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Melinda Eddington joined Goddard Unified School District 265’s Parents as Teachers (PAT) program before her son, Jordan, was born in 2012.
“It was definitely a blessing because I probably wouldn’t have gotten him referred as soon as I did,” Eddington said.
Legislators returned to the Kansas Statehouse Thursday, April 25, as the veto session is underway. As of Thursday, the governor has signed five education-related bills into law.
Always on-the-go as an assistant principal at Andover High School, Andover Unified School District 385, Laura Scaglione gets her days started at 4 a.m. with a run even before she hits her school’s doors.
Whether its parents, grandparents or community volunteers, children will always gain more from having caring, compassionate adults working in their classrooms.
A simple suggestion by his superintendent now has Rich Yamamoto in the Kansas Registered Teacher Apprenticeship (RTA) program. The 21-year-old instructional assistant and 2021 graduate of the Kansas State School for the Blind (KSSB) in Kansas City, Kansas, said he started looking into the program after Jon Harding, KSSB’s superintendent, had a conversation with him about it.
To highlight April as Financial Literacy Month, Misty Poe, a business teacher at Centralia High School in Vermillion USD 380 answered a few questions about what she does to make learning about money and finance fun and meaningful to her students.
Legislators will return to the Kansas Statehouse on Thursday, April 25, where they will have a couple of bills to consider for passage and any bills that are vetoed by Gov. Laura Kelly. The veto session is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 29.
In March, students at Bonner Springs High School, Bonner Springs Edwardsville Unified School District 204, competed at a regional robotics competition, the school’s first official team to do so.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is excited to celebrate Kansas high school graduates once again with the “Kansans Can, and I Am” social media campaign. We are asking for your help to promote these accomplished students through your district social media channels and tagging KSDE in your posts beginning May 1.
Members of the Kansas State Board of Education during their April business meeting signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formally establish the Kansas Advisory Council for Indigenous Education (KACIE). This is a partnership with the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) and the state’s four Native American tribes.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) announced the eight finalists and semi-finalists for the 2025 Kansas Teacher of the Year (KTOY) award during regional banquets attended by more than 500 educators from across the state on April 6-7.
Kansas legislators are on a three-week break, after they reached First Adjournment last week. They will return to the Kansas Statehouse Thursday, April 25. When they return, they will have a couple of bills to consider for passage and any bills that are vetoed by the Governor. The veto session begins Monday, April 29.
Brooke Applegate, a Head Start classroom teacher at Bright Beginnings Early Childhood Center, Dodge City USD 443, and her husband Eli, a physical education teacher at Ross Elementary School, USD 443, started their autism journey when their son, Andrew, was diagnosed at 2 ½ years old, right before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Members of the Kansas State Board of Education are expected to act on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) to establish the Kansas Advisory Council for Indigenous Education (KACIE). This action, expected during the board’s April meeting, will formalize the partnership among the State Board, KBOR and KACIE for consultation related to Indigenous education in Kansas. The four tribal nations in the state – Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas, and the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska - have endorsed the proposed MOU that was signed by the regents on March 21, 2024.
To recognize April as the Month of the Military Child, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed a proclamation on March 27 with families and administrators from two of the five Purple Star school districts in Kansas.
Two Wichita-area teachers and one in Olathe have been named finalists for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) announced this week.
Kansas students have two opportunities to be showcased during the 2024 Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) Great Ideas in Education Conference.
The Kansas Statehouse was busy with conference committees during week 13 of the 2024 Kansas Legislative Session.
Military families from Ft. Leavenworth USD 207 and Derby USD 260 school districts visited the Kansas Statehouse on Wednesday, March 27, for a proclamation signing with Gov. Laura Kelly to recognize April as the Month of the Military Child.
Several education-related bills were passed in both the House and Senate chambers during week 12 of the 2024 Kansas Legislative Session, including one that will now go back to the Senate to concur or non-concur to changes made to the bill.
The House passed HB 2731 during week 11 of the Kansas Legislative Session. HB 2731 as amended would require the Kansas State Board of Education, on or before Jan. 15 of each year, to prepare and submit a report to the Kansas Legislature on students who have taken the statewide assessments
Maya Smith spent the first year of high school taking classes online during the COVID-19 pandemic. She got her start in journalism her sophomore year, taking an interest in photography, which she said helped her connect with her school after a year of isolation.
Episode #20 of the HirePaths Cool Careers video series is now available.
Results of the 2023 Kansas Teacher Retention Survey show Kansas teachers feel significantly less engaged than they did in 2021 and are at a higher risk of leaving the profession.
One bill was passed in the House Chamber and the contents of seven bills were added into SB 387, now referred to as House Sub for SB 387, in the House Committee on K-12 Education Budget during week 10 of the Kansas Legislative Session.
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Kansas State Board of Education members will hear presentations on teacher retention and bus safety; will hold a public hearing on the Professional Practices Commission (PPC) regulations; and will hear a presentation on state assessment development and the need for data literacy and analysis in a balanced assessment system.
Around 135 educators from across the state attended the 2024 Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN) State Education Conference Feb. 22-23 in Topeka.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has scheduled a statewide tornado drill for 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 6. This falls during Severe Weather Preparedness Week, which is March 4-8.
For more information on Preparedness week check out the link below: https://www.weather.gov/eax/SevereWeatherPreparednessWeek
Episode #19 of the HirePaths Cool Careers video series is now available.
Read Across America Day is set for Saturday, March 2. Read Across America Week is set for March 2-6, beginning on the birthday of author Dr. Suess.
The legislature was not in session Monday, Feb. 26, or Tuesday, Feb. 27.
Asher Swank started his freshman year in 2020 at Southeast of Saline High School, Southeast of Saline Unified School District 306, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, spending a lot of time at home. That’s when he decided to join Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).
