KSDE Weekly

Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026 | Issue 173

In This Week's Edition

Feature Stories

Spotlight on literacy highlights ongoing work, investment needed to improve Kansas children's reading success
Several education-related bills introduced as 2026 Kansas legislative session gets underway
ICYMI: KSDE Insight Podcast - How Kansas Funds Schools and Why It Matters for Families

Reporting and Operations

IT & Cybersecurity

KSDE to facilitate workshops at MACE event on March 4

Accountability, Accreditation and Assessments

Standards and Instruction

Student Health and Nutrition

CNW virtual weekly wellness workshops scheduled in February

Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition

Feature Stories

Hailey Burke, left, an eighth-grade student at Spearville Middle School, Spearville USD 381, and her mother, Dawn Burke, an instructional coach at Dodge City Middle School, Dodge City USD 443, spoke during Literacy Day at the Capitol on Jan. 20, about how Hailey improved her reading skills.

Spotlight on literacy highlights ongoing work, investment needed to improve Kansas children's reading success

Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson visits with attendees of the Literacy Day at the Capitol on Jan. 20. He spoke to the crowd of educators, parents, advocates and lawmakers about what the Kansas State Board of Education and KSDE have done to increase the reading success of Kansas children.

Hailey Burke wasn’t confident in her reading skills. So much so, she often withdrew from her teachers and couldn’t articulate that she was struggling to read.

“The one thing that I regret not doing is not asking my teachers for help,” said the eighth-grader at Spearville Middle School, Spearville USD 381. “I got really scared to ask them for help. I just needed to overcome it and just ask them.”

That was until Hailey opened up to her mother, Dawn Burke, an instructional coach at Dodge City Middle School, Dodge City USD 443. The two began working on phonics and Hailey’s self-advocacy skills.

Several education-related bills introduced as 2026 Kansas legislative session gets underway

The Kansas Legislature meets once a year, but it plans, budgets and tracks legislation across a two-year cycle. Because of this, 68 education-related bills were carried over from last session.

Several new education-related bills have also been introduced so far, starting Monday, Jan. 12, the first day of the legislative session. They include a bill requiring school districts to prohibit the use of personal electronic communication devices during school hours; a bill that would establish statutory protections against religious coercion and discrimination in public schools; and more.

ICYMI: KSDE Insight Podcast - How Kansas Funds Schools and Why It Matters for Families

School funding can feel complicated and disconnected from the classroom, but it plays a major role in the opportunities students experience every day.

In this month’s episode of the KSDE Insight Podcast, now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube, we break down how school funding works in Kansas, where the money comes from, and how funding decisions affect class sizes, programs, and student supports.

"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!

Reporting and Operations

Requirement eliminated to submit a separate professional development plan

By Ed Kalas, KSDE teacher licensure team

On Jan. 14, 2026, the Kansas State Board of Education passed a motion stating, “the Kansas State Board of Education approves eliminating the requirement for districts to submit a separate professional development plan to reduce unnecessary administrative obligations and allow districts to focus resources on the locally driven professional learning activities embedded in their school improvement work” and approved that motion.

21st Century Community Learning Centers grant workshops available

The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is conducting the Nita M. Lowey Kansas 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Grant competition this year.

These grants provide funds for out-of-school time programs serving students who attend a school with a 40% or higher free/reduced lunch population.

Reminder: Required Title IV, Part A

expenditure report due Feb. 6

The required report requesting expenditure data for the following Title IV, Part A content areas is due Feb. 6:

Well-rounded education
Safe and healthy students
Supporting the effective use of technology

IT & Cybersecurity

KSDE to facilitate workshops at MACE event on March 4

By Christopher Fletcher, KSDE IT team

The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), in partnership with the Mid-America Association for Computers in Education (MACE), will provide several reporting related sessions at the MACE event, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., on March 4, at the K-State Alumni Center, 1720 Anderson Ave., in Manhattan.

Accountability, Accreditation and Assessments

State assessment requirements outlined prior to test window opening

By Cary Rogers, KSDE Special Education and Title Services team

The testing window for the Kansas Assessment Program will open in March. The following information outlines the federal requirements for taking the assessments and the importance of the tests including all student subgroups.

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states are required to administer annual assessments in grades 3–8 and at least once during high school to measure student achievement. These assessments provide essential information about how well students are learning and progressing toward state academic standards.

KELPA, WIDA Alternate ACCESS assessment window opens Feb. 2

The testing window for the Kansas English Language Proficiency Assessment (KELPA) and the WIDA Alternate ACCESS Assessment is Feb. 2 - March 16.

The scoring window for KELPA is Feb. 2 - April 6.

Contact Emily Scott, emily.scott@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-4941, with questions.

Window for DLM test assessment

opens Feb. 2

The spring test window for the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) alternate assessment is Feb. 2 - April 14.

Contact Cary Rogers, cary.rogers@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-0916 with questions.

Important 2026-27 School Improvement Day information provided

The KSDE accreditation and design team reminds districts and systems of the following information for 2026-27 school year’s School Improvement Days.

