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Our vision is that every system in Kansas will be fully accredited. We know that through the last cycle of KESA, many systems did not feel that they received consistent support and guidance and access to resources. To be more responsive and support to systems’ needs, we are going to a regional/cohort model of support where an Accreditation and Design member will serve as the KESA contact for their systems. Systems in a region are grouped goegraphically while systems in a cohort are grouped by the similarities they share.
Each region/cohort will be assigned a team member as their KESA contact:
West Central – TBD East Dr. Amber Miller Mindy Bruce Jean Rush amiller@ksde.org mbruce@ksde.org jrush@ksde.org (620) 765-7490 316-304-6493 785-296-7884
Suburban & Urban Private Special Purpose Schools Dr. Jay Scott Dr. Jay Scott Dr. Jay Scott jscott@ksde.org jscott@ksde.org jscott@ksde.org (785) 296-6818 (785) 296-6818 (785) 296-6818 Myron Melton Myron Melton mmelton@ksde.org mmelton@ksde.org (785) 296-8110 (785) 296-8110
Through this model, each Regional Executive will work with 87 to 88 systems on their KESA process. Regional Executives will serve as accountability partners and support providers to the systems in their region/cohort. Meet the Team here.
On August 8, 2023, the State Board of Education took action to approve 2023/2024 as a 'Learning Year' for Accreditation (see: Learning Year Fact Sheet). While a lot of work will continue to take place, systems utilizing the application for narrative-based reporting will not be required. During the kickoff on August 10, 2023 (learn more here), the KESA Team outlined the Learning Year Expecations for all systems. This year, systems are expected to engage in three things: (1) collect artifacts of your system's work, (2) meet with your KSDE Regional Executive, and (3) engage in a peer review.
Please, send any comments or suggestions about the above notice to accreditation@ksde.org.
**NOTE: For the 2023/2024 school year, use of the KESA authenticated application will not be required. Systems will only use the application to update their contact information, access previous work, and/or submit documentation to the ARC for a conditional accreditation redetermination. No formal report in the application will be completed during the 2023/2024 school year.**
The KESA Application (KESA App) is a district-level application. It should be completed by the superintendent or his/her designee. In order to request/gain access to the KESA App, the user must log in to a district-level authenticated applications account. If the user does not have a district-level account, a separate district-level account must be established by going to the authenticated applications login page and clicking on the green "Register" button. In the "building" dropdown, select "All buildings."
Each system should ensure annually that the system contact information in the authenticated application is up-to-date.
Note: The process is slightly different for private schools where each building is accredited as a separate system. Please, do not hesitate to contact KSDE if you need any assistance gaining access to the KESA App.
Updated 12/12/2023
*As 2023/2024 is serving as a bridge year to the enhanced KESA Framework coming in the 2024/2025 school year, 2021/2022 guidance document is being removed. An updated guidance document for the Learning Year (2023/2024) will be rolled out alongside the August 10, 2023 KESA kickoff.*
*Note, this criteria will be updated during the 2023/2024 school year with new criteria coming out with the revised KESA Framework for the 2024/2025 school year.* The KESA Accreditation Criteria was developed for the Accreditation Review Council (ARC) to help make an accreditation recommendation to the State Board of Education. It is comprised of eight (8) sections. Each section corresponds to a question in the ARC's executive summary recommendation of accreditation report to the State Board of Education. The document is being provided so that systems and their outside visiting team can have a clear understanding about the measures the ARC is using to make an accreditation recommendation.
Director of Accreditation and Design Jay Scott jscott@ksde.org 785-296-6818
Assistant Director Myron Melton mmelton@ksde.org 785-296-8110
West Regional Executive Amber Miller amiller@ksde.org 620-765-7490
Central Regional Executive Mindy Bruce mbruce@ksde.org 316-304-6493 East Regional Executive Jean Rush jrush@ksde.org 785-296-7884
Administrative Specialist Rue Huereca-Retana rhuereca-retana@ksde.org 785-296-3379
Accreditation Email accreditation@ksde.org
If you would like to subscribe to the KESA Listserv, simply email your request to accreditation@ksde.org. You can learn about how to use the listserv here!
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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. (more information...)
To accommodate people with disabilities, on request, auxiliary aides and services will be provided and reasonable modifications to policies and programs will be made. To request accommodations or for more information please contact the Office of General Counsel at gc@ksde.org or by 785-296-3201.