Around 135 educators from across the state attended the first day of the 2024 Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN) State Education Conference on Thursday.
Four bills were passed on either the House or Senate floors during week seven of the 2024 Kansas Legislative Session.
The Kansas State Board of Education at its February meeting approved recommending to the legislature that the five-year research requirement within the current definition of evidence-based instruction be removed from K.S.A. 72-5153.
The Kansas House of Representatives on Thursday passed House Bill 2499. The bill prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle; and prohibits anyone from using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle in a school zone at a time when a reduced speed limit is enforced and in a road construction zone while workers are present. HB 2499 was passed 86-30. It will now go to the Senate.
Two Kansas teachers on Thursday, Feb. 8, received the surprise of a lifetime when they were presented with a national Milken Educator Award by the Milken Family Foundation. The prestigious recognition comes with an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize and honors outstanding educators across the country for excellence in and out of the classroom.
Seventeen education-related bills were introduced and three bills were passed out of committee during week five of the 2024 Kansas Legislature Session.
Kansas State Board of Education members will hear a presentation on artificial intelligence; receive an overview of a four-day school week; and hear proposed amendments to the Professional Practices Commission (PPC) regulations.
School mental health professionals on Wednesday, Jan. 31, gathered for the 8th Annual School Mental Health Advocacy Day at the Kansas State Capitol to learn more about each other’s work and to raise awareness about the mental health needs of students.
Ten education-related bills were introduced and several bills underwent hearings during week four of the 2024 Kansas Legislature Session.
February is Career and Technical and Education (CTE) Month.
Episode #18 of the HirePaths Cool Careers video series is now available.
Six education-related bills were introduced and the 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year team was recognized on the House and Senate floors during week three of the 2024 Kansas Legislature Session.
Eight of the top educators in Kansas came to Topeka earlier this week to learn about and discuss education issues with education leaders; develop strategies for becoming effective communicators; and be recognized by the Kansas House and Senate, as well as the House and Senate Committees on Education.
Basehor-Linwood Unified School District 458 has welcomed volunteers into their schools for several years. It was around 1999, when Tammy Potts…then district coordinator of the school’s volunteer program, decided to take it one step further. That is when the Basehor-Linwood Mentors and Care Cats program was born.
Members of the Kansas State Department of Education’s Teacher Licensure and Career and Technical Education (CTE) teams; Kansas Office of Apprenticeship; business and industry representatives and others participated in the first Kansas Youth Registered Apprenticeship Champion Training to learn how to build and grow the program.
When teacher Margo Ellerman first looked at the rules and guidelines for the KSDE Child Nutrition and Wellness Local Foods Recipe Challenge, she thought it would serve as a good final to test her students' capabilities and knowledge.
Thirty-two educators from Kansas are being recognized for their outstanding teaching skills through the 2024 Kansas Horizon Award program.
Six education-related bills were introduced during week two of the 2024 Kansas Legislature Session and House Committee on Education members held a hearing on one bill that would require schools to have cardiac emergency response plans in place.
Dr. Frank Harwood, a former teacher, principal and superintendent with 30 years of experience in public education, will begin his duties as Deputy Commissioner of Fiscal and Administrative Services at the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) on Friday, Jan. 12.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) will oversee an $8.4 million federal grant awarded to the state to create the Kansas Youth Transition Network, a statewide initiative that will help students with disabilities make the transition from education to employment.
Cold temperatures and snow didn’t deter student representatives from several Kansas Career and Technical Student Organizations from gathering in Topeka for the 2024 Citizenship Day.
Two Kansas students have been selected as delegates to the 62nd annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) that will take place March 2-9, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
Eighteen-year-old Reylli Lopez most likely would have been on a different career path had he not taken a step outside of his comfort zone and become the first-ever, state-paid youth apprentice.
Four days into the 2024 Kansas Legislature Session, six education-related bills are in the works and Gov. Laura Kelly released her budget, proposing to fully fund K-12 public schools, including special education.
A special task force created by the legislature to study the existing funding formula for special education met Friday, Jan. 5, at the Kansas Statehouse to develop recommendations to send to the Kansas Legislature.
The Kansas State Board of Education at its first meeting of the year approved the Kansas Early Learning Standards (KELS), received an update on the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation Framework and learned how the fentanyl crisis is impacting Kansas.
Kansas State Board of Education members will hear a presentation on the fentanyl crisis; receive an update on the new Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) framework, also known as KESA 2.0; and are scheduled to act on the Kansas Early Learning Standards during their January meeting.
A task force required by law to study and make recommendations for changes in the existing funding formula for special education will meet for the first time on Friday, Jan. 5, to hear testimony.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) will be the topic of the first workshop of the Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Professional Development Webinar Series that kicks off at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17.
The end of the calendar year is always a time for reflection for me. Did I accomplish what I’d hoped? Am I satisfied with my efforts? Did I do everything in my power to ensure Kansas students are positioned for success?
Kansans witnessed positive changes to our educational system, celebrated accomplishments and achievements and also overcame challenges throughout 2023.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s Information Technology (IT) team has put together a team of experts to help school technology directors and staff members, along with superintendents, principals and others who are interested, navigate the complex and critical practices of cybersecurity and data privacy.
Two Kansas school district leaders have been selected as 2023 Superintendents to Watch, an award offered through the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) that honors innovative and effective use of technology to engage and inform the school community.
The Kansas State Board of Education has established meeting dates for 2024 and 2025, following the traditional schedule of meeting the second Tuesday and Wednesday of each month.
Do you have ideas regarding evidence-based methods and strategies that can positively impact instruction and assessments? What about ways to invigorate those who are involved in the delivery of education or services provided to Kansas students?
The Kansas State Board of Education at its December meeting approved changes to the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) model that will be implemented in the 2024-2025 school year.
