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3 weeks ago

Board discusses using one-time savings and bond coordination for capital projects Administrators outlined two options for roughly $700,000–$900,000 in extra one-time funds: accelerate long-list facility projects this fiscal year or carry funds to next year to pair with bond projects for better efficiencies; roofing needs and instrument purchases were highlighted as high-priority items.

The board is weighing a crucial decision on how to allocate nearly $900,000 in unexpected funds—will they accelerate facility projects now or save for strategic efficiency next year?

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#KS #CitizenPortal #FacilityImprovements #KansasEducation #CommunityNeed #FundingEfficiencies

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4 weeks ago

Jeff West teachers showcase classroom AI projects in state grant pilot District staff presented classroom examples from a multi-district AI grant — from AI-assisted debate prep to Gemini-based legislative simulations and student-generated art — and will present a showcase in Lawrence next week.

Jeff West teachers are revolutionizing the classroom with AI projects that empower students to tackle real-world challenges and think critically—don't miss their showcase next week!

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#KS #CitizenPortal #StudentEngagement #CriticalThinking #KansasEducation #AIInClassrooms

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1 month ago

Board briefed on a slate of Topeka bills that could restrict district communications and affect funding Dr. Little told the Shawnee Mission board about several active bills — including a cell-phone/bell-to-bell bill, a bill (2451) restricting use of public resources for ballot questions with strict 'neutral' language, scholarship/tax credit legislation, and budget provisos affecting vaccination guidance and assessment contracts — and urged local advocacy.

The Shawnee Mission Board of Education is facing potential legislative changes that could reshape communications and funding in local schools—are you ready for what’s at stake?

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#KS #CommunityAdvocacy #CitizenPortal #KansasEducation #LegislativeImpact #FundingChallenges

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1 month ago

Board member warns of large special-education funding shortfall as Kansas Legislature reaches 'turnaround' A board member briefed the Lawrence Board of Education on recent Kansas legislative activity — including an override of a veto on Senate Bill 244 and movement of a student-cellphone bill — and highlighted a statewide special-education funding shortfall estimated at $226 million that could leave districts covering more costs locally.

Kansas schools are facing a staggering $226 million shortfall in special education funding, and urgent legislative changes could shift even more financial burdens onto local districts.

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#KS #CommunityEngagement #CitizenPortal #LegislativeUpdates #SpecialEducation #KansasEducation

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1 month ago

USD 383 board approves $388,800 in student iPads after extended debate, 5-2 After more than an hour of discussion about instructional use, equity and long-term costs, the Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Board voted 5-2 to approve a $388,800 purchase of student iPads from Apple Inc.; board members said they will continue public engagement and review technology use in April.

The Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Board has approved a $388,800 purchase of iPads for students, igniting a heated debate over technology's role in education.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #PublicEngagement #TechnologyInEducation #KansasEducation #EquityInLearning

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1 month ago

Senate Education committee advances several bills out of committee, including enrollment and student‑rights measures The committee voted voice approvals to advance SB 361 (foreign exchange student enrollment), SB 304 (Born to Invest Act), SB 419 (Kansas Intellectual Rights and Knowledge Act), and SB 421 (SPEAKS Act); motions were moved and seconded and each motion carried by voice vote.

The Kansas Senate Education Committee has just approved several groundbreaking bills that could reshape student rights and enrollment for foreign exchange students!

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#KS #CitizenPortal #ForeignExchange #CivicEngagement #KansasEducation #StudentRights

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1 month ago

Committee restores omitted phrase and passes Credit Act substitute to require credit transfer policies The committee adopted a balloon amendment restoring a phrase about 'other similar credentials' and passed the substitute to House Bill 2530, directing postsecondary institutions to adopt policies to transfer credits/credentials earned via ACT WorkKeys or similar career readiness assessments based on American Council on Education recommendations.

A crucial amendment to the Credit Act is set to enhance students' ability to transfer career readiness assessments into valuable technical credits!

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#KS #CitizenPortal #CareerReadiness #CreditTransfer #StudentFlexibility #KansasEducation

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1 month ago

Senate hears committee recommendations, lists bills for upcoming action and schedules confirmation vote Clerk read multiple committee recommendations on bills across education, judiciary and veterans affairs; Majority Leader Blasey announced a forthcoming confirmation vote for Peter Johnson and listed bills moving to general orders and final action on consent calendar items.

