Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 | Issue 178 | | |
Feature Stories
Reporting and Operations
IT and Cybersecurity
Accountability, Accreditation and Assessments
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Standards and Instruction
Student Health and Nutrition
Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition
| | The Washington County High School's FFA agronomy team placed first in the agronomy competition at the 98th National FFA Convention this past fall in Indianapolis, Indiana. Pictured from left: Jonathan Wright, Dawson Strunk, Amber Kolle and Destyni Christenson. The team, along with the Kansas FFA state officers, were recognized on floors of the Kansas House and Senate this week. | | |
National FFA Week: Kansas FFA members
find their voice and their path
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In recognition of National FFA Week, Kansas FFA members reflect on how their agriculture-based learning experiences have shaped their personal and academic lives as well as explore their postsecondary opportunities.
“I believe FFA and other CTSOs (career technical student organizations) are giving students a voice, helping them feel confident in themselves and in their skills, helping them create a path and look at different careers for their futures,” said Lizzy Vajnar, treasurer of the Hays High School's FFA chapter and Northwest District president. "It's given me a confident voice.”
Read more...
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Agriculture educators see the
Four Fundamentals in action
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As school districts and systems are using the school improvement model to increase student achievement, Kansas agriculture educators are recognizing how much of their instruction follows the model’s Four Fundamentals of structured literacy, standards alignment, balanced assessment and quality instruction.
Amy Jenkins, in her tenth year of teaching agriculture at Emporia High School, Emporia USD 253, said she sees how the balanced assessment fundamental can be put into practice, especially for Kansas FFA activities.
“We traditionally think assessments are a quiz or a test,” she said.
Read more....
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ICYMI: KSDE Insight Podcast –
Career and Technical Education:
What It Really Looks Like Today
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As we celebrated career and technical education (CTE) month in February, Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson spoke with education leaders about how CTE helps students prepare for life after high school in this month’s episode of the KSDE Insight Podcast.
Dr. Watson’s guests were Natalie Clark, KSDE assistant director of career, standards and assessment services, and Dr. Lindsay King, director of college and career readiness for Maize USD 266. Their conversation gave parents a clearer picture of how CTE can help students discover their strengths, explore future careers, and graduate ready for college, training, or the workforce.
The episode is 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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Kansas House passes budget for fiscal years 2026 through 2028 during
seventh week of legislative session
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By a vote of 68 to 53, the Kansas House passed the state appropriations bill for fiscal years 2026 through 2028, on Thursday, Feb. 26.
HB 2434 includes new money for the following school funding items:
-Funds CPI-U (increases the base state aid per pupil funding by 3% to $5,782)
-Adds $10 million to special education contingent on a new special education funding report.
-Adds $5 million for Safe and Secure School grants.
-Adds $7,532 for the military student compact dues increase.
-Requires KSDE to provide a report on federal funds.
-Requires a change to the state assessment cut scores with a $2 million budgetary penalty for non-compliance.
Read more...
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Deadline to submit
Licensed Personnel Report (LPR) is March 1
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The deadline to submit the Licensed Personnel Report (LPR) is this Sunday, March 1, at 5 p.m. Timely submission is required for Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) compliance.
Click this link, Licensed Personnel, to access helpful reference materials and training documents.
Contact Leslie Bruton, leslie.bruton@ksde.gov, through Feb. 27, for questions about the Educator Data Collection System (EDCS).
| | Districts across the state continue to prepare for the transition from KIDS to KEDS | | |
By Christopher Fletcher, KSDE IT team
Districts across the state continue to prepare for the transition from Kansas Individual Data on Students (KIDS) to Kansas Education Data System (KEDS).
As of Feb. 25, 248 systems have received the key and secret combination to connect their student information system (SIS) to KEDS. This is roughly 72% of the districts and accredited private schools who report to the state.
Read more...
| | Accountability, Accreditation and Assessments | | |
Sign up to participate in the optional
second grade assessment
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The testing window for the optional second grade assessment opens March 23 and closes April 24.
This optional assessment is NOT included in the state accountability framework; however, the data gathered from it will be useful for decisions determining program effectiveness and identifying students who might need additional support over the summer or as they move into the next school year.
Read more...
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Reminders for dyslexia compliance
for KESA outlined
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The KSDE early literacy/dyslexia program reminds districts that the following items must be completed for compliance with Kansas Education System Accreditation (KESA).
The training survey, sent in late 2025 via Survey Monkey, is due March 1, for the two types of training required by systems (This used to be collected on the SO66).
