Thursday, April 2, 2026 | Issue 183 | | |
Feature Stories
Reporting and Operations
Accountability, Accreditation and Assessments
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Standards and Instruction
Student Health and Nutrition
Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition
| | Beth Wilson, center, Girard High School business educator, was named the 2026 Kansas FBLA Advisor of the Year this week in Topeka. Chloe Johnson, left, and Connie Lindell presented the award at the State Leadership Conference. | | |
Kansas students take center stage at
FBLA competition in Topeka
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Chloe Johnson, the outgoing 2025-26 president of the Kansas Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter, had some wise words for her fellow FBLA members this week as they were about to walk on the stage to receive their 2026 Kansas State Leadership Conference competition awards.
“No matter what happens when your name is called or if it isn't, know this: Every single one of you has already made your mark through your courage, your commitment, and your willingness to lead,” she said. “Get ready to cheer each other on, celebrate big moments, and make this a time to remember.”
Read more...
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RTAP Apprentice in Action:
Coming Full Circle - Brielle Allen’s Path Back to the Classroom, Weskan USD 242
| | Brielle Allen has worked as a paraeducator in Weskan USD 242 and is participating in the Kansas Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program. (Photo submitted by Brielle Allen.) | | |
By Aysha Satterlee, KSDE licensure team
After graduation, Brielle Allen imagined a future in culinary arts, maybe even owning a bakery someday. What she didn’t imagine was returning to the school she grew up in, not only as a student, but as a teacher in training. Yet life has a way of revealing the paths we’re meant to walk, and for Brielle, that path led her straight back to Weskan USD 242, where her future was waiting.
Allen worked as a paraeducator for two years. Her natural connection with children, her willingness to step in when needed, and her presence didn’t go unnoticed. John Cox, superintendent of USD 242, had seen a spark in her.
Read more...
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Rewind: KSDE Insight Podcast –
Beyond the Diploma: What Parents Should Know About Readiness for
Life After High School
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Graduation is an important milestone, but true success after high school requires more than earning a diploma. In this month's episode of the KSDE Insight Podcast, we explore what it really means for students to be ready for life after graduation.
Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson and the following guests discuss the knowledge, skills, and habits students need to navigate life after high school with confidence.
- Dr. Blake Flanders, president/CEO, Kansas Board of Regents
- Dr. Jessica Dain, superintendent, Piper USD 203
- Chuck Knapp, president/CEO, Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG-K)
This months and all past episodes of the KSDE Insight Podcast are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube.
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"Ask the Commissioner" podcast segment answers parents’ questions about education
Have a question about your child’s education? Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson wants to hear from you.
Each month on the KSDE Insight Podcast, Dr. Watson will answer parent questions in his “Ask the Commissioner” segment.
Encourage parents to email their questions to insightpodcast@ksde.gov — and it could be featured in the next episode!
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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month: Understanding updated mandated
reporting requirements
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By Stacy Clarke, KSDE early childhood team
Protecting children is a shared responsibility, and staying informed about mandated reporting requirements is a critical part of that commitment.
Recent updates have clarified expectations for recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect, ensuring that professionals and community members can respond quickly and appropriately when concerns arise.
To support this effort, KSDE is sharing a video that clearly explains the latest guidance.
Read more...
| | Preparing for National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day, April 28 | | |
By Mitch Mellick, KSDE school transportation safety unit
As School Bus Driver Appreciation Day will be celebrated on April 28, the KSDE school transportation safety unit would like to encourage districts to take time to recognize and celebrate the dedicated school bus drivers who play a critical role in student safety and educational success.
Read more...
| | Accountability, Accreditation and Assessments | | Final reminder: Learning sessions scheduled next week for KESA graduation webpage | | |
The KSDE accreditation and design team will be hosting virtual sessions next week for each system’s KESA lead and data lead to learn more about the KESA graduation webpage.
The first evaluation of KESA graduation rate for each system will occur after the 2026-27 school year. The data in the KESA graduation webpage, now live, won’t be evaluated until then, but it will be important for you to monitor your system’s performance against the KESA graduation standards using this webpage.
Read more...
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Reminder: KAP parent guide to
practice tests available
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The new KAP Parent Guide to Practice Tests provides parents and families with access to online preview tests through the Kite Student Portal.
This resource is designed to help families better understand Kansas state assessments and explore the tools and the types of questions students encounter when taking the state assessments.
The window for the general summative assessments for students at Kansas brick and mortar schools is March 23 – April 24.
Families are encouraged to review this new resource to better understand the assessment experience and support their students.
Contact Chelsea Pelfrey, chelsea.pelfry@ksde.gov, with questions.
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Reminder: Optional second grade
assessment window is open
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Would you like to let your students see how they use those foundational skills when applying them to narrative and expository text passages? Consider having them take the optional second grade assessment.
The window opened on Monday, March 23, and will close April 24.
This optional assessment measures the foundational skills and reading comprehension of second grade students.
Read more...
| | Standards and Instruction | | |
Seven agriculture educators
named Golden Owl finalists
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By Beth Gaines, executive director, Kansas FFA Foundation
The Kansas FFA Foundation has announced the seven district-level finalists for the 2026 Golden Owl recognition — ag teachers from across the state who were nominated by students, parents, colleagues, and community members for their exceptional service to students, FFA chapters, and their communities.
