In this edition ...

Data collected on district policies regarding students’ use of personal devices during the school day was presented to members of the Kansas State Board of Education during their monthly meeting in Topeka this week. 

In the latest episode of the KSDE Insight Podcast, Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson and his guests explore the growing concern of chronic absenteeism and its impact on student success.  

Aimed specifically at parents, this conversation dives into the reasons behind frequent absences—ranging from health and anxiety to transportation and disengagement—and why missing even a few days a month can add up to serious academic and social consequences.  

Registration is now open for the annual Counting KIDS workshops in August and September. 

These sessions are led by Laurel Murdie, KSDE director of fiscal auditing, and Kyle Lord, KSDE assistant director of information technology.  

*Please note: Since Sept. 20, 2025, falls on a Saturday, Count Day moves to the first school day following Sept. 20, which is Monday, Sept. 22. 

The Kansas State Department of Education is seeking nominations to fill three vacancies on the Professional Practices Commission (PPC). The open positions are as follows: 

• Position 1 – Junior high/middle school principal (public school) 
• Position 2 – Elementary school principal (public school) 
• Position 3 – K–12 school teacher (public school)