Two Kansas students have been selected as delegates to the 57^th annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) that will take place March 2-9, 2019, in Washington, D.C.

Kathy Busch, a Kansas State Board of Education member who represents District 8, will serve as the new chair of the board. Janet Waugh, who represents District 1, will serve as vice chair.

Since 2002, National Mentoring Month has been observed annually to recognize the need for mentors in our communities and acknowledge the importance of promoting safe, inclusive and effective youth mentoring practices. To align with the national campaign, Mentor Kansas called upon the Kansas governor and lieutenant governor to declare January as Kansas Mentoring Month with an annual ceremonial proclamation signing.

Thirty-two first-year educators from Kansas are being recognized for their outstanding teaching skills through the 2019 Kansas Horizon Award program.

The next regular Kansas State Board of Education meeting is Jan. 15 and 16, 2019 in Topeka.

Ten Kansas organizations will receive funding of $500 each to support activities surrounding the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, the Kansas Volunteer Commission (KVC) announced Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019.

Funds will support training opportunities for volunteers, staff supporting volunteers

The Kansas Volunteer Commission (KVC) is awarding a total of $10,000 to eligible entities – up to $1,500 per organization – for volunteer training or to provide training to individuals who manage volunteers.

Kansas State Board of Education members approved the school redesign plans of Fowler Unified School District 225, which is one of the districts taking part in the Kansans Can School Redesign Project: Gemini I.

Two Kansas schools are being nationally recognized for exceptional student achievement in 2018.

Kathryn O’Loughlin McCarthy Elementary School, Hays Unified School District 489, and Roseland Elementary School, Shawnee Mission USD 512, are two of 100 schools across the nation to be recognized as National ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) Distinguished Schools, formerly known as the National Title I Distinguished Schools Program.

The next regular Kansas State Board of Education meeting is Dec. 11 and 12 in Topeka. There will be a reception from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, in the Board Room to honor outgoing State Board members John Bacon, Sally Cauble and Ken Willard. They did not seek re-election for another term.