Kansas Statute charges the Kansas State Board of Education with the accreditation of schools, a process that provides official recognition of the school as having met a defined set of standards. Current accreditation regulations in Kansas are based on a school district accreditation model called Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA), which was approved in 2016.

All public schools in the state of Kansas are required to participate in the state accreditation process. On the other hand, private schools are not required to do so. However, ALL private schools are required, through Kansas Statute to register with KSDE. Private schools operating in Kansas that do participate in the state's accreditation process are referred to as "Accredited Private Schools." Private schools that do not participate in the state accreditation process are referred to as "Non-Accredited Private Schools (NAPS)." Click here for more information about NAPS in Kansas. 

Kansans are demanding higher standards in academic skills, as well as employability and citizenship skills, and the need to move away from a “one-size-fits-all” system that relies exclusively on state assessments. This new vision for education calls for a more student-focused system that provides support and resources for individual success and will require everyone to work together to make it a reality. Through KESA schools are to focus on results and process to improve student learning.

The State Board receives recommendations concerning accreditation (K-12) from the KSDE Accreditation Review Council, (Be sure to link the right group to this.) a group of representatives from all facets and levels of education and from all regions of Kansas.

DEFINITION: Successful Kansas High School Graduate

A SUCCESSFUL KANSAS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE has the  academic preparation, cognitive preparation, technical skills, employability skills, and civic engagement to be successful in postsecondary education, in the attainment of an industry recognized certification, or in the workforce without the need for remediation.”
                                                                                                                                 Adopted by the Kansas State Board of Education, January 2016

Accreditation K-12 Contacts

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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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.