Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025 | Issue 157 | | |
Feature Stories
Reporting and Operations
Accountability, Accreditation and Assessments
Standards and Instruction
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Student Health and Nutrition
Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition
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2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year
to be announced on Saturday
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The 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) will be announced this Saturday, Sept. 20.
Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson will name the 2026 Kansas Teacher of the Year at a gathering of more than 370 educators, business representatives and others during the Dale Dennis Kansas Teacher of the Year Banquet at the Marriott Hotel, in Wichita.
Stay tuned to the Kansas State Department of Education’s Facebook and X channels for the official announcement of the winner on Saturday night.
Read more...
| | Top left: Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson, played the role of a witness - a teacher at the defendant’s school - during the virtual mock trial for third grade students across Kansas and the U.S. on Constitution Day on Wednesday. Top right: Judge Robert J. Wonnell, of the 10th Judicial Court of Johnson County, introduced dignitaries and presided over the mock trial. (Photos: Screenshots of introductions and virtual mock trial.) | | Third grade students in Kansas and across the U.S. celebrate Constitution Day with dignitaries and mock trial | | |
An estimated 17,000 third grade students across the U.S., including those in Kansas, celebrated Constitution Day on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Judge Robert J. Wonnell of the Kansas 10th Judicial Court, in Olathe, created a mock trial to highlight the day, Sept. 17, 1787, when the U.S. Constitution was signed by delegates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, overseen by George Washington who became the first U.S. President in 1788.
“(It’s) one of the most important documents in the world,” Judge Wonnell said of the U.S. Constitution to the online audience.
Read more...
| | Pictures of the Week: Derby USD 260 students and staff celebrate Constitution Day | | |
While third grade students across Kansas and the U.S. celebrated Constitution Day by participating in a virtual mock trial, students and staff members across Derby USD 266 also celebrated Constitution Day on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Read more...
| | KSDE IT team outlines 2025-26 plans for conversion to new student data system | | |
The conversion to the Kansas Education Data System, known as KEDS, is expected to take some significant steps forward during the 2025-26 school year.
Members of the Kansas State Department of Education information technology team are working with districts’ and other school systems’ student information system (SIS) vendors to move away from the current student data system, the Kansas Individual Data on Students (KIDS). However, while this modernization of the Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) continues to take place, KIDS will remain the “reporting source of truth” for data during the 2025-26 academic year.
Read more...
| | ICYMI: KSDE Insight Podcast - Raising Readers: What every parent should know | | |
Every parent wants their child to be a confident reader. But what really helps children learn to read?
In this episode of the KSDE Insight Podcast, Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson talks with literacy experts about the Science of Reading, the research that explains how the brain learns to read and why it matters for your child.
Read more...
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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!
| | ICYMI: Important reminders from the KSDE Special Education and Title Services (SETS) team | | Accountability, Accreditation and Assessments | | |
KESA September virtual update
available for viewing
| | Standards and Instruction | | ICYMI: Beloit USD 273’s Ashley Eck named 2025 Kansas Parents as Teachers Parent Educator of the Year | | |
By Lisa Williams, coordinator, KSDE early childhood team
As the school year gets underway, it's the perfect time to celebrate the excellent work happening in early childhood home visiting profession — and to honor the dedication behind it. The Kansas Parents as Teachers Association (KPATA) has announced Beloit USD 273’s Ashley Eck (pictured left) has been selected as the 2025 Kansas Parents as Teachers Parent Educator of the Year.
This marks the first year KPATA has presented this statewide honor.
Read more...
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Reminder: Kindergarten Readiness Snapshot
window closes Sept. 22
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By Amanda Petersen, director, KSDE early childhood
The deadline is Monday, Sept. 22, for all Kansas elementary schools to partner with families of incoming kindergarten students to collect kindergarten-entry data using the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®, Third Edition (ASQ-3) and the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®: Social-Emotional, Second Edition (ASQ:SE-2).
Read more...
| | Student Health and Nutrition | | |
KSDE Child Nutrition and Wellness
farm tour set for Oct. 3
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KSDE Child Nutrition & Wellness (CNW) is excited to be part of the School Nutrition Association of Kansas (SNA-KS) Conference with a farm tour, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 3 in Maize.
Child nutrition representatives are encouraged to attend to learn about Farm to Plate initiatives in Kansas.
Read more...
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Reminder: KSDE CNW to host School Nutrition
Program Director’s Forum on Oct. 3
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KSDE Child Nutrition & Wellness (CNW) will be hosting a School Nutrition Program (SNP) Director’s Forum, 1-5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3.