The Kansas Senate is gearing up for a busy week with multiple bill recommendations and a pivotal confirmation vote for Peter Johnson!

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#KS #CitizenPortal #ConsumerProtection #KansasEducation #LegislativeAction #VeteranSupport

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1 month ago

Senate Education panel hears proposal to limit Promise Scholarship funds for co‑requisite remediation hours The Senate Education Committee heard proponent testimony on SB 340, which would amend the Kansas Promise Scholarship Act to bar state scholarship dollars from paying the additional remedial hours in co‑requisite course models, while still funding the credit‑bearing course; the reviser will draft clarifying language.

The Senate Education Committee is considering a pivotal change to the Kansas Promise Scholarship Act that could reshape funding for college courses—are students ready for the impact?

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#KS #CivicAccountability #HigherEdAccess #CitizenPortal #EducationReform #KansasEducation

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1 month ago

Committee advances bill limiting student use of personal electronic devices during school hours The Committee on Education amended and passed House Bill 2,421, which requires school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to adopt policies prohibiting student use of personal electronic devices during normal school hours, includes an exception for monitored district platforms, and adds a liability protection for districts; one substantive amendment changed one requirement from mandatory to discretionary (11–6).

A new bill has just been passed that could change the way students interact with technology during school hours—are you ready for a cell phone ban?

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#KS #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #DigitalSafety #EducationPolicy #KansasEducation

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1 month ago

Committee hears emotional testimony for 'Aaron's Law' requiring child-abuse prevention education in schools House Bill 2,576 (Aaron’s Law) drew extensive proponent testimony from survivors, child-advocacy organizations, law enforcement and service providers urging age-appropriate, evidence-based prevention education and adult training; the committee heard recommendations on accreditation, trauma-informed training and funding but did not vote on the bill during this session.

Emotional testimonies at a Kansas hearing underscore the urgent need for 'Aaron's Law,' mandating child-abuse prevention education in schools to empower students and protect their futures.

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#KS #ChildAbusePrevention #CitizenPortal #EvidenceBasedEducation #KansasEducation

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1 month ago

Committee hears bill to require biannual State reporting on federal K‑12 funds At a Committee on K-12 Education Budget hearing, lawmakers and state education officials discussed House Bill 2618, which would require biannual reports from the State Board/Department of Education on federal funds, amounts, purposes and plans to sustain programs if federal support ends.

Kansas lawmakers are pushing for a new bill that mandates biannual reports on federal education funds, aiming to boost transparency and accountability in how those resources are managed.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #FederalFunding #TransparencyInGovernance #KansasEducation

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1 month ago

Committee adopts changes to at‑risk student cohort rules and achievement goals House Bill 2663 was adopted by the Committee on Education. The bill shifts one cohort grade from grade 3 to grade 4, expands allowable cohort definitions (including free‑meal eligibility and at‑risk program eligibility), provides consultation when cohorts are too small, and changes the achievement goal metric from an AND to an OR for ELA or math.

Big changes are coming for at-risk student cohorts in Kansas schools with House Bill 2663, aiming to better target funding and improve educational outcomes!

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#KS #AchievementGoals #CitizenPortal #EducationReform #AtRiskStudents #KansasEducation

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1 month ago

Russell County superintendent urges countywide sales tax to fund school bond Jordan Perez, superintendent of USD 407, told the committee that a countywide sales tax — proposed at about 1¢ — would have produced nearly double the revenue of a city-only tax and allowed a larger school bond; lacking permission, the district scaled a bond down to $13.5 million.

Russell County's schools are facing a dire need for modern facilities, and Superintendent Jordan Perez reveals a groundbreaking solution that could nearly double funding—if only the county had the authority.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #LocalTaxation #KansasEducation #SchoolFunding

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1 month ago

Committee defers HB 2576 (Aaron's Law), citing need for peer review, accreditation and funding The Committee on Education declined to advance HB 2576 (Aaron's Law) at this time, with the chair saying materials are not yet peer reviewed or accredited and funding and statewide training capacity remain unresolved; she invited further work and possible follow‑up with the K‑12 budget committee.

