Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 | Issue 168 | | |
Feature Stories
Reporting and Operations
Accountability, Accreditation and Assessments
Standards and Instruction
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Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition
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State Board hears how Kansas school improvement model is moving to align systems, leading to student achievement
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Members of the Kansas State Board of Education heard during their December meeting how the Kansas school improvement model is beginning to align systems that will lead to greater student achievement.
Dr. Renee Nugent, deputy commissioner for the division of learning services with the Kansas State Department of Education, told the State Board the accreditation process, known as KESA 2.0, is only one mechanism of school improvement. She said the other areas in the process of moving into alignment with the school improvement model are at-risk accountability, the legislative needs assessment and the Title I programs under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
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| | Dr. Renee Nugent, deputy commissioner of the Kansas State Department of Education's division of learning services, described to State Board members this week the efforts to align several school system processes with the school improvement model. | | |
KSDE Insight Podcast -
Civic Engagement Matters: Preparing Kansas Students for Life Beyond Graduation
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This month on KSDE’s Insight Podcast, we’re talking about something that affects every child’s future: civic readiness.
Across the country, there’s growing momentum to give students richer opportunities to engage with real issues, collaborate with others, and contribute to their communities — and high-quality civic learning is helping make those meaningful experiences a reality.
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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!
| | Reminder: Grants available for districts to lower costs for propane fueling dispensers | | |
Kansas school district transportation departments and local jurisdictions can apply for grants that lower the costs of installing propane dispensers for the operation of paratransit bus fleets through the Propane Marketers Association of Kansas (PMAK) Foundation.
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| | Accountability, Accreditation and Assessments | | |
Reminder: Updates from the
KSDE accreditation and design team
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By Jay Scott, KSDE accreditation and design team
Information about the 2026-27 School Improvement Days and the protocols for the cancellation of School Improvement Days due to inclement weather are included in the following update from the KSDE accreditation and design team.
Information about the 2026-27 School Improvement Days
In partnership with the education service centers (ESC), the KSDE accreditation and design team has finalized the 2026-27 School Improvement Day dates. Only the dates and the systems attending have been finalized for the 2026-27 school year.
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| | Standards and Instruction | | |
Final reminder: Public comment closes
Dec. 17 for draft higher education
preparation standards
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KSDE teacher licensure team seeks
educator preparation program reviewers
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The Kansas State Department of Education is seeking KSDE-trained program reviewers to review several educator preparation programs this coming spring.
Higher education institutions must have approved programs for all areas for which they wish to make licensing recommendations, so these reviews are vital to maintaining strong educator preparation in Kansas.
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| | ICYMI: Kansas celebrates 11 new Blue Ribbon Parents as Teachers programs | | |
By Lisa Williams, KSDE early childhood team
The Kansas State Department of Education is proud to celebrate 11 additional outstanding Kansas Parents as Teachers (PAT) programs that have achieved the prestigious Blue Ribbon Endorsement from the Parents as Teachers National Center (PATNC). A total of 42 Kansas PAT programs have now achieved Blue Ribbon status.
This national honor places the following programs among the highest-performing home visiting programs in the entire Parents as Teachers international network—a remarkable achievement that reflects exceptional dedication to Kansas children and families.
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| | Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition | | Final EDCS training session set for Dec. 15 | | |
The fourth and final training session for district staff who are new to the Educator Data Collection System (EDCS) is Dec. 15. Note: This training will be on Teams.
Part 4: “Where is the submit button?”,1 - 3 p.m. Join the Teams session here.
This session pulls together all the concepts learned from the previous three trainings and attendees will learn how to submit the Licensed Personnel Report (LPR). The agenda includes the following topics:
- Spring Vacancy Report
- Stops and warnings
- Staff assignment report flags
- Submitting
- Un-submitting
- Due dates
Contact Leslie Bruton, leslie.bruton@ksde.gov, with questions.
| | Reminder: December training opportunities available for school transportation officials | | |
The KSDE school transportation safety unit is offering two no-cost training opportunities in December.
These workshops are open to any public or private school transportation directors, transportation supervisors, school transportation contractors, and other school officials involved with school transportation. No vendors, please.
Dec. 18: Transportation Basics workshop for transportation directors/supervisors, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., at Kansas City USD 500 Central Office, 2010 North 59th Street (east wing), third floor.
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Save the date: Midwest Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment Conference
set for March 27
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From Marites Altuna, director of family infant-toddler services, Kansas State School for the Blind
Mark your calendars for the 2026 Midwest Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment Conference, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., on March 27, at Drury Plaza Hotel Broadview, in Wichita.
"It Takes A Team: Working Together to Build Better Outcomes for Children with Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI)" is the theme of the conference focused on supporting families, educators, and providers in serving children with CVI.
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Mark your calendar: Virtual health care
career day set for February
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The 2026 Virtual Health Care Career Day will be 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., on Feb. 18, and is an opportunity for students of all ages to learn about eight different roles in health care and engage in a live Q&A with the professionals serving in those occupations.
Representatives of the Kansas Hospital Association, the Kansas State Department of Education and the Kansas Board of Regents will host this dynamic, one-day statewide online event that will take you inside Kansas hospitals to learn about the many career opportunities available in health care by showcasing key career pathways in the health care industry.
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| | 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.
| | Renaissance provides FastBridge virtual trainings to districts and Kansas educators | | |
There are still available slots as part of the KSDE FastBridge partnership for district-specific
virtual sessions at no charge to the district. These sessions must be held prior to Dec. 31.
Contact Jeff Lancial, jeff.lancial@renaissance.com, to sign up.
Renaissance Learning is also offering the following FastBridge virtual trainings for Kansas educators in December and January:
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Dec. 17: FastBridge Open Q&A, 3 - 4 p.m. Register here.
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Jan. 6: FastBridge Basics – New Teachers (2nd semester), 10 - 11 a.m. Register here.
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Jan. 8: Using FastBridge & eduClimber, 3 – 4 p.m. Register here.
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Jan. 13: FastBridge Open Q&A, 3 - 4 p.m. Register here.
Contact Jeff Lancial, jeff.lancial@renaissance.com, with questions.
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December
12: Request State Foundation Aid for January (all USDs) deadline; final request for FY2026. Contact Rose Ireland, rose.ireland@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-4973 with questions.
15: Educator Data Collection System (EDCS) training, Part 4, 1 - 3 p.m., virtual. Join the Teams session here. Contact Leslie Bruton, leslie.bruton@ksde.gov, with questions.
15: Request January federal funds (Form 240) deadline if funds are available. Contact Amanda Williams, amanda.williams@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-2020 with questions.
15: IDEA Maintenance of Effort and Excess Cost Report deadline (submission deadline for coop/interlocal member districts). Contact Dean Zajic, dean.zajic@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-2425 with questions.
15: Mill rate by fund submission deadline for all USDs. Contact Marcia Ricklefs, marcia.ricklefs@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-4209 with questions.
16: Special meeting of the Kansas State Board of Education, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Click here for the agenda and here for the livestream.
17: Public comment period closes for revised educator preparation standards for Business Education 6-12.
Contact Catherine Chmidling, catherine.chmidling@ksde.gov, with questions.
18: Transportation Basics workshop for transportation directors/supervisors, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., at Kansas City USD 500 Central Office, 2010 North 59th Street (east wing), third floor. Contact Keith Dreiling, keith.dreiling@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-4567, 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. | | | | |