Booth Creek Wagyu beef will be featured in school nutrition program menus across the state, thanks to the Local Food for Schools (LFS) cooperative agreement.
On Monday, Dec. 11, the Kansas Early Childhood Transition Task Force adopted its final report and presented it to Gov. Laura Kelly. This report outlines recommendations for how Kansas can streamline and strengthen administration of early childhood programs.
A new tool has been launched to help guide policy and measure the impact of early childhood services in Kansas.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) 2024 Summer Academies will take place June 10-12 at Wichita Northwest.
Kansas State Board of Education members are scheduled to act on proposed changes to the current accreditation model, legislative priorities for the 2024 legislative session and more during their December meeting.
James Kingsbury was just 12 years old when his father died in 2018.
“I was grieving with that and not seeing a future for myself,” said Kingsbury, now a senior at Larned High School, Fort Larned USD 495. “I thought, ‘Why do it if he’s not there?’ “
In a competition that pits eight states against each other to help celebrate local produce, support local agriculture and recognize the importance of healthy eating, Kansas received fifth place and won two top prizes.
The tables are being turned this week as early childhood educators in Kansas are being taught instead of teaching.
Deputy Commissioner Dr. Craig Neuenswander has a way of making people feel supported and at ease. Maybe it’s the kindness he shows everyone who crosses his path, his calm demeanor or the brilliance he’s shared with numerous administrators to help solve financial conundrums during his past 11 years at the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE).
Attendees of the KSDE Great Ideas in Education Conference: Empowered Together, which took place Oct. 25-27 in Wichita, are reminded to complete an evaluation to help KSDE staff members plan for the next conference.
Ornaments featuring artwork by students throughout the United States, including Kansas, will once again adorn trees at the National Christmas Tree site in Washington, D.C.
The United States Department of Education, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is offering free, rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests to interested local educational agencies (LEAs).
Thirteen Kansas school districts have been announced as recipients of the 2022-2025 Stronger Connections grant.
Kansas State Board of Education members at their November meeting received proposed changes to the current accreditation model that Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) staff members say will better connect school improvement and accreditation, allow for a rapid, personalized response to system needs, and increase accountability and support.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) has announced the dates for the 2024 Great Ideas in Education Conference.
In the 17th episode of the HirePaths’ Cool Careers video series, host Audrey packs her backpack and heads to preschool to learn all about early childhood education.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) Kansas Registered Teacher Apprenticeship program was recognized as the 2023 Outstanding New Program by the Kansas Department of Commerce on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Kansas is leading an effort to create a standardized agreement and data sharing protocol with the Department of Defense (DoD) that would allow states to access accurate, secure and standardized data on military service.
Two Kansas schools are being nationally recognized for exceptional student achievement in 2023.
Kansas State Board of Education members will receive proposed changes to the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) model and will act on the Kansas Standards for Library and Information Literacy during their November meetings.
The fifth free conference in a series geared toward teachers of all grade levels and content areas brought 170 educators together in Topeka for networking, fun and learning.
A recipe challenge hosted by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Child Nutrition and Wellness team afforded students from West Elk Unified School District 282 the chance to learn about school nutrition guidelines and how tasty items made with sorghum truly can be.
In 2003, Hanna Kemble Mick’s mother was named a Kansas School Counselor of the Year. Now, two decades later, Kemble Mick is “humbled and honored” to follow in her mother’s footsteps.
Mary Kane, who has served as the Kansas FFA Association executive secretary for more than 30 years, was recently recognized by the National Association of Supervisors of Agricultural Education (NASEA) as the 2023 Outstanding Executive Secretary.
Have you filled out the survey for KSDEweekly yet? If not, please click here to answer a few brief questions.
Shannon Wedel, an elementary school art teacher for Great Bend Unified School District 428, has been named the 2023 Overall Outstanding Art Educator of the Year by the Kansas Art Education Association (KAEA).
Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson, along with Deputy Commissioner Dr. Ben Proctor and Accreditation and Design Director Dr. Jay Scott, spent about three hours on Friday, Oct. 27, giving updates and sharing new information with attendees of the Great Ideas in Education Conference.
It has been more than a year since the creation of the Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) external newsletter, KSDEweekly.
More than 500 educators gathered this week in Wichita for the 2023 Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Great Ideas in Education Conference: Empowered Together.
Compassionate. Passionate. Supportive. Amazing. Exceptional leader. Those are just a few of the words used by colleagues and friends to describe Cheryl Johnson, the Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) Child Nutrition and Wellness (CNW) director.
Dr. Michelle Hubbard, Shawnee Mission Unified School District 512’s superintendent, has been named the 2024 Kansas Superintendent of the Year, the Kansas School Superintendents Association (KSSA) announced Tuesday, Oct. 17.
The Kansas Early Childhood Transition Task Force met on Wednesday, Oct. 18, to review and adopt its recommendations regarding how the state of Kansas administers early childhood programs.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) recognized 242 public school districts and eight private systems through the 2023 Kansans Can Star Recognition Program, the highest number since the program’s inception in the 2019-2020 school year.
The Kansas State Board of Education at its October meeting received the Kansas State Department of Education’s Annual Report highlighting the state’s educational successes and challenges over the past year.
Kansas state assessment results for math are the highest since 2017, and overall, more students are scoring at proficient levels in math and English language arts than last year.
Kansas school bus drivers helped 191,379 Kansas students roll safely to their destinations during the 2022-2023 school year.
Episode 16 of the HirePaths Cool Careers video series highlights dairy farmers.
The Kansas Senate and House of Representatives are adjourned until Jan. 8, 2024. However, interim committees are already preparing for the upcoming session.
