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Members of the Kansas State Board of Education voted this week to approve new cut scores for the spring 2025 state assessments for English language arts, math and science.
The new cut scores were necessary after the 2015 Kansas Assessment Program tests were revised after 10 years. Board members had voted on the changes to the 2025 tests’ performance level descriptors in May that emphasize proficiency.
In this episode of the KSDE Insight Podcast, Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson talks with two school leaders about the importance of academic rigor—and why challenging coursework is essential to helping students grow, adapt, and succeed in an ever-changing world.
The KSDE teacher licensure team has announced the Fall Vacancy Report (FVR) trainings for August and September.
Systems can begin entering data for the Fall Vacancy Report (FVR) and the Licensed Personnel Report (LPR) for the 2025-26 school year into the Educator Data Collection System (EDCS). Systems also have access to submit the FVR anytime on or before Sept. 25.
As the school year begins, the KSDE Accreditation and Design team invites district/system staff to the upcoming Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) information sessions.
If you are new to Kansas, new to your position, or couldn’t make one of the KESA Information sessions this past spring, these sessions are made for you. Here are the topics for each of these sessions
The window for submitting information to the Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways student data management system closes on Friday, Aug. 15.
Districts are required to report accurate, complete CTE pathways and student data as a part of their Perkins funding. This entails assigning students to a pathway and updating their participant, concentrator, or completer status.
Career and technical education (CTE) and Perkins in-person technical assistance sessions scheduled in September
The KSDE career and technical education (CTE) team will provide information and technical assistance on various topics during sessions scheduled in September across Kansas.
The Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) is the alternate state assessment for students with a most significant cognitive disability. These students are assessed in ELA, math, and science.
The DLM is an instructionally embedded assessment with two required assessment windows. The fall 2025 testing window is Sept. 8 – Dec. 19. The spring 2026 testing window is Feb. 3 - April 24. Test administrators who will be administering the DLM to students must complete the DLM required test administrator training which is now available on Kite Educator Portal.
By Emily Scott, KSDE ESOL program
English learner framework for 2025-26 school year now available
The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program has been undergoing many exciting changes in the last few months. New program guidance, now referred to as the English Learner Framework 2025-2026, is available on the KSDE ESOL website.
During the months of August and September, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) grantees must use any remaining funds from those awarded last year. KSDE is required to return any unspent funds to the U.S. Department of Agriculture at the end of the grant cycle as this can have repercussions on future grant awards for the program.
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.gov or by 785-296-3201.