The Committee on Education has hit the brakes on advancing Aaron's Law, citing critical gaps in funding and accreditation that need to be addressed before moving forward.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #EducationalMaterials #KansasEducation #FundingSupport #ChildAdvocacy

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1 month ago

Education committee approves HB 2489 with naloxone and fentanyl‑education requirements; amendment to include private schools fails The House Committee on Education voted to pass HB 2489 as amended to require school districts to provide fentanyl education and maintain a supply of naloxone. An amendment to mandate the same requirements for accredited nonpublic schools was defeated.

Kansas schools are one step closer to fighting fentanyl with new requirements for naloxone supplies, but what happened to the push for private school compliance?

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#KS #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #EducationPolicy #KansasEducation #SubstanceAbuse

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1 month ago

Kansas committee weighs bill to remove ACT-specific language from statute, sparking debate over STEM measurement and procurement A House committee heard testimony on House Bill 24-82 to replace vendor-specific references to ACT in Kansas law with neutral language allowing the State Board to select nationally recognized college- and career-readiness assessments; supporters say it preserves flexibility, opponents (ACT) warn it could weaken STEM and longitudinal measures.

Kansas is debating a bill that could reshape college readiness assessments, stirring strong opinions on maintaining high standards for STEM readiness.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #STEMReadiness #KansasEducation #EducationalFlexibility #AssessmentReform

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1 month ago

Kansas hearing debates requirement for K–12 instruction on communism and a 100‑question civics exam for graduation A Senate Education Committee hearing on SB 381 featured proponents urging a statewide civics exam and State Board‑developed curriculum about communist and socialist regimes; opponents warned the measure intrudes on local control and creates a new high‑stakes graduation barrier.

Kansas lawmakers are debating a controversial bill that could require high school students to pass a civics exam and learn about communist regimes before graduation.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #LocalControl #KansasEducation #CurriculumReform #CivicLiteracy

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1 month ago

Committee on Federal and State Affairs debates bill to end in‑state tuition for undocumented residents Members discussed a bill (referred to in the transcript as Senate Bill 254) that would end subsidized in‑state tuition for people the speakers described as in the country illegally. Speakers cited a new attorney general opinion, federal law (8 U.S.C. § 1601), potential lawsuits and recent SNAP-related fiscal penalties as reasons to hold the measure.

A heated debate in Kansas is brewing over Senate Bill 254, which aims to end subsidized in-state tuition for undocumented residents, raising questions about federal law and potential financial consequences.

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#KS #ImmigrationPolicy #CitizenPortal #KansasEducation

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1 month ago

Committee advances HB 2717 lowering school-entry age and approves minutes; members ask about Promise Scholarship coverage for CDL training The Committee on Education voted to recommend House Bill 2717 (lowering mandatory attendance age from 7 to 6) favorably out of committee, approved minutes from February 6 and 12, and heard a query about whether Promise Scholarship funds can be used for CDL training; staff said eligible Promise fields include transportation if an institution opts in.

Big changes are coming to Kansas education as a bill to lower the mandatory school attendance age from 7 to 6 advances with little debate!

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#KS #CitizenPortal #EducationReform #TransportationTraining #ScholarshipAccess #KansasEducation

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1 month ago

Committee approves amendments and advances House Bill 2320 on foster-care student transfers The Committee on K-12 Education Budget tightened language and defined 'business day' for a two-business-day transfer timeline in House Bill 2320, approved technical statutory updates, and voted the bill favorably out of committee.

Kansas lawmakers have made crucial amendments to House Bill 2320, ensuring faster and clearer transfers for foster-care students in the education system.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #FosterCare #LegislativeProcess #KansasEducation #K12Reform

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1 month ago

Senate committee advances five education bills on scholarships, virtual schools, civics and district approvals A Senate committee voted favorably on five education-related bills, including prohibiting Promise scholarship funds for co‑requisite courses, authorizing Workforce Pell Grant program approvals, updating virtual‑school and special‑education language, requiring a civics exam for graduation, and extending innovative‑district application timelines with a 45‑day deeming provision.

Big changes are coming to education in Kansas as a Senate committee pushes forward five pivotal bills, from scholarship funding reforms to new civics requirements for high school graduation!

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#KS #CitizenPortal #EducationReform #CivicEducation #KansasEducation

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1 month ago

Kansas school boards are facing a crucial decision: adopt a resolution for free meals under the federal Community Eligibility Provision or risk financial strain and reduced funding.