Scott Thellman said he was destined to wear a suit and tie and have a career in the grain trade. Instead, he became a first-generation farmer in Douglas County who is helping introduce Kansas students to fresh, healthy foods by selling his produce to schools.
Teams from West Elk Unified School District 282 and Valley Falls USD 338 have been announced as the winners of the Local Foods Recipe Challenge, which required teams comprised of students, educators, school nutrition professionals and local farmers to develop recipes featuring Kansas-grown products.
Kansas State Board of Education members will review a report from a firearms safety curriculum survey report, hear a presentation on Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) training and be introduced to a new accreditation framework.
The deadline to recognize outstanding Kansas students and exemplary first-year teachers is fast approaching.
More than 1,000 Kansas children and students will have opportunities to get up close and personal with airplanes and learn more about aviation when the Fly Kansas Air Tour makes stops across the state.
The past week has been a whirlwind of activity for Taylor Bussinger, a social studies teacher at Prairie Trail Middle School, Olathe Unified School District 233.
Shannon Bohm, an architect and president of Schaefer Architecture in Wichita, is a firm believer in career and technical education.
The 2023-2024 Pictorial Directory of Superintendents is now available online.
The Kansas State Department of Education is challenging you to wear pink on Tuesday, Oct. 3, to stand up to bullying.
Dayna Richardson dedicated her life to Kansas education. Her list of service to Kansas and its students is long.
With the first day of school several weeks behind us and fall looming, staff members from Kansas schools were busy on Wednesday, Sept. 20, counting students for Enrollment Count Day.
Four Kansas elementary schools have been designated 2023 National Blue Ribbon Schools, U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona announced Tuesday, Sept. 19.
This is an exciting weekend for the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and eight of the state’s top educators. On Saturday, Sept. 23, KSDE will announce the 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year during the Dale Dennis Kansas Teacher of the Year Banquet in Wichita.
On Tuesday, Sept. 12, the Kansas State Board of Education approved licensure test changes.
Aspiring Kansas educators seeking a standard initial teaching license will no longer have to take the Principle of Learning and Teaching (PLT) pedagogy exam as a requirement for licensure.
Maehlee Her, a fifth-grade student at McCarter Elementary School, Topeka Unified School District 501, was all smiles as she exited the new inflatable Body Venture exhibit on Thursday, Sep. 7. Maehlee Her, a fifth-grade student at McCarter Elementary School, Topeka Unified School District 501, was all smiles as she exited the new inflatable Body Venture exhibit on Thursday, Sep. 7.
The Kansas Corporation Commission this week is joining utility regulatory commissions nationwide in observing Digital Connectivity and Lifeline Awareness Week.
The 15th episode of HirePaths’ Cool Careers video series just dropped.
Topeka High School Drumline members pounded out a rhythmic cadence Tuesday morning in front of the Topeka Center for Advanced Learning and Careers (TCALC) as a bright blue tour bus pulled into a circular drive in front of the school.
Kansas State Board of Education members will act on licensing test change recommendations and receive a recap of the success of the 2023 Sunflower Summer program during their monthly meeting next week.
Rachel Swearengin, a fifth-grade teacher at Manchester Park Elementary School, is amongst the 10 finalists for the 2023 National History Teacher of the Year, the Gilder Lehrman Institute announced this week.
“Joe and I were thrilled to welcome educators, students and families to the White House to celebrate the start of a new school year – one filled with possibility and discovery,” first lady Jill Biden posted Aug. 26 on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter.
A new monitoring report created by the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is making it easier for districts to determine missing child entry and exit data reported in the Outcomes Web System (OWS).
“More than 25,000 planes take off and land each day in the United States,” correspondent Maya shares in the first video of the third season of “Cool Careers.” “But did you know, most of these planes get their start in Kansas?”
Did you know the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) offers a variety of ways you can honor your peers, as well as students and your school?
College credit is being offered through Baker University and MidAmerica Nazarene University for the Kansas State Department of Education’s 2023 Great Ideas in Education Conference: Empowered Together.
Over the span of four days, members of Gov. Laura Kelly’s Early Childhood Transition Task Force met with around 500 Kansans in nine Kansas communities to talk about early childhood across the state as part of the Community Engagement Tour.
A student is forced to provide sexual favors to a family member in order to receive food.
A sixth-grade student is choked out by her eighth-grade boyfriend, who records the incident and shares it. Within a few days, the boy has offers from more than 30 men who are willing to pay to sexually assault the young girl.
Before Dolly Parton’s father died, he told his daughter that her Imagination Library was one of the most important things the singer-songwriter had done during her lifetime.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) annual Counting KIDS Workshops begin Monday, Aug. 28, and continue on selected dates through Sept. 13, in advance of the Sept. 20 Count Day.
Strands for the Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) Great Ideas in Education Conference: Empowered Together offer something for everyone.
Kansas State Board of Education members at their August meeting approved adjusting the current Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) cycle to allow systems to follow the KESA Learning Year timeline for the 2023-2024 school year.
Since 2004, 1,013 exemplary American history educators have been recognized as State History Teachers of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. This year, Rachel Swearengin, a fifth-grade teacher at Manchester Park Elementary School, joins them.
The top three winners of the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Great Ideas in Education Art Contest have been announced.
Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson went head-to-head in a bus rodeo competition with Mollie Cornwell, a five-time State Safe Driver Competition winner and school bus driver at Derby Unified School District 260, for this year’s back-to-school video.
Kansas families have only a few days left to enjoy free access to museums, zoos, historic landmarks, outdoor locations and other attractions across the state. The 2023 Sunflower Summer program ends Sunday, Aug. 13.
Kansas State Board of Education members will review guidelines for graduation requirements, present the Kansas State Department of Education Child Nutrition and Wellness (CNW) Kansans CAN 2022-2023 Best Practice Awards and more next week during their August meeting at the Landon State Office Building in Topeka.
