KSDEweekly: Thursday, March 12, 2026

KSDE Weekly

Thursday, March 12, 2026 | Issue 180

In This Week's Edition

Feature Stories

State Board approves KSDE’s request to apply for federal waiver for assessment pilot
KSDE Insight Podcast – Beyond the Diploma: What Parents Should Know About Readiness for Life After High School
First completer of the Kansas Registered Teacher Apprentice Program honored this week
Cell phone bill, tax credit bill head to governor’s desk during ninth week of Kansas legislative session

Reporting and Operations

Reminder: KDHE offers award for district owned and operated bus fleets

Accountability, Accreditation and Assessments

Standards and Instruction

Student Health and Nutrition

Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition

Feature Stories

State Board approves KSDE’s request

to apply for federal waiver

for assessment pilot

Members of the Kansas State Board of Education approved the Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) request to apply for a federal waiver to pilot a through-year, curriculum-aligned assessment system that would allow selected districts to use the assessment to meet Kansas state assessment requirements for accountability.

The board’s action during their monthly meeting this week gives KSDE the ability to submit an Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority (IADA) application to the U.S. Department of Education.

KSDE Insight Podcast –

Beyond the Diploma: What Parents Should Know About Readiness for

Life After High School

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)

"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!

Megan Alexander, far right, who began as an early childhood paraeducator in Tonganoxie USD 464 six years ago, is the first person to become a fully licensed educator by completing the Kansas Registered Teacher Apprentice Program (RTAP). Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson, center, and Cathy Hopkins, chair of the Kansas State Board of Education, presented Alexander with her framed license during the State Board's March meeting in Topeka this week.

First completer of Kansas Registered Teacher Apprentice Program honored this week

The Kansas State Board of Education honored the first fully licensed educator to complete the Kansas Registered Teacher Apprentice Program (RTAP) during its March meeting in Topeka this week.

Referred to as the RTAP’s first “completer,” Megan Alexander started as a paraeducator in Tonganoxie USD 464’s early childhood program six years ago after being a stay-at-home mother for 13 years.

“I fell in love,” Alexander recalled of when she started working with the district’s youngest students. “I absolutely love working with the littles.”

Cell phone bill, tax credit bill head to governor’s desk during ninth week of

Kansas legislative session

Two bills that may impact Kansas K-12 schools are heading to the governor’s desk after passing out of both chambers. Those include Senate Sub for HB 2299, or the “cell phone bill,” and HB 2468, or the “tax credit bill.”

The last day for for non-exempt committees to meet is Tuesday, March 17. First adjournment is scheduled for Friday, March 27.

Read more for an update on other bills moving through the legislature.

Reporting and Operations

Reminder: KDHE offers award for district owned and operated bus fleets

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) currently has a school bus award opportunity open to districts that own and operate their own fleets.

The award criteria:

One older model diesel powered school bus is required to be decommissioned for every new school bus awarded through the Kansas Volkswagen program. There is no limit on number of applications or buses.
Diesel powered school buses with engine model years 2009 and older are eligible for funding.

Accountability, Accreditation and Assessments

Informational flyers available on importance of student participation in state assessments

The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is providing several flyers to assist districts and buildings in communicating why statewide testing participation matters to several audiences.

The flyers, “Why statewide testing participation matters” are customized in 10 languages for families and students. The “Empowering Families” flyers explain why assessments are important and the purpose of different types of assessments.

ICYMI: Kansas instructional materials

dashboard available

By Payton Lynn, KSDE division of learning services

The Kansas Instructional Materials Data Visualization (dashboard) is now available through the KSDE authentication portal.

KSDE will approve access for superintendents, principals of private accredited schools, and executive directors of educational service centers. Superintendents will approve access for other roles (curriculum leaders, etc.) using the typical process. Other roles not in a school district will be approved through their typical process as well.

Standards and Instruction

2026-2027 Preschool-Aged At-Risk

approval forms due April 3

Preschool-Aged At-Risk Approval forms for the 2026-2027 school year are due by

April 3.

