Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 | Issue 115

In This Week's Edition

Feature Stories

Ruby Bridges leads conversation at Washburn University on 64th anniversary of historic school integration
State Board receives recommendations for guidance on student screen time policies
Early literacy promoted by State Library’s “Kansas Reads to Preschoolers” event

Reporting and Operations

Accountability, Accreditation and Assessments

Standards and Instruction

Kansas Preschool Pilot grant application opens Nov. 18
Reminder: Review data and access supports to improve services for preschool students with disabilities (Indicator 6)

Student Health and Nutrition

Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition

Feature Stories

Civil rights icon Ruby Bridges hosted a special event for dozens of Kansas students at Washburn University, in Topeka, commemorating the 64th anniversary of her landmark walk to the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans in 1960.

Ruby Bridges leads conversation at Washburn University on 64th anniversary of historic school integration

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, center, signed a proclamation on Thursday, declaring Nov. 14, as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. She was joined by Bridges and several prominent Black Kansas women and a representative of the Brown v. Board of Education national historic site during the event at Washburn University.

Imagine being escorted to your first day at a brand-new school not by your parents, but U.S. marshals, as a crowd of protesters chant and point at you, angry you are now attending this school. You are the only student in your classroom. No other children are with you, and you’re not allowed to join them at lunch or at recess.

That is what Ruby Bridges went through 64 years ago.

On the anniversary of this historic day, dozens of Topeka area middle and high school students joined the civil rights icon on Thursday, Nov. 14, for an in-person “fireside chat” at Washburn University, in Topeka, to celebrate “Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day”, a symbolic walk of unity and strength. Her appearance comes as the 70th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education is also celebrated.

Ava Gustin, left, a senior at Mission Valley High School, and Brian Houghton, principal of Fredonia Jr.-Sr. High School, co-chairs of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Student Screen Time, presented the task force's recommendations to the Kansas State Board of Education this week.

State Board receives recommendations for guidance on student screen time policies

Members of the Kansas State Board of Education received a final set of recommendations during their November meeting that will serve as guidance for school districts’ policies regarding students’ use of digital technology.

Ava Gustin, a senior at Mission Valley High School, Mission Valley USD 330, and Brian Houghton, principal of Fredonia Jr.-Sr. High School, Fredonia USD 484, co-chairs of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Student Screen Time, outlined the recommendations that address the following topics chosen by the State Board:

Students' personal device use in school;
Screen time and mental health; and
Parental oversight of district-owned devices.

Early literacy promoted by State Library’s “Kansas Reads to Preschoolers” event

For nearly 20 years, fostering a love for reading with the youngest of Kansans has been promoted each November through the “Kansas Reads to Preschoolers” program.

“Early literacy is so important,” said Nikki Hansen, resource sharing librarian for the State Library of Kansas. “Preschoolers, they may not be reading yet, but with having books in the home, having a parent or guardian reading to them, it increases their vocabulary, it increases their readiness for kindergarten. Having someone read to them just encourages a love of reading in themselves.”

Reporting and Operations

Deadline to request ESSER payments

is Nov. 20

All ESSER funds must have been OBLIGATED by Sept. 30, and districts must request payments by Nov. 20, to make the cutoff for the final December liquidation deadline. Note: KSDE lacks the authority to alter or extend these statutory dates.

Notify KSDE at esser@ksde.org if you have questions or need assistance utilizing ESSER funds within the available timeframe.

For inquiries about Form 240, contact Amanda Williams on the KSDE school finance team, awilliams@ksde.org.

Data entry for Emergency Safety Intervention reports begins Nov. 30

The reporting for Period 1 for incidents of restraint and/or seclusion using emergency safety interventions (ESI) began on July 1 and ends Nov. 20.

District staff should begin entering this data into the Kansas Integrated Accountability System (KIAS) as soon as possible after Nov. 30, but before the submission window closes on Dec. 30.

Click on the following links for more information:

KSDE Emergency Safety Intervention
ESI data reporting guide
Emergency Safety Intervention regulations
Seclusion evaluation tool for 2023 regulations - The purpose of the evaluation tool is to help educators work through various scenarios to determine whether their interventions result in the seclusion of a student.

Contact Trish Backman, tbackman@ksde.org, with questions.

Accountability, Accreditation and Assessments

School improvement process survey completion required for KESA 2.0

In an effort to evaluate the impact of KESA 2.0, the KSDE Research and Evaluation team has developed the school improvement process survey to be taken by district leadership teams (DLTs). Completing the survey is required for each DLT member after the system’s action plan has been submitted to KSDE.

