Feature Story

Members of the Kansas State Board of Education will receive an update on the structured literacy training requirements for licensure during their monthly meeting, Jan. 14-15, in Topeka. 

Fellow Kansans,

Forty years ago, KANSAS! magazine launched a children’s edition titled KANSAS! Too, which sparked curiosity and inspired young readers across the state for more than a decade. As one of those young readers, the magazine ignited my passion and deep love for our state. 

Today, I am excited to carry that legacy forward by introducing the next chapter: KANSAS! Kids.

As part of the second iteration of the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation process, known as KESA 2.0, districts and school systems are attending regional School Improvement Days during the 2024-25 school year with three to four other like systems.  

These days are facilitated by Kansas educators who have been trained and volunteer their time to help their colleagues understand what is required for KESA 2.0 accreditation. They guide those attending the School Improvement Days through a broad review of their district-level data, including assessment scores.

The Kansas State Department of Education’s website and email domains will change from “.org” to “.gov” this month. 

Key dates for this transition:  

• Jan 8: KSDE’s website will change from www.ksde.org to www.ksde.gov. 
• Jan. 15: KSDE email addresses will become firstname.lastname@ksde.gov (i.e., john.doe@ksde.gov). 

In addition to getting help with writing, finding a book for a class or getting tutored, libraries are a vital part of a school’s ecosystem and community at large.

“Libraires are really a refuge for people, for students,” said Tonya Foster, librarian at Topeka High School, Topeka USD 501. “So many people don’t know the true value of libraries. Yes, they are a place where you can get resources and you can get books and you can get music. But it’s also such an incredibly safe place to go and find what you need. There are people there that can help you.”