The Kansas State Board of Education has established regular meeting dates for 2024 and 2025, following the traditional schedule of meeting on the second Tuesday and Wednesday of each month.
The Great Ideas in Education Conference: Empowered Together will offer professional development to help school districts improve policies and strategies that ensure safer learning environments and even stronger teaching and learning practices for every Kansas student.
To help bring even more awareness to human trafficking – worldwide, almost 20% of all trafficking victims are children – the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and CareSource HealthAlliance are partnering to bring the film “Wake Up” to Kansas.
Brook Train and Chelsea Warner were two of 15 aspiring teachers who made history on Tuesday, July 25, with the announcement of the Kansas Registered Teacher Apprenticeship program.
Devin Garcia and L A Adams may have been the only two people from outside of Kansas to attend this year’s EdCamp Kansas event earlier this week, but that didn’t deter them from soaking up everything they could learn from the dozens of other educators in attendance.
Nearly 400 educators were brought together for the Kansas State Department of Education Special Education and Title Services (SETS) two-day Leadership Conference at Hyatt Regency Wichita and Century II Convention Center.
Singer-songwriter Dolly Parton is stopping in Kansas on Aug. 14 for a private event to celebrate the statewide success of her Imagination Library program.
Final numbers show that 34 families comprised of 61 adults and 75 children – 136 in total – participated in this year’s Sunflower Summer Family Campout on July 13-14 at Eisenhower State Park.
Gov. Laura Kelly recently announced that $4.1 million in Community Service Program (CSP) Tax Credits has been awarded to 36 nonprofit organizations across the state to boost fundraising efforts focused on improving local access to quality child care, health care, education, arts and housing.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Child Care Licensing Team is conducting a comprehensive review of Kansas child care licensing regulations. Visit the KDHE website to learn more about this work.
Kansas State Board of Education members during their July meeting approved lists of Career and Technical Education (CTE) credentials, received an update about teacher vacancies and learned about technical changes being made to the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) model for the 2023-2024 school year.
Keynote speakers for the Great Ideas in Education Conference: Empowered Together Conference have been announced.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) has been granted Education Flexibility Program (Ed-Flex) authority from the United States Department of Education.
More than 100 people camped for free and learned all about the great outdoors July 13-14 at Eisenhower State Park thanks to the 2023 Sunflower Summer program.
Kansas State Board of Education members will hear about recommended technical changes to the accreditation process, review the legal provisions and State Board processes for the dissolution of a unified school district and more next week during their July meeting at the Landon State Office Building in Topeka.
The Kansas Early Childhood Transition Task Force stopped in nine cities across Kansas last week during its Community Engagement Tour, allowing more than 500 Kansans to share insight and feedback on the successes and challenges affecting the early childhood sector.
Gov. Laura Kelly last week signed House Bill 2292, legislation that promotes and expands apprenticeships with businesses, healthcare organizations, educational institutions and nonprofit groups through the use of tax credits and grants.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) announced Thursday, June 29, that the state of Kansas has met special education compliance reuirements on its state level of determination.
Fifty-five years ago, then-Deputy Commissioner Dale Dennis started a tradition of hosting summer workshops to help school district personnel with school budgets. The tradition has been kept alive.
The Kansas Early Childhood Transition Task Force Community Engagement Tour is underway this week. The task force is visiting nine cities across the state to discuss successes and challenges affecting the early childhood sector.
Gov. Laura Kelly and the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund earlier this week announced funding awards to 52 statewide organizations, including several affiliated with school districts, for the purpose of creating new and sustainable high-quality licensed child care slots and to accelerate capacity building in support of families, businesses and economic development.
A total of 70,686 adults and children have visited Sunflower Summer venues from May 26-June 18. This is an increase of 30,306 people – or 43% – over the same time frame in 2022.
Gov. Laura Kelly’s Early Childhood Transition Task Force will host community engagement sessions June 27-30.
More information about the Kansas State Department of Education’s Great Ideas in Education Conference: Empowered Together from Oct. 25-27 at the Wichita Hyatt and Convention Center is now available.
Kansas educators are invited to sign up for the 2023 Keep It Clean, Kansas (KICK) Outreach Challenge sponsored by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s (KDHE) Bureau of Waste Management.
The Kansas State Board of Education in 2015 announced a new vision for education – Kansas leads the world in the success of each student.
“This is the greatest experience ever,” Sydney Parcell told her teammates and team captain as she took a break from brainstorming ideas for the Make48 collaborative inventor challenge at the Kansas School for the Blind in Kansas City, Kansas, on Friday, June 9.
Thirty-seven educators who will for the first time be at the helm of Kansas school districts during the 2023-2024 school year had the opportunity to network, build new relationships, ask questions and share concerns during the 2023 Kansas School Superintendents’ Association New Superintendent Workshop.
Ask 15-year-old Abby Vandaveer what she wants to do after high school, and you will get a quick and definitive answer – an elementary special education teacher.
Although Kansas educators enjoyed fun activities like hiking, painting lessons, golf, team building activities and music during the Educators Recharge Retreat earlier this week, the focus was on mental health and well-being.
The Early Childhood Transition Task Force will embark on a statewide community engagement tour to discuss the challenges communities face in supporting children through their earliest years, Gov. Laura Kelly announced earlier this week.
Kansas State Board of Education members will hear a discussion about educational options for foster students, review the Every Child Can Read Act and more next week during their June meeting at the Landon State Office Building in Topeka.
Jennifer Farr, a fifth-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School in Junction City, has been named a 2023 Lowell Milken Center Fellow.
Two Kansas eighth graders competed this week in the Scripps National Spelling Bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.
The Kansas Volunteer Commission has announced the Social Justice Capacity Building mini-grant, which is designed to help volunteer and mentor initiatives in Kansas build their capacity around social justice.
