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Feb. 13, 2025
Two bills were passed out of their committees during week five of the Kansas legislative session and three education-related bills were introduced. The last day for non-exempt committees to introduce bills in their originating chamber was Friday, Feb. 7.
Making schools more safe and secure and reducing risks starts with connections, according to Philip Lofflin, president of the Kansas Juvenile Officers Association (KSJOA).
“Making positive relationships with students, staff and families makes a big impact,” Lofflin said. “This impact minimizes students’ exposure to the criminal justice system and helps keep school a safe place to teach and learn. I don’t believe there are many assignments a law enforcement officer could do that are more challenging and rewarding.”
Lofflin has been a district resource officer in Shawnee Mission USD 512 for the past 26 years where he oversees police technology, special projects, and the district’s elementary schools. He said the intentional relationships DROs and SROs develop daily “help the officer and school administration prevent crime, intervene in situations that may lead to more serious problems, and provide awareness to help students make good choices.”
Members of the Kansas State Board of Education approved an updated at-risk program list during their February meeting in Topeka this week. The board met only on Tuesday, Feb. 11, not the traditional two days of meetings due to the inclement weather declared on Wednesday.
Kansas Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson emphasized that while programs on the at-risk list are vetted by Kansas State Department of Education staff, the list doesn’t constitute an endorsement of the peer-reviewed, evidence-based programs by the state’s education agency.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) is seeking applications for McKinney-Vento mini grants from Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) to address the needs of students in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Act.
Register here for a grant application instructional workshop, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., on Feb. 17. Click here for the applications due on Feb. 28.
In this edition | Feature Story | Assessments and Accountability | Reporting and Operations Standards and Instruction | Student Health and Nutrition | Upcoming Events, Trainings and Recognition
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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.