Summer Check-In Pilot

The KSDE Accreditation and Design Team (ADT) is looking to pilot a ‘Summer Check In’ opportunity for systems to review their KESA work with KSDE ADT staff. For this pilot, we are inviting a representative sample of 50 systems entering year 5 of KESA in the 2022-2023 school year. This opportunity would be connected to your existing opportunity to conference with KSDE Fiscal Services regarding your system’s annual budget.

Every summer, systems currently have the opportunity to come to KSDE for a budget review. Why not bring your KESA team and get feedback on your goals as well? The Accreditation and Design Team would like to offer systems the chance to receive feedback on their continuous improvement work each summer as a way to better provide each system with direct support and feedback.

This opportunity is designed to coincide with work systems are already doing to get feedback from KSDE on your budget. When scheduling that budget check-in, beginning in Summer 2023, systems will also have the option to ‘add on’ a KESA check-in. You can review this fact sheet for more information. We hope to scale this pilot in the summer of 2023, but we appreciate all of you who are willing to engage in this new opportunity this summer (July 2022).

If you are interested in reviewing the meeting outline for these KESA Check Ins, you are welcome to review our note-taking sheet! While we anticipate some revisions to the agenda moving forward, we do expect the general structure to remain intact. 

KESA System (District) Information

KESA Guidance Document (Revised August 2022, updated March 2023)

System Yearly Update Report forms are here under New KESA Forms Section.

System Training Materials 

• Regional System Training Presentation.ppt
• KESA Year Five Support for Systems and OVT Revised.pdf
• Menti 2021-2022 Year Five Training-December 16, 2021.pdf

Improvement Process Resources: 

• Sample Action Plan Template (dotx) 
• Working on a Goal (Word)

KESA Framework: 

What is required? 

• Compliance
• Growth toward the State Board Outcomes
• Foundational Structures
• Quality Improvement Process (Growth Cycle) 

What should you strive to achieve throughout each phase of the growth cycle? 

Data Analysis

• Identify and analyze data sources, both quantitative and qualitative
• Data Literacy: Analyze prioritized data points
• Gap Analysis: perception vs reality

Set Goals

• Clarify core values and vision
• Set and align goals with data
• Move State Board Outcomes and Definition of a Successful High School Graduate
• Involve and engage families, the community, and business

Strategy Selection

• Select measurable strategies
• Select evidence-based strategies
• Strategies support your goals

Strategy Implementation 

• Create an implementation plan 
• Support with professional development
• Execute and sustain with fidelity

Strategy Analysis

• Evaluate 
• Monitor
• Adjust

Growth Cycle: Training Resources

This section is intended to support system leaders in working through the KESA process. This section is intended to provide training and support materials that system leaders can use to lead their system and building level teams through the growth process needed in order to successfully complete the KESA requirements. 

Data Analysis 

Description - A needs assessment starts with a vision and end goal(s) in mind, and it attempts to align the needs based on data and stakeholder perceptions. A needs assessment changes systems by determining underlying root causes that prevent improvement. This process helps a system identify challenges and areas needing improvement. It is the identification of gaps that exist between the status of a system and its vision. For KESA, the needs assessment process is twofold: building-level and system-level. The needs assessments should be designed to collect data for all the initiatives within the organization. (Taken from KESA Guidance Document) 

Note, the needs assessment process at the system level should include the evaluation of each buildings’ needs assessment completed at the request of the State Legislature. The process used by each building to determine the needs of the building should be used to inform the completion of Legislated Building Needs Assessment. Completion of the Legislated Building Needs Assessment is the product of the needs assessment work happening at the building level.

Action Steps-

1. Gather Quantitative & Qualitative Data

Note: The handout linked below provides a robust list of data sources that schools/systems should consider gathering and reviewing as part of the Data Analysis Phase. In addition to the data sources provided, schools/systems should also consider using the Foundational Structures Rubrics and the STAR Recognition Rubrics as a means for determining your current state. Establishing your current state will be done in step 2: Analyze Your Data. 

2. Analyze Your Data

3. Prioritize Data Points

4. Compare - Perception vs Reality

Note: In order to gather perception data from internal and external stakeholders, systems can utilize past perception surveys shared by the KSDE. In addition to this past perception survey, the Accreditation and Design Team has also worked to create a 'Componenet Baseline Analysis' tied to the KESA Framework. Information about the CBA can be found in detail on the Perception Surveys page. 

5. Root Cause Analysis

Set Goals

Description - The system uses the needs assessment information gathered in phase 1 to define and prioritize needs and develop system-level and building-level goals. Although KESA does not require a specific format for action planning, it does require the following components to be included in the action steps for an improvement plan: needs assessment data collection and analysis; measurable goal(s); success criteria; interventions/strategies; timelines/action steps; resources; professional learning plan; implementation fidelity; and accountability measures. (Taken from KESA Guidance Document) 

Action Steps-

1. Data Analysis → Goal Writing Template 

2. Gap Analysis of District Goals

3. Create Aligned Building Goals

Additional Resources- 

• Sample Action Plan Template 
• Goal Writing Handout

Strategy Selection

Description - This phase of the continuous improvement model is about implementing the approved improvement plan; utilizing and assessing formative and summative assessments, and reviewing the data to determine the effect of the evidence-based strategy/intervention on the goal(s). This phase includes a continuous review of the work to determine what is working and what needs to change.  (Taken from KESA Guidance Document) 

Action Steps-

1. Complete a Strategy Inventory

2. Evaluate System Processes for Strategy Selection 

3. Evaluate Current Strategies for Impact/Fidelity

Additional Resources-

• Redesign Google Site
• Redesign Training Content (see: Designing the Rocket) 

Strategy Implementation  

Description - During the implementation phase, there are constant feedback loops involving all stakeholders, both internally and externally. A feedback loop is a process in which the outputs of a system are circled back and used as inputs. The KESA accreditation process requires regular analysis and review of its strategies/interventions. These feedback loops are used to determine if any changes are needed within the school improvement process. No school improvement process should be implemented without continuous assessment of the intervention strategies. (Taken from the KESA Guidance Document)

Strategy Analysis 

Description - This phase is the cumulative product of the alignment between the needs assessment, goals, implementation, analysis of data, and evaluation of results. As a continuous growth process, the results become a bridge to the next phase of data analysis and goal setting. Systems reflect on their comprehensive needs assessment data to determine what has improved, maintained, or declined so appropriate actions can be taken. The results become part of the potential comprehensive needs assessment as data is utilized to determine goals. (Taken from the KESA Guidance Document)

Action Steps -  

1. Ensure Strategies are 'High Impact'

2. Evaluate Vision, Goal, Strategy Alignment

3. Establish QFIC (Quality, Fidelity, Intensity, Consistency)

4. Create a Compelling Scoreboard

5. Establish a Cadence of Accountability 

Additional Resources-

• Redesign Training Content (see: Buiding the Rocket & Show and Launch) 
  • ​Video - Design Thinking & the Four Disciplines of Execution