All programs who wish to be funded must complete and submit the Preschool-Aged At-Risk Approval Form by April 3, to be approved by the Kansas State Board of Education in May.

Committee members needed for higher education preparation standards revisions

By Catherine Chmidling, KSDE teacher licensure team

The KSDE teacher licensure team is seeking volunteers to revise the following educator preparation standards: Art, Biology, Earth and Space Science, Gifted, Library Media Specialist, Music/Instrumental/Vocal, School Counselor, and middle-level Science.

Reminder: Public comment invited for 2025-2026 CTE Cluster Review recommendations

By Natalie Clark, assistant director, KSDE career, standards and assessment services

The Kansas State Department of Education’s goal for career and technical education (CTE) pathway competencies is to keep pathway competencies relevant, rigorous and reflective of current business/industry standards or practices.

To that end, public comments are invited for recommendations made by several CTE career cluster review committees for their reviews of the 2025-26 clusters/pathways.

Student Health and Nutrition

Child and Adult Care Food Program

Jump Start training scheduled for April 7

The KSDE child nutrition and wellness team will host a free six-hour training on April 7, in Topeka.

The first session, “Business of the Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP),” 9 a.m. - 12 p.m., covers enrollment and income eligibility forms, meal counts, and claims.

SUN Bucks available in 2026

SUN Bucks, also known as Summer EBT, is a program to help families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer.

SUN Bucks auto-enrollment was completed on Feb. 21 and 22, and notices have been sent to those households.

ICYMI: Schools and community organizations

can offer summer meal programs

Summer meal programs are designed to fill the nutrition gap that occurs during the summer and make sure children can get the nutrition they need.

Administered by the Food and Nutrition Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, summer meal programs provide free, nutritious meals to kids ages 1 to 18.

Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition

Curriculum leaders to meet April 17

Curriculum leaders will meet on April 17, at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center, 1155 W. Academy Ave., in Maize.

Registration is limited to two staff members per district due to space size accommodations (120). Registration is filling up quickly.

Great Ideas in Education 2026

conference schedule, topics provided

The schedule and topics for the 2026 Great Ideas in Education conference, July 27-29, have been released.

The conference will be at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Convention Center, in Wichita. Registration is expected to open at the end of March.

Save-the-dates: Early childhood care and wellness conferences set for May and June

The team supporting the All In For Kansas Kids statewide strategic plan for early childhood invites Kansas early childhood professionals, mental health providers, and families with young children to attend free conferences in May and June.

These conferences will focus on mental health and special healthcare needs, foster family-driven connections and help professionals better support families.

Kansas Children’s Service League offers resources for Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month with the theme, “Pinwheels of Possibility.” The Kansas Children’s Service League (KCSL) is offering resources and materials to raise awareness about child abuse prevention programs.

For more than 40 years, national, state and local organizations have designated April as Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) month.

Office hours available March 24 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 on March 24.

These office hours are 2-4 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month, and 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.

Reminder: Active weapon and critical event training for school transportation directors set for April 8

School transportation directors and supervisors, and school bus contractor supervisors, are invited to an active weapon and critical event training on April 8.

This training will be 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., at 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.

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

March

13: Kansas English Language Proficiency Assessment (KELPA) and the WIDA Alternate ACCESS Assessment window closes. Contact Chelsea Pelfrey, chelsea.pelfrey@ksde.gov, with questions.

15: Request due for April federal funds (Form 240) if funds are available. Contact Amanda Williams, amanda.williams@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-2020 with questions.

16-17: School Nutrition Program (SNP) Baking Boot Camp, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., in Salina. Contact Marissa Hales, marissa.hales@ksde.gov, to let her know whether you’ll be attending one or both days.

20: LOB percentage form for all USDs due. Contact Marcia Ricklefs, marcia.ricklefs@ksde.gov, or (785) 296-4209 with questions.

23: Optional second grade assessment opens; closes April 24. Click here for more information. To participate, contact your system’s assessment coordinator. Contact Chelsey Pelfrey, chelsea.pelfrey@ksde.gov, with questions.

KSDE| https://www.ksde.gov

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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.