Read more...
| | KESA virtual update set for March 9 | | |
Join the KSDE accreditation and design team for the monthly KESA virtual update, 10:30 – 11:15 a.m., on March 9. Click this Zoom link to attend the session.
Contact Jay Scott, jay.scott@ksde.gov, with questions.
| | Reminder: New guidance provided on how to make revisions to your KESA action plan | | |
The KSDE accreditation and design team recently developed guidance for districts and systems to revise their Kansas Education System Accreditation (KESA) action plan should the need arise through the action plan review process.
The newly developed guidance includes how to change a fundamental or structure, measure(s) of progress, revise the context section, resubmit the action plan for review or ask additional questions.
Read more...
| | Standards and Instruction | | Final Reminder: Applications due March 1 for CTE Scholar awards | | |
Applications are being accepted for the Kansas Career and Technical Education (CTE) Scholar awards. The deadline for submitting the application is March 1.
These awards recognize students who have indicated a well-rounded demonstration of knowledge and skill according to their experiences within CTE.
Read more...
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Reminder: Applications due March 1 for
2026-27 CTE Pathways
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Reminder: Ages & Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) trainings for 2026-2027
Kindergarten Readiness Snapshot
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The first five years of a child’s life are an incredible opportunity to support student success. Building strong relationships with families prepares schools, families, and children for a successful school year.
All accredited Kansas elementary schools must partner with families of incoming kindergarten students to collect kindergarten-entry data using the Ages & Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ).
Read more...
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Public comment offered for draft
higher education preparation standards
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Draft revised educator preparation standards for Agriculture Education 6-12, Mathematics 5-8, General Mathematics 6-12, Advanced Mathematics 6-12, and Speech/Theatre 6-12 are available for public comment until March 25.
These standards will be used by Kansas colleges and universities to train future educators for these license areas. They have been updated to reflect current language and needs.
Read more....
| | Student Health and Nutrition | | ICYMI: Jayhawk USD 346 sources locally-grown products for school meals | | |
By Eryn Davis, KSDE child nutrition and wellness team
"It's a little extra work, but it makes the food so much better," says Wendi Baldwin, director of food service for Jayhawk USD 346, when discussing using local products in the district's recipes.
In 2025, the district released a request for proposal (RFP) for locally grown foods for the School Nutrition Program's 2025-2026 program year. Freedom Farms, (pictured left) a Fort Scott-based regenerative farm, contracted with USD 346 to sell locally grown, raw chicken. Freedom Farms is a licensed poultry processor, raising pasture poultry, lamb and eggs.
Read more...
| | Reminder: School Nutrition Program baking training scheduled for March 16-17 | | |
KSDE Child Nutrition and Wellness will be hosting an in-person “Baking Boot Camp” trainings, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., on March 16 -17, in Salina.
This two-day training is intended for school bakers and aspiring school bakers. Participants will learn about the baking process and techniques for baking in quantity production. Quick breads will be covered on March 16, while yeast breads will be covered on March 17. A $25 fee will be assessed per attendee, per day.
To register, email Marissa Hales, marissa.hales@ksde.gov, and let her know whether you’ll be attending one or both days.
| | Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition | | Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) Virtual Workshop scheduled for April 18 | | |
Registration is open for the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) video conference workshop, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., on April 18. The deadline to register is April 10.
The "EIPA Workshop: “Quote” Interpreting “End Quote” Standardized K-12 Assessments" will be presented by Kimberly F. Hutter, Ph.D. Standardized assessments present significant linguistic challenges for Deaf and hard-of-hearing students, demanding complex American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation strategies.
Read more...
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School Mental Health Initiative offers
online training opportunity
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The KSDE-sponsored Technical Assistance System Network (TASN) School Mental Health Initiative (SMHI) announces a new high quality, evidence based online learning opportunity.
The “Neuroscience in Education Implementation Course” is for school and community professionals who are interested in learning more about the Applied Educational Neuroscience (AEN) Framework.
Read more...
| | Reminder: Bethany College education program to host annual conference in April | | |
Bethany College’s education program is hosting "Innovative Next Steps: PreK-12 Learning," the school’s annual conference, on April 11.
This unique event is a great opportunity for career Pre-K-12 teachers, college students studying education, or high school youth considering a career in education.
Register here: https://www.bethanylb.edu/education-conference. Check this webpage periodically for updates.
Contact Alan English, chair of the education department, Englishae@bethanylb.edu, 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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| | 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. | | | | |