The event is open to all SNP Directors and will be held in conjunction with the School Nutrition Association of Kansas (SNA-KS) Annual Conference at the DoubleTree by Hilton Wichita Airport Hotel.
Make plans to attend the meeting to hear updates from KSDE and connect with other directors. Register here by Sept. 26: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3CKWVFW
Contact Holly Steinlage, holly.steinlage@ksde.gov, with questions.
| | Reminder: School Nutrition Program Jump Start training scheduled for Oct. 7-8 | | |
A two-day training opportunity for new school nutrition program directors (authorized representatives and/or food service directors) will be Oct. 7-8, in Manhattan.
This orientation training will provide an overview of program responsibilities to new directors with less than three years of experience. Participants will receive valuable tips, guidance, and ideas from KSDE child nutrition consultants while also meeting other new directors.
Contact Holly Steinlage, holly.steinlage@ksde.gov, to register and for more information.
| | Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition | | |
Science of Reading
professional development available
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Across Kansas, leaders are helping teachers translate knowledge of structured literacy into daily classroom practice. KSDE, in partnership with The New Teacher Project (TNTP), invites you to join the “Supporting Quality Literacy Instruction Through Materials” professional learning series, which will focus on key practices from the science of reading and apply them within district-selected materials to strengthen literacy instruction.
Audience
This series is designed for instructional leaders who support teachers with effectively using instructional materials and bridging the gap between structured literacy knowledge and classroom practice. This includes instructional coaches, curriculum leaders, and lead teachers.
Read more...
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Save-the-Date: BOOST Summit
will be in June 2026
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Join KSDE and Educate Kansas for the 2nd Annual BOOST Summit, June 29–30, 2026, at Emporia State University.
This powerful two-day event will offer an opportunity to collaborate, exchange innovative ideas, and develop proactive solutions to strengthen teacher recruitment and retention across the state.
The BOOST Summit is a unique space to engage with colleagues, share best practices, and explore strategies that will help build and sustain a strong educator workforce in Kansas.
The audience for this summit includes district and building leaders, higher education partners and faculty, school board members, teachers, and anyone else interested in teacher recruitment and retention.
More details and registration information will be shared soon.
| | Reminder: Save-the-Date - 12th Annual Northeast Educators Rising Conference slated for Nov. 5 | | |
The 12th Annual Northeast Educators Rising Conference will be 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., on Nov. 5, at MidAmerica Nazarene University, in Olathe.
The cost is $8. Stay tuned for registration information that will be provided later this month.
Contact Dr. Jill Gonzalez-Bravo, jegonzalezbravo@mnu.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.
| | Renaissance provides FastBridge virtual trainings to districts and Kansas educators | | |
As part of the KSDE partnership with Renaissance, districts can now schedule virtual sessions at no cost covering FastBridge topics of their choosing. These are one-hour sessions and must be held prior to December 31, 2025. These sessions will be open to other districts as well.
To sign up, go to the Professional Learning Survey, respond to questions 1 and 6, and Jeff Lancial, the customer success manager for Kansas, will contact you.
Renaissance Learning is also offering FastBridge virtual trainings for Kansas educators in September.
Read more...
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September
22: Count Day. Contact Fiscal Auditing, 785-296-4976 or auditing@ksde.gov with questions.
22-23: CDL proxy testing and ELDT theory training, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., at Goddard USD 265’s Challenger Intermediate School team room, 325 N. Walnut, in Goddard. Click here to register. Contact Keith Dreiling, keith.dreiling@ksde.gov, with questions.
25: Fall Vacancy Report (FVR) due. Educator Data Collection System (EDCS) remains open for entering data in the Licensed Personnel Report (LPR) for the 2025-26 school year. Contact Leslie Bruton, leslie.bruton@ksde.gov, or (785) 296–8011, with questions about EDCS and/or training opportunities.
26: REQUIRED: Responses for Title IV-A Expenditure Survey SFY 24/25. Contact Roxanne Zillinger, rzillinger@ksde.org, or (785) 296-7260, with questions.
26: Curriculum leaders meeting, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Bishop Professional Development Center, 3601 S.W. 31st, in Topeka. Cost is $25. Register here by Sept. 17. Contact Pat Bone, pat.bone@ksde.gov, with questions.
30: Deadline for Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) grantees to use 2024-25 funds. Contact Arleen Anderson at (785) 296-2276 or arleen.anderson@ksde.gov with questions.
30: Deadline to resubmit Civic Advocacy Network applications. Contact Jessica Dorsey, jessica.dorsey@ksde.gov, with questions.
Read more...
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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. | | | | |
