The Kansas State Board of Education will hear a presentation on the progress of the literacy initiatives taking place in districts across the state during their monthly meeting, April 8-9, in Topeka. 

Dr. Laurie Curtis, early literacy/dyslexia program manager at the Kansas State Department of Education, will update board members on the structured literacy trainings going on in the state and about how the Kansas Education Framework for Literacy aligns with the Four Fundamentals (structured literacy, standards alignment, balanced assessment system and quality instruction). These fundamentals are part of the school improvement process that districts/systems are engaged in as part of KESA 2.0, the second iteration of the accreditation process. Curtis will be joined by two members of the early learning/dyslexia team. 

During their April meeting, board members also are expected to vote on whether to approve Foundations of the Science of Reading: Understanding and Applying Structured Literacy Principles, a structured literacy training course that meets the State Board-approved science of reading licensure requirements.  

During their March meeting, board members heard a presentation from the Kansas Board of Regents’ Dr. Cindy Lane, director of the Blueprint for Literacy, who described the course as a collaborative effort among literacy experts at KSDE, the state’s seven public universities and independent colleges, and Wichita State University’s instructional design team. The program’s curriculum is aligned with KSDE’s higher education program standards and the International Dyslexia Association’s (IDA) Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading.  The Reading League, a nonprofit organization that advances the use of evidence-based literacy instruction, validated the course.   

If approved, the Foundations of the Science of Reading: Understanding and Applying Structured Literacy Principles will be added to the training options for the Seal of Literacy licensure requirements that includes Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling®, (LETRS®) for elementary educators, early childhood and administrators, AIMS Pathways and Keys to Literacy. Board members also will vote on whether to add the Educational Testing Service (ETS) reading specialist test (code 5302) to the State Board-approved structured literacy testing list. 

Other items of note on the board’s April meeting agenda are voting on the 2025-26 Parents as Teachers funding recommendations, a request to contract with Kansas State University to support the executive director of the Kansas Future Farmers of America, and a contract with the Kansas Association of Broadcasters for advertising summer meal locations.  

The following presentations are on the board’s April meeting agenda: 

• Members of the School Mental Health Advisory Council will provide an update on the progress of the bullying prevention toolkit.  
• The chairperson of the Kansas Assessment Advisory Council (KAAC) will explain the roles and responsibilities, membership, and involvement of the KAAC in the development and reporting of Kansas assessments. 
• The Kansas Teacher of the Year team will provide their observations and what they learned during their time together this past year.   
• The Purple Star schools in Piper USD 203, Spring Hill USD 230, Emporia USD 253 and Rose Hill USD 394 will be recognized for their efforts to provide services for military students. 
• The Kansas Certificate in Child Nutrition Management will be presented to eight school nutrition professionals. 
• A licensed clinical professional counselor will present information on healthy practices to counter the effects of screen time in the classroom. 
• An Andover USD 385 theatre teacher and students will talk about the power of theatre in Kansas schools. 
• The Career and Technical Education (CTE) scholars will be announced.  
• An overview of the school district cash balance report will be presented and the uses and limitations for spending these funds will be explained.   
• The bills impacting KSDE and school districts/systems from the 2025 legislative session will be outlined. 

Click here for the full April board meeting agenda and materials.