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#KS #CivicAccountability #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #FoodSecurity #KansasEducation

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1 month ago

Appropriations Committee advances House substitute for HB 24-34 with targeted provisos; several contested amendments draw lengthy debate The Committee on Appropriations voted to pass House Substitute for HB 24-34 as amended after adopting a package of provisos affecting K‑12 reporting, assessments, housing, rural justice, and workforce programs. Notable actions included rejecting a $2.5 million move to eliminate reduced‑price lunch copays and approving ARPA‑linked housing and cyber workforce provisions.

The Kansas Appropriations Committee has taken bold steps to reshape the state budget, impacting education, housing, and health programs, but not without heated debates over key amendments.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #HousingInnovation #FiscalAccountability #KansasEducation

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1 month ago

Teachers show cross-curricular literacy gains after LETRS training and innovative classroom work Educators presented classroom examples integrating LETRS (language training) in PE, music and humanities; teachers and districts said training, local facilitators and cross-grade collaboration increased student vocabulary, reading engagement, and instructional coherence.

Teachers in Kansas are revolutionizing literacy by integrating innovative strategies from PE to music, transforming how students engage with reading skills across all subjects.

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#KS #CrossCurricularLearning #CitizenPortal #StudentEngagement #LiteracyInnovation #KansasEducation

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1 month ago

KU researchers present 'responsible AI' framework to Kansas board as officials weigh risks and benefits KU professors introduced a human-centered PK–20 framework for AI integration, urging risk audits, transparency, and teacher training; board members and attendees pressed on data privacy, equity, and how to teach digital/AI literacy to families and teachers.

KU researchers are pioneering a human-centered framework for integrating AI in education, but are we ready to tackle the risks and ensure equity for all students?

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#KS #CitizenPortal #EquityInEducation #AIIntegration #KansasEducation #DataPrivacy

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1 month ago

Kansas education official warns of rapid changes as legislative turnaround nears KSDE legislative director Dr. Harwood told the State Board of Education that Feb. 19 turnaround deadlines make budget and policy outcomes uncertain, highlighting competing House and Senate positions on special education funding, K‑12 base increases and procurement changes for state residential schools.

Dr. Harwood warns that rapid changes in the Kansas legislative session could reshape education funding and policies before next week's critical turnaround deadline.

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#KS #K12Funding #LegislativeChanges #CitizenPortal #SpecialEducation #KansasEducation

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1 month ago

Olathe and KSDE seek federal approval to pilot year‑round assessments as alternative accountability Olathe Public Schools and KSDE asked the board to support applying to the federal Innovative Assessment Demonstration (IADA) to allow a multi‑district pilot using quarterly 'through' assessments as the accountability measure instead of the statewide summative, arguing better instructional alignment and more useful, timely data for teachers.

Olathe officials are revolutionizing student assessments with a new pilot program that promises timely feedback and reduced testing pressure for teachers and students alike.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #InstructionalAlignment #KansasEducation #TeacherSupport #AssessmentReform

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1 month ago

Blue Valley board weighs scaled bond package, 3-mill scenario and priorities for asset preservation Board members debated a scaled bond package and a possible 3-mill increase to restore capital investments, with trustees and advisory groups urging prioritization of asset preservation while noting public sellability concerns.

The Blue Valley Board of Education is at a crossroads, debating a scaled bond package that could redefine the future of capital projects and asset preservation for aging facilities.

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#KS #CitizenPortal #CapitalInvestments #KansasEducation #AssetPreservation #CommunityOutreach

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2 months ago

Audit: Kansas at-risk funding tied to free-lunch count may be inflated by tens of millions A Legislative Post Audit presentation to the Committee on Welfare Reform found that the free-lunch count used to allocate Kansas at-risk education funding likely overstates income-based eligibility for many applicants; auditors estimate the state may have overpaid roughly $38 million to $53 million for the 2024 school year, while noting federal verification limits and important caveats.

Kansas may have overpaid between $38 million to $53 million in at-risk funding due to inflated free-lunch counts, raising serious questions about eligibility and verification processes.

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#KS #EducationFunding #KansasEducation #EligibilityVerification #FiscalAccountability