A program that aims to increase the number of first-generation, lower-income and underrepresented high school students who pursue postsecondary plans isn’t just impacting the lives of students, it is also helping adults from across the state determine their career paths.
Within the first six days of the 2023 Sunflower Summer program, more than 14,800 people visited venues across the state. With this pace, the program is on track to substantially exceed the number of participants from the first week of 2022.
The 2022-2023 school year may be over, but the Kansas School for the Deaf (KSD) is looking to the next school year when it will host a national deaf basketball tournament, as well as a track and field conference meet during the spring semester.
A balanced assessment system, early learning, leadership, technology, and safe and supportive schools are just a few of the topics that will be discussed at the KSDE Great Ideas in Education Conference: Empowered Together.
An educational program that promotes learning and family engagement during the summer by allowing Kansas families free access to museums, zoos, historic landmarks, outdoor locations and other attractions will kick off May 26.
Angel Lira knows anything is possible.
In 2022, the Kansas State Department of Education’s Technical Assistance System Network (TASN), Kansas Parent Information Resource Center (KPIRC) and TASN Evaluation Team, developed and updated a free family engagement survey designed to inform district and building leaders about their district’s/building’s success at engaging parents in the education of children.
Character development is an integral part of the educational experience for students at Beloit Unified School District 273. Kansas, as well as the nation, are celebrating schools within the district that are doing an outstanding job helping students develop positive character traits.
Jihyeon “Elly” Han, 14, doesn’t plan to pursue art as a career despite winning numerous state, national – and now, international – awards for her artwork.
A bill that fully funds K-12 schools and protects funding for schools facing declining enrollment was signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday, May 18.
Gov. Laura Kelly on Monday, May 15, signed Senate Bill 25 into law.
After hearing from individuals in support of and opposition to proposed amendments to Emergency Safety Interventions (ESI) regulations, the Kansas State Board of Education on Wednesday, May 10, unanimously approved the amendments.
Outstanding Kansas seniors were honored Sunday, May 7, at the 40th annual Governor’s Scholars Award Program in Topeka.
In just a few short months, Gabriel Reyes-Gonzalez, a senior at the Kansas State School for the Blind (KSSB), will be navigating the campus of Wichita State University. Like most incoming freshmen, it’ll be a bit of an adjustment transitioning from high school to college. But for Reyes-Gonzalez, his adjustment will be different than most.
Two Kansas students are being recognized as 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars by the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars.
Natalie Johnson-Berry, a dean of students and restorative justice facilitator at Wyandotte High School in Kansas City – and a member of the 2022 Kansas Teacher of the Year Team – recently received one of public education’s highest honors for her commitment to restorative justice and partnership building.
As 45 middle and high school student-athletes exited buses at Lawrence High School on May 3 in preparation for the Pat Grzenda Triathlon, dozens of spectators cheered in anticipation of the competition.
Did you know there are many opportunities to participate in the 2023 KSDE Great Ideas in Education Conference: Empowered Together?
Kansas State Board of Education members will recognize one of the 2023 U.S. Senate Youth Kansas Delegates next week during their May meeting at the Landon State Office Building in Topeka.
More than 500 outstanding Kansas seniors will be recognized Sunday, May 7, at the 40th annual Governor’s Scholars Award Program in Topeka.
It’s hard to believe the school year is winding down. With May approaching, it’s time to celebrate Kansas’ senior students – the Class of 2023.
The Kansas Legislature on Friday wrapped up the 2023 session, passing several education bills. Below is a recap of bills passed and vetoed, and how they will affect Kansas students and educators.
The Kansas State Department of Education and its partners are excited to share that Sunflower Summer will return from May 26-Aug. 6 with even more attractions, museums, venues, events and more.
Clovis Point Elementary School in East Wenatchee, Washington, has a lot in common with the Kansans Can vision statement of “Kansas leads the world in the success of each student.”
Brian Skinner, the 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year, joined other 2023 State Teachers of the Year this week in Washington, D.C., for the National Teacher of the Year Program Washington Week, an event hosted by the Council of Chief State School Officers.
The Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force has named 91 schools as recipients of the 2022 Challenge Awards.
Several lawmakers returned to the Kansas Statehouse on Monday for their wrap-up session. The full legislature returned Wednesday.
A bipartisan group of 13 educators with more than 300 years of combined experience are calling on legislators to pass a clean, policy-free school funding bill.
Gov. Laura Kelly signed Senate Bill 66, a bipartisan bill that allows Kansas to join the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact, making it easier for educators within the multi-state agreement to move to and work in Kansas.
OLATHE - Isaac Swindler stands out in a crowd because of his smile, engaging personality, kindness and genuine love for life.
Registration is open for the Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) Great Ideas in Education Conference: Empowered Together, which will take place Oct. 25-27 at the Hyatt Regency in Wichita.
Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday signed House Bill 2322, which updates the Special Education for Exceptional Children Act to include dyslexia under the list of disabilities covered. Schools will now be required to provide additional resources and support to students with dyslexia.
All Kansas educators are encouraged to make a reservation today for upcoming Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Summer Academies.
Kansas State Board of Education members are working with Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson to develop new strategic and targeted goals.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is seeking recordings of student performances for the Great Ideas in Education Conference: Empowered Together, which will take place Oct. 25-27 in Wichita.
An eighth-grade student from West Franklin Unified School District 287 and a fifth-grade student from Frontenac USD 249 claimed the top two spots in the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) School Bus Safety Unit’s 2022-2023 School Bus Safety Poster Contest.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) announced that 261 Kansas high school seniors – the highest number ever - have been named 2023 Kansas Career and Technical Education (CTE) Scholars.