The finalists are in contention to be named the state winner at the 2026 Kansas State FFA Convention on the campus of Kansas State University, in Manhattan.
Read more...
| | Student Health and Nutrition | | |
2026-27 Body Venture
applications due May 31
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By Eryn Davis, Farm to Plate project director, KSDE child nutrition and wellness team
Body Venture is a traveling health education exhibit for K-5 students operated by KSDE’s Child Nutrition and Wellness team. It is a great opportunity for students to learn about the importance of making healthy food choices and being physically active.
The “Request to Schedule Body Venture” form for the 2026-27 school year is available at https://cnw.ksde.gov > SNP > SNP What’s New. The deadline to apply is May 31.
Read more...
| | Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition | | More than 250 educators, school resource officers, mental health professionals and IT professionals broke attendance records this past week at the Safe and Supportive Schools conference in Wichita. (Photo submitted by Ben Thursby, KSDE safe and secure schools unit.) | | Safe and Supportive Schools conference breaks attendance records | | |
By Ben Thursby, KSDE safe and secure schools unit
The 2026 Safe and Supportive Schools conference broke attendance records this past week in Wichita.
The two-day sessions, March 30-31, drew more than 250 educators, school resource officers, mental health professionals and IT professionals who discussed expanding their expertise in school safety, made connections, and had meaningful discussions about improving school climate and safety. This is the highest number of attendees in the past seven years, according to John Calvert of the KSDE safe and secure schools unit.
Read more...
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Reminder: Registration open for the
Great Ideas in Education conference;
full schedule coming soon
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Registration is now open for the 2026 Great Ideas in Education conference, July 27-29, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Convention Center, in Wichita. The deadline to register is July 14. the full schedule will be out soon.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) invites district and building leadership teams to this powerful three-day experience designed to strengthen coherence across Kansas’ school improvement efforts.
Read more...
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Registration open for second annual
BOOST Summit in June
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The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and Educate Kansas are proud to host the second annual BOOST Summit (Building Opportunities for Outstanding Teachers), June 29-30, at Emporia State University.
Register here for this two-day event that will feature dynamic breakout sessions focused on educator recruitment and retention, special keynote presentations from KSDE and The American Association of School Personnel Administrators leadership, and a spotlight on both evidence-based strategies and innovative, emerging practices.
Sessions will be organized around three strands:
- Professional learning
- Problem-solving
- Creation of tools for implementation
Contact Cris Seidel, crisseidel@educatekansas.org, with questions.
| | Reminder: Assistive technology training offered April 24 | | |
The Kansas Inclusive Learning and Teaching (KILT) project, a long-standing partnership between KSDE and Infinitec, is hosting an in-person assistive technology (AT) training session later in April. The KILT is a project of the Kansas Technical Assistance System Network (TASN).
- April 24: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Northeast Kansas Educational Service Center (NKESC), 703 W. 2nd, Oakley. Register here.
This interactive, foundational training is designed to help educators and IEP team members build confidence and clarity around assistive technology. Participants will gain a fresh perspective on how AT can remove barriers and expand access to learning, communication, and participation for all students.
Contact Paige Buckingham, pbuckingham@ucpnet.org, with questions.
| | Kansas Technical Assistance System Network training opportunities | | |
The Kansas Technical Assistance System Network (TASN) provides evidence-based professional learning and technical assistance, grounded in the federal requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Contact Michele Hayes, mrhayes@pittstate.edu, with questions.
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April
3: 2026-27 Preschool-Aged At-Risk approval forms due. Contact Natalie McClane, natalie.mcclane@ksde.gov, (785) 296-5081.with questions.
6: KELPA scoring window closes. This is the last day to upload writing booklets and scores to Kite. Contact Chelsea Pelfrey, chelsea.pelfrey@ksde.gov, with questions.
6: KESA graduation webpage learning session, 12 – 1 p.m., virtual. You only have to attend one session. Registration is required. Contact Jay Scott, jay.scott@ksde.gov, or your regional or cohort executive with questions.
7: KESA graduation webpage learning session, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., virtual. You only have to attend one session. Registration is required. Contact Jay Scott, jay.scott@ksde.gov, or your regional or cohort executive with questions.
8: KESA graduation webpage learning session, 3 - 4 p.m., virtual. You only have to attend one session. Registration is required. Contact Jay Scott, jay.scott@ksde.gov, or your regional or cohort executive with questions.
8: Active weapon and critical event training for school transportation directors, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Bishop Professional Development Center, 3601 S.W. 31st Street, in Topeka. There is no cost to attend. Click here to register and for more information. Contact Keith Dreiling, keith.dreiling@ksde.gov, with questions.
10: Deadline to register for Give Back Kansas Challenge (April 20 – May 31). Visit Kanserv.org or contact Katherine Seeley, katherine.seeley@ksde.gov, or (785) 368-7436 with questions.
10: ESEA program administrator webinar series, 10:30 – 11:45 a.m. Click here to register: https://ksdetasn.org/event_groups/T0xWJA. Contact Twyla Sprouse, twyla.sprouse@ksde.gov, (785) 296-6714 with questions.
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| | Click here to have KSDEweekly sent to your inbox. | | 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 and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: KSDE General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, KSDE, Landon State Office Building, 900 S.W. Jackson, Suite 102, Topeka, KS 66612, (785) 296-3201. | | | | |
