Feature Story

Four Kansas elementary schools were named 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools, U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona announced Monday, Sept. 23. 

The schools are part of 356 schools across the country that are part of this year’s National Blue Ribbon cohort. The following Kansas schools were recognized in the Exemplary High Performing Schools category: 
 

• Sunflower Elementary School, Paola USD 368 
• Garfield Elementary School, Augusta USD 402 
• Lincoln Elementary School, Geary County USD 475 
• Herington Elementary School, Herington USD 487 

Like many of her classmates, Raegann McDonald is going on college visits and making the most of her senior year in high school as an athlete and leader. But this Clay County Community High School student is also making it her mission to address the root causes of why several of her peers committed suicide in a short period of time in 2023.  

“You can’t just address the problem, you have to address why the problem is going on,” McDonald said. “It’s important that we break the stigma.” 

Members of the Blue-Ribbon Task Force on Student Screen Time have met four times to date, reviewing research and discussing the issues that will form the basis for a recommended policy regarding the non-academic use of cell phones and other technology by Pre-K-12 Kansas students.

The 36-member task force, appointed by the Kansas State Board of Education in July, is focusing on the following areas: 

• Use of personal devices in schools 
• Parental oversight of district-issued devices 
• Screen time and mental health 

Members of the task force include students, classroom teachers, administrators, two legislators, and two members of the state board.

Members of the Kansas State Board of Education received an update during their September meeting on what districts will have to include in their at-risk accountability plans, the at-risk pilot initiative and the status of the list of evidence-based programs.     

The Kansas State Department of Education’s teacher licensure program has recently made some updates to a frequently asked questions (FAQ) fact sheet for the licensure literacy requirement that will go into effect in 2028. 

Those updates are as follows: 

• Elementary is defined as grades Pre-K-6. 
• The Certificate of Mastery is specified as the type of certificate educators must receive to complete LETRS® training. 
• Information about additional training providers has been updated to include links to their websites and a list of the training options the provider offered.