After the Kansas HOSA 2023 Spring Leadership Conference on March 28-29 in Pittsburg, 150 individual students from across the state received invitations to attend the International Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas.
Gov. Laura Kelly signed a proclamation designating April as Financial Literacy Month in Kansas.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s School Bus Safety Unit is seeking assistance from all Kansas school districts during the Kansas One-Day Stop Arm Violation Count initiative on Wednesday, April 12.
Eight of Kansas’ top educators will now vie for the title of 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year.
The Kansas State Board of Education on Tuesday, April 11, will learn more about a new registered apprenticeship program that can help address teacher shortages across the state; recognize districts, students and teachers; act on proposed amendments to accreditation regulations; and receive an update on emergency safety intervention (ESI) regulations.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is launching an optional Grade 2 Reading Assessment this spring.
Six outstanding Kansas educators were announced as regional finalists for the 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year award during ceremonies this past weekend. And the final two regional winners will be announced Saturday, April 1, in Salina.
More than 120 teachers nominated for the 2024 Kansas Teacher of the Year program will be recognized at ceremonies across the state this weekend and next.
Nine Kansas students, ranging in age from 6-17, will be honored by Gov. Laura Kelly on March 30 for their artwork illustrating the importance of aviation.
The Kansas State Department of Education is hosting a student art contest for the 2023 Great Ideas in Education: Empowered Together! conference.
Kansas State Board of Education members at their March meeting voted to support a bill that would allow Kansas to join the Interstate Teaching Mobility Compact.
Jihyeon “Elly” Han, an eighth grader at Altamont Grade School, Labette County Unified School District 506, received top honors in the 2023 U.S. Youth Aviation Art Contest.
Mallory Jacobs, a school counselor at Whitson Elementary School, Topeka Unified School District 501, was recognized as the School Counselor of the Year at the 2023 Kansas Counseling Association (KCA) and Kansas School Counselor Association (KSCA) Counseling Conference.
Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson was interviewed by Steve Kraske on Thursday, March 16, about Kansas education.
Ten Kansas educators met with Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson on Tuesday, March 7, to receive an update on program initiatives, discuss educational topics and give feedback as part of the Commissioner’s Teacher Advisory Council.
A few years ago, only 50% of the child care needs in Coffey County were being met, said Craig Marshall, superintendent of Burlington Unified School District 244.
Has your district made plans for its tornado drill during March? Per K.S.A. 31-133, each school district must conduct a tornado drill during the month of March.
An event earlier this week allowed early childhood educators to learn how to embed children’s inquiry, cause-and-effect reasoning, problem-solving and literacy into a learning platform of play.
Students were at the Kansas Capitol on Thursday, March 2, for Theatre in Our Schools Advocacy Day. And what a perfect month for the event because March has two fine arts celebrations – Music in Our Schools Month ® and Theatre in Our Schools Month.
Catherine Eastland, a senior at Wichita South High School, has known for a long time that she wanted to go into the medical field.
Gov. Laura Kelly earlier this week announced her appointments to the Early Childhood Transition Task Force, including Amanda Petersen, director of the Kansas State Department of Education’s Early Childhood team.
School districts interested in hosting a Visiting International Teacher (VIT) in the 2023-2024 school year must complete the letter of intent available at: https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Division-of-Learning-Services/Career-Standards-and-Assessment-Services/Content-Area-M-Z/World-Languages/Visiting-International-Teachers.
Kansas State Board of Education members at their February meeting honored two Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) schools, discussed proposed regulation changes that reflect recently approved changes to graduation requirements and approved changes to teaching licensure regulations.
Michael Regan, administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), made a stop in Alma on Wednesday, Feb. 8, to highlight the efforts and partnerships to decarbonize America’s school bus fleets.
Below is a list of House and Senate bills that the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is following:
Does your district have concerns about vaping policies, practices or procedures? Then, consider working with Project ECHO to engage in a year-long process to learn more about vaping education and best practices for cessation.
The Kansas State Board of Education will meet Feb. 14 at the Landon State Office Building, 900 S.W. Jackson, Suite 102, in Topeka to act on licensure regulations and a joint resolution with the Kansas Board of Regents regarding dual credit courses.
The Kansas Annual CTE Conference: Connect the Dots offered 500 educators the opportunity to learn more about Individual Plans of Study (IPS) and work-based learning and to hear from two national guest speakers.
Teachers, school administrators, food service workers, paraprofessionals, school psychologists and social workers are coming together with one common goal – to learn how to identify and offer support to students who are showing signs of mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
Kansas celebrated its 162nd birthday on Jan. 29, and a Kansas Tourism campaign is paying homage to not only Kansas but also to the state song, which is 150 years old.
As Kansas students continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Laura Kelly announced earlier this week the creation of the Kansas Education Enrichment Program (KEEP), which will provide qualifying parents and guardians with a one-time $1,000 award per child to pay for educational goods and services, such as tutoring and school supplies.
February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month®, which celebrates the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across Kansas and the nation.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s (KSDE) Safe and Supportive Schools Conference earlier this week drew more than 200 people to Manhattan.
Eight of the top educators in Kansas came to Topeka earlier this week to be recognized by the Kansas House and Senate, learn from education leaders and present at a joint meeting of the House and Senate Education Committees.
Kansas Day is right around the corner, and Kansas Tourism is continuing its annual celebration of the Sunflower State with a top-secret new video that will be released at 7 a.m. Jan. 29.
Fourth grade teacher Kristine Becker, of Logan Elementary, Seaman Unified School District 345 in Topeka, received the surprise of a lifetime on Wednesday, Jan. 19, when she was presented with a national Milken Educator Award by the Milken Family Foundation.
The January 2023 Kansas State Board of Education meeting brought with it several changes.
Thirty-two educators from Kansas are being recognized for their outstanding teaching skills through the 2023 Kansas Horizon Award program.