To assist each DLT member in completing this survey after the action plan has been submitted, KSDE has created School Improvement Process Survey FAQs.

If a DLT is getting together to finalize and submit an action plan, that would be an ideal opportunity for each individual member to complete the survey.

The survey can be found in the KESA application and requires a district-level authenticated applications account. Click here for instructions to gain access to the KESA application and the different user-levels for the application.

Contact Hayley Steinlage, hasteinlage@ksde.org, with questions.

Reminder: Kansas Assessment Program’s ELA

text-to-speech guidelines changed

With the enhanced English Language Arts (ELA) assessment in 2024 and the focus on the science of reading, the Kansas State Department of Education’s Career Standards and Assessment Services team worked with national technical advisors to provide guidance for the appropriate accommodations needed for the ELA assessment.

Beginning this year, students in grades 3-5 will not have the text-to-speech (TTS) accommodation available for ELA questions and responses.

Final reminder: KESA virtual update

rescheduled for Nov. 18

The November virtual KESA monthly update has been rescheduled for 10:30-11:15 a.m. on Nov. 18, due to Veterans Day falling on Nov. 11. These meetings will return to the second Monday of each month following the holiday.

Join the meeting here and subscribe to the KESA listserv at accreditation@ksde.org to receive email reminders and more.

The KESA monthly updates, along with most KESA-related meetings, are always recorded and posted to the KESA Conference and Training webpage along with presented materials. Visit the KESA webpage for any accreditation and school improvement resources.

Contact Rue Huereca-Retana, rhuereca-retana@ksde.org, with questions.

Standards and Instruction

Kansas Preschool Pilot grant application opens Nov. 18

The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is seeking applications for 2025-26 Kansas Preschool Pilot (KPP) grants to provide preschool services.

Eligible applicants include Kansas unified school districts (USDs) and other entities partnering with school districts. At least 50% of children served by KPP grant funds must meet criteria to be at risk of entering kindergarten socially, emotionally or academically unprepared for success.

Applications for the 2025-26 KPP grant applications are due by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. KSDE will host a Kansas Preschool Pilot grant webinar at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 10, to discuss this funding opportunity.

Reminder: Review data and access supports to improve services for preschool students with disabilities (Indicator 6)

Early childhood experiences set the stage for lifelong success. Providing excellent early learning opportunities for preschool students with disabilities is an important area of focus as districts seek to improve kindergarten readiness.

Research clearly indicates creating environments for all students to learn together regardless of ability improves outcomes for all students.

Student Health and Nutrition

Dec. 6 deadline approaching to apply for the 2025 Heartland Farm to School Institute

The Kansas State Department of Education, along with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Nebraska Department of Education, is accepting applications for the Heartland Farm to School Institute.

This institute aims to promote the three tenants of Farm to School (procurement, school gardens and education) as well as the Three C’s (classrooms, cafeterias and communities) through school-led Farm to School initiatives.

Click here for the Heartland Farm to School Institute application that is due Dec. 6. Participation in the institute is free.

Reminder: FY2024 Farm to School grant available to Child Nutrition Program Sponsors

Child Nutrition Program (CNP) sponsors may request up to $10,000 to support Farm to Plate initiatives that will increase the local foods served as part of Child Nutrition Program snacks and meals.

Subgrants will be utilized by CNP operators to advance eligible local foods programming activities including gardening, chicken houses, raising livestock, garden towers, and more.

Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition

Mark your calendar: Date change announced for the 2025 Great Ideas in Education Conference

KSDE is already in the early stages of planning the 2025 Great Ideas in Education Conference since the date of the event has been changed to the last week of July.

School systems are strongly encouraged to send district leadership teams to the annual conference, now set for July 27-30, at the Hyatt Regency, in Wichita. Learning and collaboration opportunities will emphasize the fundamentals of structured literacy, standards alignment, balanced assessment, and quality instruction.

Stay tuned to KSDEweekly for more information in the coming months and save the dates for the 2026 and 2027 Great Ideas in Education Conferences:

July 26-29, 2026
July 25-28, 2027

Contact Pat Bone, pbone@ksde.org, with questions.

Structured Literacy training sessions scheduled: The What and How...The Time is NOW!

This professional development opportunity is for educators to explore what balanced literacy is and how structured literacy is different.

Attendees will learn the “why” and “how” to make the instructional shifts necessary to teach reading and writing in a way that allows more students to be successful.

Bring your questions, your colleagues and an interest in learning about literacy practices that can move your school’s literacy initiatives forward.

