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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 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.
Click here to get KSDEweekly sent directly to your inbox. Email ksdeweekly@ksde.org with questions, comments or story ideas.
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.
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.
The Sept. 26 edition of KSDEweekly is now available. Read more about the four Kansas schools selected as 2024 National Blue Ribbon schools, the Kansas Math Project offering professional development, preschool teachers invited to learn more about creating standards-based activities for their students and techincal assistance offered for navigating the individual plan of study (IPS) process.
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Members of the Kansas State Board of Education will meet for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 8, and Wednesday, Oct. 9, in the first floor board room of the Landon State Office Building, 900 S.W. Jackson, in Topeka.
Click here for the meeting's agenda and materials.
TOPEKA — Four Kansas elementary schools have been named 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools, U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona announced Monday, Sept. 23.
There are 356 schools across the country that are part of this year’s National Blue Ribbon cohort, including the following in Kansas, recognized in the Exemplary High Performing Schools category:
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Denise Kahler (785) 296-4876 dkahler@ksde.org
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.