FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oct. 20, 2025                                                     

245 districts/systems receive 2025 Kansans Can Star Recognition awards

Program celebrates achievements in key quantitative and qualitative measures 

TOPEKA — Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson announced the 245 districts and systems who received this year’s Kansans Can Star Recognition Program awards during the Kansas State Board of Education’s meeting on Oct. 14, in Topeka.

The 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. The program highlights excellence in eight areas, using both quantitative and qualitative measures to showcase districts’ accomplishments and areas of strength. Districts and systems can receive gold, silver, bronze or copper stars in the following quantitative measures based on data submitted to the Kansas State Department of Education:

• Academically prepared for postsecondary
• High school graduation
• Postsecondary success
• Commissioner’s Award

Districts and systems can apply to receive gold, silver, bronze or copper stars in the following qualitative measures:

• Social-emotional growth
• Kindergarten readiness
• Individual plans of study (IPS)
• Civic engagement

The Commissioner’s Award recognizes districts that outperform their predicted postsecondary effectiveness rate above a .40 standard deviation.

A district’s predicted postsecondary effectiveness rate factors in the degree to which identified risk factors known to depress effectiveness rates, such as poverty, chronic absenteeism and student mobility, are present in a district’s student population.

Districts that outperform their predictive rate by .4-.99 standard deviation receive the Commissioner’s Award. There were 43 districts/systems that achieved this award for 2025.

Districts that outperform their predictive rate by 1-1.99 standard deviations receive the Commissioner’s Award with Honors. There were 42 districts/systems that achieved this award for 2025.

Districts that outperform their predictive rate by two or more standard deviations receive the Commissioner’s Award with Highest Distinction. The following four districts achieved this award in 2025:

• Erie-Galesburg USD 101
• Plainville USD 270
• Satanta USD 507
• St. John–Hudson USD 350

Other 2025 Star Recognition awards included the following:

• There were 40 districts/systems recognized in the social-emotional growth outcomes area: 9 silvers, 11 bronzes and 20 coppers in 2025.
• There were 26 districts/systems recognized in the kindergarten readiness outcome area: 3 silvers, 20 bronzes and 3 coppers in 2025.
• There were 28 districts/systems recognized in the civic engagement outcome area: 4 golds, 2 silvers, 13 bronzes and 9 coppers in 2025.
• There were 48 districts/systems recognized in the individual plan of study (IPS) outcome area: 23 coppers, 20 bronzes, four silvers and one gold for 2024.
• There were 148 districts/systems recognized in the high school graduation outcome area: 76 golds, 28 silvers, 38 bronzes and 6 coppers in 2025.
• There were 140 districts/systems recognized in the academically prepared for postsecondary outcome area: 2 golds, 21 silvers, 42 bronzes and 75 coppers in 2025.
• There were 140 districts/systems recognized in the postsecondary success  outcome area: 10 golds, 36 silvers, 42 bronzes and 52 coppers.

For a complete list of all the 2025 Star Recognition recipients and more information about the program, visit https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Fiscal-and-Administrative-Services/Communications-and-Recognition-Programs/Vision-Kansans-Can/Kansans-Can-Star-Recognition