Kansas State Department of Education

The meeting covered numerous action items and reports across two days. Key discussions and actions included separate voting on agenda items C, D, and E from the consent agenda, followed by the approval of the remaining consent agenda items. The Commissioner presented updates on teacher apprenticeship programs, farm-to-school initiatives, and assessment usage. The Citizen's Open Forum featured discussions on screentime effects, educational philosophy, assessment cut scores, and issues at the Kansas School for the Deaf (KSD). The Board approved appointments to the Professional Standards Board and permanently approved the Modified Emergency Substitute License. Finance discussions centered on setting the State Board member compensation rate at $88.66 per day, directing the policy committee to draft language for an RFP policy for designating an attorney, and raising the threshold for required Board approval of discretionary grants or contracts from $10,000 to $25,000. The Board strongly recommended that districts post accessible procedures for recognizing and reporting bullying. Updates were received on state assessments, evaluation review committee recommendations for higher education program approvals, and CTE cluster review recommendations, with final actions deferred to the July meeting. Other topics included presentations on summer lunch programs, updates on the KSD School Improvement Task Force, revisions to the Board Policy manual regarding appeals of the Chair's ruling, and an overview of the KSDE budget for 2026-2027. The board also discussed Board Goals focused on strengthening coherence through five primary areas, including Quality School Improvement and Policy, Regulation & Alignment.

The agenda covers discussions and actions over three days. Key items include presentations on the Comprehensive Literacy Plan and Cursive Writing, student stories of success, and recognition of National ESEA Distinguished Schools and the Milken Teacher of the Year. Action items for March 10th involved approving the consent agenda, which covered personnel reports, professional development plans, and licensure recommendations. Action items for March 11th focused on regulations review, the Innovative Assessment Pilot Project, approval of Business Education Content Standards Recommendations, and a contract for Microsoft Power BI implementation. The schedule also sets aside time for Citizen's Open Forum, committee reports, board comments, and multiple executive sessions on March 12th. The Board will also act on approving the Kansas Purple Star School designation for two entities.

Key discussions during the two-day meeting included a Commissioner's Report and a Citizen's Open Forum. Presentations covered the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in classrooms by the Kansas University Center for Innovation, Design and Digital Learning, and a related Teacher Highlight. Other topics included updates on a District Owned Devices Survey, the effect of devices on student development, and action on recommendations from the Professional Practices Commission, including discussions on cell phone policy in the Beloit District. Committee reports covered Master Teachers selection, Ag in the Classroom meeting, and the KSD superintendent search. Significant discussion and a subsequent motion focused on clarifying that the Citizens Open Forum agenda item is exclusively for the general public and not for Board members. Updates were also received regarding cybersecurity funding status and reports from the search firm.

The meeting covered numerous substantial topics across two days. Key agenda items included the approval of the Consent Agenda, which covered personnel reports, licensure matters, and requests to hold bond elections and receive Capital Improvement State Aid for various school districts. The Commissioner's Report reinforced the State Board's strategic goals focusing on Quality School Improvement, Leadership Development, and Policy Alignment, with references to Stephen Covey's leadership principles. The Citizen's Open Forum featured discussions concerning ABA policy, teacher shortages at the Kansas School for the Deaf (KSD), and a public records request dispute involving a Board member and the Board Attorney. The Board approved the recommendations of the KSD Task Force, which addressed reading/math instruction, teacher pipeline, and the establishment of a Parent Advisory Council. Presentations detailed the R.I.S.E. Program for behavioral wellness, a Legislative Report summarizing active and new bills, and an in-depth review of Dyslexia Initiatives aligned with the Science of Reading. The Board also approved raising the contract approval threshold from $10,000 to $25,000 and honored the Superintendent of the Year for Geary County Schools USD 475. Further actions included approving new educator preparation program standards and authorizing the contract bid process for the Kansas Integrated and Accountability System (KIAS). Finally, the Board addressed Artificial Intelligence in Education, focusing on policy principles, data privacy, and transparency, and approved guidance on Medical Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy in school settings.

The key discussion topic for this portion of the meeting involved presentations from state leaders of various Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs), including Business Professionals of America (BPA), DECA, FBLA, FCCLA, and FFA. These student leaders discussed how their respective organizations positively influenced their secondary education by developing critical skills such as mindset shift, professional communication, critical thinking, relationship building, time management, responsibility, and leadership capabilities, preparing them for post-secondary education and future careers across various pathways.