Mark your calendars accordingly with the 2026-2027 School Improvement Days Schedule. If a district or system is interested in hosting their cohort’s School Improvement Day, read through this document: Hosting a School Improvement Day Guidance Document. It outlines the process to submit your intent to host and the expectations/requirements/cost agreements a system must agree to and have in place to host a School Improvement Day.

Contact Jay Scott, jay.scott@ksde.gov, with questions.

Standards and Instruction

NEW: ESEA Title IA monthly office hours available starting Jan. 27

The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is offering a new collaborative office hour for those educational staff who work with the Title IA program, including Schoolwide Programs, Targeted Assistance Programs, and Parent and Family Engagement.

The office hours will be 9 – 10 a.m. each day monthly from January through May.

KSDE teacher licensure team seeks educator preparation program reviewers

The Kansas State Department of Education is seeking KSDE-trained program reviewers to review several educator preparation programs this 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.

Reminder: Virtual office hours available for staff serving highly mobile students

The KSDE Special Education and Title Services (SETS) team is offering a new collaborative office hour opportunity for educational staff serving highly mobile students in Kansas.

These virtual office hours, scheduled for 2-4 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month, beginning Jan. 27, will be available as a drop-in format for district staff who are not expected to participate for the full two hours given time and calendar constraints.

Student Health and Nutrition

CNW virtual weekly wellness workshops scheduled in February

The KSDE Child Nutrition and Wellness team is offering a one-hour "Wellness Wednesdays" webinar series each Wednesday in February. Sessions will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

This year’s theme is “Food Questions and Myth Busting with Kansas Farmers and Ranchers.” Join the organizations powered by Kansas farmers and ranchers to explore your food questions, examine the latest food trends, and engage in science- and nutrition-based conversations that strengthen your confidence in the foods you choose for children.

Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition

Visiting International Teacher webinar and Letter of Intent information provided

Pictured here are the 2023-24 VITs, together with their families, during the fall 2023 retreat in Topeka. (Photo submitted by Sarah Nelson)

School districts are invited to participate in an informational session about hosting a Visiting International Teacher (VIT) during the 2026-27 school year. The webinar will be 12 – 1 p.m., on Feb. 12. Access the webinar at this link: Join the meeting here.

VITs are experienced teachers, all from Spain, who live and work in Kansas for up to five years as part of a cultural exchange. They can teach a variety of subjects ranging from elementary education to high school chemistry and participate in cross-cultural activities in their schools and communities.

National early literacy institute slated

for late February

The National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning will host "Read, Talk, Play, Thrive: A Whole-Child Literacy Institute," Feb. 24-26, in Kansas City.

This conference will shine a light on best literacy practices that support brain development and help every child take their first steps toward a lifelong love of learning.

Reminder: Early childhood conference to focus on school improvement,

challenging behaviors

The Kansas Division for Early Childhood (KDEC) will host a one-day preconference "Supporting Young Children with Challenging Behavior (birth-five),” on Feb. 25.

This session will be 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., at the DoubleTree Airport Hotel, in Wichita. It will focus on understanding behavior, strengthening adult responses, and building effective support plans.

Registration is $100 per person.

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).

View upcoming professional learning opportunities on the TASN events calendar.
Learn more about TASN projects.

Contact Michele Hayes, mrhayes@pittstate.edu, with questions.

Calendar

January

26: 21st CCLC grant workshop, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave., in Topeka. Register here: https://ksdetasn.org/events/yADUaQ Contact Christine Macy, Christine.Macy@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-3287 with questions.

27: Office hours available for school staff serving highly mobile students, 2-4 p.m. Click here to register . Contact Maureen Tabasko, maureen.tabasko@ksde.gov, (785) 296-1101, or Joe Jewett, joe.jewett@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-2600.

27: 21st CCLC grant workshop, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Pittsburg Public Library, 308 N. Walnut, in Pittsburg. Register here: https://ksdetasn.org/events/g6alZg Contact Christine Macy, Christine.Macy@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-3287 with questions.

28: 21st CCLC grant workshop, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Advance Learning Library, 711 W. 2nd Street, in Wichita. Register here: https://ksdetasn.org/events/YWYDKQ Contact Christine Macy, Christine.Macy@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-3287 with questions.

29: 21st CCLC grant workshop, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., Ford County Sheriff's Training Room, 11311 E. Comanche, in Dodge City. Register here: https://ksdetasn.org/events/Y7FGhg Contact Christine Macy, Christine.Macy@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-3287 with questions.

29: ESEA Title IA monthly office hour, 9 – 10 a.m. Register here: ESEA Title IA January Office Hours . Contact Roxanne Zillinger, Roxanne.zillinger@ksde.gov, with questions.

30: Deadline to register for Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) online workshop, on Feb. 7. Contact Sarah Reed, sarah.reed@ksde.gov, with questions.

31: Text to speech applications for state assessment due. The combined .pdf must be sent to TTSpassages@ksde.gov by the end of the day. Contact Cary Rogers, cary.rogers@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-0619 with questions.

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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.