Wichita.

The Oct. 10 edition of KSDEweekly is now available. Read more about the 2023-24 Year in Review, KSDE's annual report to the Kansas State Board of Education, a summary of the state board's October meeting, and what anti-bullying resources are available to schools as October is National Bullying Prevention Month. There is also information about how school systems can obtain free COVID tests from the U.S. Department of Education and much more. Be sure to check the calendar for upcoming deadlines, reminders and training opportunities.

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TOPEKA — Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson has announced Kansas literacy rates continue to improve with fewer students scoring in Level 1 on the spring 2024 reading state assessments, marking a second straight year that number has decreased.  

“This is good news as one of the state board of education’s goals is to move more Kansas students out of the lowest level of reading,” Watson said. “While the decrease in Level 1 reading results is slight, this is the second year in a row that measure has improved, which tells us we’re on the right track. We expect these results will continue to improve as more teachers transition to structured literacy.”  

The Oct. 3 edition of KSDEweekly is now available. Read more about the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year, how a Custodians are Key contest finalist improves his school's environment beyond custodial work, and what the Kansas State Board of Education will be discussing during their October meeting. There are also a number of final reminders for some important programs, including the Kansas Horizon Award. Be sure to check the calendar for upcoming deadlines and training opportunities.

Click here to get KSDEweekly sent directly to your inbox. Email ksdeweekly@ksde.org with questions, comments or story ideas.

Ms. Anstine: “Deliberate reflection is a fundamental principle of my teaching philosophy.”

WICHITA – Elizabeth Anstine, a business teacher at Leavenworth High School, Leavenworth Unified School District 453, was named the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year on Saturday, Sept. 28, during a special ceremony in Wichita.