Several state agencies are partnering for the Early Childhood Transition Task Force, which is charged with reviewing Kansas’ early childhood programs and developing a roadmap for the creation of a new state, cabinet-level agency focused solely on supporting the success of young Kansans.
The Kansans Can Star Recognition Program is now in its fourth year of recognizing school districts for the great work taking place to help the state achieve its vision of leading the world in the success of each student.
Three newly elected and two re-elected Kansas State Board of Education members will be honored during a reception at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10.
ALMA - Wabaunsee Unified School District 329 on Wednesday, Dec. 16, became the first school district in the state to receive two electric buses through the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus Program.
A partnership between the Maize Parents as Teachers program and Maize Unified School District 266 offers the Maize and northwest Wichita community a seamless net of support and allows the district to offer services for newborns all the way to students in 12th grade.
Academic preparedness, chronic absenteeism, 2023 legislative priorities, the Sunflower Summer Program and proposed amendments to licensure regulations were all topics of discussion for Kansas State Board of Education members during their December meeting.
Three Kansas State Board of Education members, with a combined 32 years of service to Kansans, are leaving office after the December meeting.
Friday, Dec. 2, is National Special Education Day, which commemorates the nation's first federal special education law.
Join one of Amy Jo Jamison’s Zoom sessions during World Nursery Rhyme Week, and you’re likely to leave singing the featured song throughout the rest of the day.
School districts across Kansas and the nation are celebrating American Education Week, Nov. 13-19, in a variety of ways.
After more than a year of discussing graduation requirements for Kansas students, the Kansas State Board of Education last week voted to approve the Graduation Requirements Task Force recommendations.
The Kansas State Board of Education on Thursday, Nov. 10, accepted the Kansas Advisory Council for Indigenous Education Working Group’s mascot reform statement and recommendations.
Thanks to $5.83 million in clean school bus rebates awarded to six Kansas school districts, a total of 17 new clean and zero-emissions buses will be on the state’s roads.
Jasmine Matt hadn’t heard about Parents as Teachers (PAT) when she and her military husband, William, moved to Kansas and the McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita.
Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) employees took part in the Mountain Plains Crunch Off on Monday, Oct. 31.
Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson on Thursday, Nov. 3, hosted 10 Kansas principals at the Landon State Office Building, 900 S.W. Jackson in Topeka, for the Commissioner’s Principal Advisory Council.
The Kansas State Board of Education will meet next week in Topeka. However, please note the time and date changes.
Do you know what sextortion is and how children are targeted online?
Households with low or no income across the country can still get federal money with the Child Tax Credit – even if they have never filed taxes before (and haven’t filed taxes this year).
Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson spoke with members of the Commissioner’s Superintendent Advisory Council on Tuesday, Oct. 25, in Topeka.
Kansas state assessment results for math have rebounded to near prepandemic performance levels while English language arts have not, Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson shared with the Kansas State Board of Education earlier this month.
Art contest winners of the Great Ideas in Education Conference: The Art of Teaching were announced this week during the Wichita conference.
More than 300 educators made their way to Wichita this week for the Kansas State Department of Education's Great Ideas in Education Conference: The Art of Teaching.
On Oct. 11, 2022, the Kansas State Board of Education voted to approve the Kansas Purple Star School recognition program.
The program is designed to help schools respond to the educational challenges military-connected children face during their transition to a new school and to keep them on track to be college, workforce and life-ready.
Smith Center Unified School District 237 administrators and students received a special visit from Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson on Thursday, Sept. 29.
Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson presented his annual report to the Kansas State Board of Education on Oct. 11 during the State Board’s monthly meeting in Topeka.
Don’t miss the opportunity to attend two and a half days of high-quality professional learning at the Great Ideas in Education Conference – The ART of Teaching Conference, Oct. 19-21 in Wichita.
Schools across the state next week are observing Kansas Anti-Bullying Awareness Week.
The 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year will be announced Saturday, Sept. 24, during the Dale Dennis Kansas Teacher of the Year Banquet in Wichita.
Three Kansas schools have been designated 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools, U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona announced.
The Kansas State Board of Education during its September meeting approved an amendment from the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA) that would change the classification of senior high schools.
To raise awareness and educate Kansans on suicide prevention, Governor Laura Kelly has proclaimed September “Suicide Prevention Month” in the State of Kansas as part of the larger National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) campaign, “Together for Mental Health.”
The Kansas State Board of Education will receive proposed recommendations from the Kansas Graduation Requirements Task Force, act on the proposed amendment from KSHSAA to K.S.A 2014 Supp. 72-7114 and honor the 2021 Milken Educator Award Recipients.
With more than 60 superintendent changes across the state, three top leaders from the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) want to make sure new superintendents and those who are new to a district know they are supported.
The 2022-2023 Events Calendar for Early Childhood Programs is now posted to the KSDE Early Childhood webpage.
Kansas State Board of Education members during their August meeting conducted a public hearing to consider proposed changes to the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s (KSHSAA) classification of senior high schools.
Episode 11 of the Kansas State Department of Education’s “Insight Podcast” is now available.
Welcome to the new KSDEweekly newsletter, your weekly one-stop source for KSDE news and information. Our goal for this newsletter is to foster community within our profession and to reduce the number of messages you receive from KSDE on a daily basis, by bundling this information into one weekly resource.
Each Thursday, you can expect to receive the latest information organized around reporting and operations, assessments and accountability, standards and instruction, student health and nutrition, and upcoming events, trainings and recognition opportunities.
In this edition | Feature Story | Assessments and Accountability | Reporting and Operations Standards and Instruction | Student Health and Nutrition | Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition
Questions about this page contact:
Denise Kahler (785) 296-4876 dkahler@ksde.org
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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.