English Language Arts training sessions scheduled: Text Complexity is the New Black

English language arts (ELA) teachers for grades 3–12 will learn what text complexity is, why complex text is vital to assist in raising the rigor for our students, and how best to scaffold learning using evidence-based strategies. Structured literacy demands teachers present students with appropriately complex texts, explicitly teaching students to grapple with them.

Attendees will practice identifying appropriately complex text for their students and explore how to effectively scaffold to leverage productive struggle and student success.

Transportation basics workshop

set for Dec. 19

The KSDE School Bus Safety Unit will host a free transportation basics workshop for transportation directors and supervisors, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., on Dec. 19, at Bishop Professional Development Center, 3601 S.W. 31st Street, in Topeka. Register here.

These workshops will provide a brief overview of the fundamentals and responsibilities associated with the position along with recent updates, changes and developments in school transportation.

Professional learning available to support your FastBridge implementation

The Kansas State Department of Education has extended its partnership with Renaissance Learning into the 2025-26 school year. Contact your Account Manager for FastBridge pricing through the state contract.

Many districts have virtual hours they can use to schedule a session from the Professional Learning Catalog. See if this applies to you by watching the recording  at the 1:37 time stamp. You do not need to hold the session by Dec. 31, but you do need to schedule it before then so that it does not expire.

Contact scheduling@renaissance.com for more information and/or schedule sessions here.

Calendar

November

15: Curriculum directors meeting, 9 a.m.–3 p.m., Bishop Professional Development Center, 3601 S.W. 31st Street, Topeka. Contact Pat Bone, pbone@ksde.org, with questions. (Registration has closed.)

18: Individual Plan of Study (IPS) technical assistance session, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m., Orion, Clearwater. Register here. Contact Natalie Clark, ndclark@ksde.org or (785) 296-4351, with questions.

18: Kansas Preschool Pilot grant application opens. Contact Natalie McClane, nmcclane@ksde.org, and Amanda Petersen, apetersen@ksde.org, with questions.

19: Kansas MTSS & Alignment offers behavior intervention protocol training, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, Salina. No cost. Click here to register. Contact Susan Danner, susand@kansasmtss.org, with questions.

20: Deadline for districts to request ESSER payments to make the cutoff for the final December liquidation deadline. Contact esser@ksde.org with questions. For inquiries about Form 240, contact Amanda Williams, awilliams@ksde.org.

21: Question, Signal, Stem, Share and Assess (QSSSA) deep dive, 6-7:30 p.m., virtual. Register here. Contact Heather Musil, hjmusil@fhsu.edu, for more information regarding enrollment and fees for graduate credit.

30: Data entry for Emergency Safety Intervention (ESI) reports begins. Contact Trish Backman, tbackman@ksde.org, with questions.

December

3: Kansas MTSS & Alignment preschool team’s standards-based make it-take it event for preschool teachers, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., KU Edwards campus. Register here. Contact Lea Harding at lea@kanasmtss.org with questions.

3: Kansas MTSS and Alignment regional reading road show, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Dodge City, Boot Hill Casino & Resort. Register here. Contact Vicki Cooper, vicki@kansasmtss.org, with questions.

5: Question, Signal, Stem, Share and Assess (QSSSA) deep dive, 6-7:30 p.m., virtual. Register here. Contact Heather Musil, hjmusil@fhsu.edu, for more information regarding enrollment and fees for graduate credit.

5: Kansas MTSS and Alignment regional reading road show, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Wichita, Hyatt Regency. Register here. Contact Vicki Cooper, vicki@kansasmtss.org, with questions.

6: Deadline to apply for the 2025 Heartland Farm to School Institute. Click here to apply no later than 11:59 p.m., CST. Contact Eryn Davis, edavis@ksde.org, (785) 296-5060, with questions.

9: KESA 2.0 monthly Zoom update, 10:30-11:15 a.m. Click here for the Zoom link.

10: Kansas Preschool Pilot (KPP) grant technical assistance webinar, 10 a.m. Contact Natalie McClane, nmcclane@ksde.org, and Amanda Petersen, apetersen@ksde.org, with questions.

10-11: Kansas State Board of Education meeting. Click here for the agenda and meeting materials.

11: Science collaboration for new science teachers, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.

12: Question, Signal, Stem, Share and Assess (QSSSA) deep dive, 6-7:30 p.m., virtual. Register here. Contact Heather Musil, hjmusil@fhsu.edu, for more information regarding enrollment and fees for graduate credit.

17: Science collaboration for curriculum leaders, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.

18: Science collaboration for science teachers, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.

