Kansas schools educate students to be proficient in English and other world languages so that they will be engaged participants in a global society. Content on this webpage is intended to meet this purpose: “to improve the quality and support the growth of teaching and learning of world languages in Kansas.”
Please feel free to send photos of World Language events in your school. Please include a date and a short caption.
Visiting International Teachers from Spain during their orientation week in July, 2019. The guest teachers participate in professional development sessions to help them begin to adapt to their new home away from home. They also purchase cars, set up their homes and meet their community mentors this week.
In November, 2019 Rachel Benson (Blue Valley), Alyssa Rumple (Wichita), Mike Flenthrope (Olathe), and Diane DeNoon (Blue Valley) visited offices of our senators and congressional representatives in Washington D.C. to promote the learning of world languages in Kansas as vital to our nation’s diplomatic missions, national security, and our domestic and international business interests. These Kansas world language leaders all said that they appreciated the attentive reception they received from congressional and senatorial office staff and the assurances from aides that they would pass on their message to our Kansas leaders.
Approximately 25 students spent four weeks on the University of Kansas campus this past summer to learn Swahili through the STARTALK initiative. STARTALK’s mission is to increase the number of U.S. citizens learning, speaking, and teaching critical need foreign languages. At the end of the four weeks, students performed skits, sang songs, and displayed the artwork they created from lessons on culture.
Professor Oleksandra Wallo of the University of Kansas teaches students some skills for studying abroad for a summer in Ukraine. The Open Language Resource Center at the University of Kansas is one of sixteen federally-funded National Foreign Language Resource Centers working to increase the nation's capacity to teach and learn world languages. The World Languages Fair is envisioned as an annual event that brings together K-12 language students and teachers throughout the region. For more information, please see the Open Language Resource Center website at olrc.ku.edu.
The Seal of Biliteracy initiative continues to grow. In 2018-2019, 24 districts participated and students continue to earn certification in more languages. 406 Certificates were earned in Spanish, French, German, Latin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Turkish, Amharic, and American Sign Language.
World Languages Quick Links: World Languages Home Assessments Seal of Biliteracy Resources Standards Visiting International Teacher Calendar for World Language Events
World Languages Program Consultant Regina Peszat (785) 296-1891 rpeszat@ksde.org
Deputy Commissioner Division of Learning Services Brad Neuenswander (785) 296-2303 bneuenswander@ksde.org
Director Career, Standards and Assessment Scott Smith (785) 296-3142 sesmith@ksde.org
Assistant Director Career and Technical Education Stacy Smith (785) 296-0979 slsmith@ksde.org
Assistant Director Curricular Standards/Graduation David Fernkopf (785) 296-8447 dfernkopf@ksde.org Assistant Director Assessment Beth Fultz (785) 296-2325 bfultz@ksde.org
The Kansas State Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, 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 ogc@ksde.org or by 785-296-3201.