Since the inception of the Star Recognition program in 2020, Kansas school districts and systems are raising their levels of student achievement, ensuring success before and after graduation.  

“We've never lowered our standards for these areas of recognition,” Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson said of the program’s quantitative and qualitative measures. “What has happened over the time is that we've awarded more and more awards which tells me people are rising to the standards, which is our hope.” 

The Kansas State Department of Education’s Star Recognition program celebrates Kansas school districts and systems for their outstanding achievements in key areas that reflect success across the state’s education system. 

Since 2020, districts and systems across Kansas have earned gold, silver, bronze or copper stars in the quantitative measures of academically prepared for postsecondary, high school graduation and postsecondary success.  

Districts and systems can earn the same levels of stars in the qualitative areas of social-emotional growth, kindergarten readiness, individual plan of study (IPS) and civic engagement. 

KSDE also awards three levels of the Commissioner’s Award to districts that districts that outperform their predicted postsecondary effectiveness rate above a .40 standard deviation. 

Colby USD 315 and North Lyon County USD 251 are two examples of the many districts that earned stars in six or more categories this year, achieving student success at significant levels. 

Colby USD 315 received recognition in seven categories, including the Commissioner’s Award in 2025. 

Superintendent Katina Brenn said USD 315 staff established a work group for each Kansans Can outcome that included a district administrator, building administrator, and a teacher representative from the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She said this “purposeful structure” allowed the work group to “strategically focus on one school improvement area and foster growth.” 

Each workgroup meets monthly to analyze data and engage in discussions aimed at fostering growth and progress, Brenn said. The insights and decisions from these meetings are then shared with each school building, discussed at building leadership team meetings, and further reviewed by grade-level and curriculum teams.  

“This intentional and continuous effort by all staff members enables us to consistently grow and implement necessary changes in real time,” she said.  

Bob Blair, superintendent of North Lyon County USD 251, said each of the six Kansans Can awards his district earned this year, including the Commissioner’s Award, is important to the overall success of the district’s students. 

He said a significant contributor to USD 251’s recent academic success has been the commitment of teachers and principals to the implementation of standards alignment.  

“A couple of years ago, we were concerned about our state assessment scores in math,” he said. “Our district decided to make this a priority by engaging in intentional teacher collaboration and adding an additional K-5 math position for math interventions. We have already made a great deal of improvement in this area which is reflected by our math scores in both our screener data and state assessment data.” 

Blair said USD 251 is “especially proud” they are one of only four districts that received the gold award in civic engagement because it “involves all students pursuing democratic values as well as learning to give back to the small communities” that comprise the North Lyon County school community.  

“Our students have numerous opportunities to pursue community volunteerism and engagement on a regular basis,” he said, adding that the Star Recognition awards “serve to highlight the small-town values, work ethic, and support of our communities and patrons.”   

Click here for more information about the Star Recognition program, including the full lists of the awards and medals given to districts and systems since 2020.