19: Transportation basics workshop for transportation directors and supervisors, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Bishop Professional Development Center, 3601 S.W. 31st Street, in Topeka. Register for free here. Contact Keith Dreiling, kdreiling@ksde.org, with questions.

January

8: Science collaboration for new science teachers, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.

9: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean School Bus Rebate Program applications due by 5 p.m. CST. Click here for more information. Contact CleanSchoolBus@epa.gov with questions.

14: Science collaboration for curriculum leaders, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.

14-15: Kansas State Board of Education meeting. Click here for the agenda and meeting materials.

15: Science collaboration for science teachers, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.

16: Kansas Preschool Pilot grant application due. Contact Natalie McClane, nmcclane@ksde.org, and Amanda Petersen, apetersen@ksde.org, with questions.

18: Deadline to register for Innovate Next Steps: Pre-K-12 Learning conference, Feb. 8, at Bethany College. Click here to register. Contact Alan English, englishAE@bethanyLB.edu, or (785) 227-3380, with questions.

28: Local Consolidated Plan (LCP) quarterly meeting #3, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., virtual. Register here. Contact Twyla Sprouse, tsprouse@ksde.org, or (785) 296-6714, with questions.

28: Local Consolidated Plan (LCP) quarterly meeting #3, 1-4 p.m., virtual. Register here. Contact Twyla Sprouse, tsprouse@ksde.org, or (785) 296-6714, with questions.

30: 2025 Virtual Health Care Career Day, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Zoom instructions will be sent out the week before Jan. 30. Click here to register at no cost and click here for the agenda. Contact Jaron Caffrey, jcaffrey@kha-net.org, or (316) 640-9570 with questions.

February

7: Kansas MTSS & Alignment preschool team’s standards-based make it-take it event for preschool teachers, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, Salina. Register here. Contact Lea Harding at lea@kanasmtss.org with questions.

11-12: Kansas State Board of Education meeting. Click here for the agenda and meeting materials.

12: Science collaboration for new science teachers, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.

18: Science collaboration for curriculum leaders, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.

19: Science collaboration for science teachers, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.

24-25: Kansas Math Project professional development, Hays, Hilton Garden Inn, 221 W. 43rd Street. Click here to register. Click here to enroll to complete asynchronous modules at your own pace. Contact kmp@kansasmtss.org with questions.

26-27: Kansas Math Project professional development, Topeka, Sunflower Nonprofit Center, 5820 S.W. 6th Street. Click here to register. Click here to enroll to complete asynchronous modules at your own pace. Contact kmp@kansasmtss.org with questions.

March

11-12: Kansas State Board of Education meeting. Click here for the agenda and meeting materials.

12: Science collaboration for new science teachers, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.

18: Science collaboration for curriculum leaders, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.

19: Science collaboration for science teachers, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.

April

3: Kansas MTSS & Alignment preschool team’s standards-based make it-take it event for preschool teachers, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Lee Richardson Zoo, Garden City. Register here. Contact Lea Harding at lea@kanasmtss.org with questions.

8: Local Consolidated Plan (LCP) quarterly meeting #4, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., in-person, Hilton Garden Inn and Convention Center, Hays. Register here. Contact Twyla Sprouse, tsprouse@ksde.org, or (785) 296-6714, with questions.

8-9: Kansas State Board of Education meeting. Click here for the agenda and meeting materials.

9: Science collaboration for new science teachers, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.

10: Local Consolidated Plan (LCP) quarterly meeting #4, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., in-person, Aloft Wichita, 3642 Oliver, Wichita. Register here. Contact Twyla Sprouse, tsprouse@ksde.org, or (785) 296-6714, with questions.

15: Science collaboration for curriculum leaders, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.

16: Science collaboration for science teachers, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.

28-29: Kansas Math Project professional development, Hays, Hilton Garden Inn, 221 W. 43rd Street. Click here to register. Click here to enroll to complete asynchronous modules at your own pace. Contact kmp@kansasmtss.org with questions.

April 30-May 1: Kansas Math Project professional development, Topeka, Sunflower Nonprofit Center, 5820 S.W. 6th Street. Click here to register. Click here to enroll to complete asynchronous modules at your own pace. Contact kmp@kansasmtss.org with questions.

May

13-14: Kansas State Board of Education meeting. Click here for the agenda and meeting materials.

14: Science collaboration for new science teachers, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.

20: Science collaboration for curriculum leaders, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, with questions.

21: Science collaboration for science teachers, virtual, 4-5 p.m. Register here. Contact Stephanie Alderman-Oler, salderman-oler@ksde.org, 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.