Civic Advocacy Network (CAN) Award
The Civic Advocacy Network (CAN) Award is a Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) initiative to recognize K-12 schools that promote student civic engagement through classroom learning and community service. Schools demonstrating significant student participation in activities like discussions on current events, community service linked to the curriculum, extracurricular involvement, and participation in school governance can earn the School of Excellence or School of Promising Practice award.
Award Winners, 2024
Award Updates:
- “As of January 2026, system qualitative Star Recognitions will transition to a two consecutive year cycle. Applications for both renewal and first-time recognition will open every other year, starting in January 2027. This revised timeline aligns more closely with continuous improvement efforts, providing systems additional time to implement and refine strategies while maintaining a focus on student growth. In summary, schools recognized in 2025 will retain their Star in 2026, and all schools—both previously recognized and new applicants—will apply in January 2027. The quantitative Star Recognition process remains unchanged.”
- CAN awards will continue to be a school-level application. Star Recognition will continue to be based on the percentage of schools in the district who have earned the CAN award.
- Promising practices have been phased out and will no longer count towards the percentage of schools in a district who have earned an award. Schools who have earned a promising practice in the past will need to apply again for the award.
- The school-level CAN application has been updated for schools who have never won a CAN award (as well as those who earned a promising practice in the past).
- A new school-level CAN RENEWAL Application has been added. If your school needs to complete this application, an email will be sent directly to your school principal and superintendent. Schools must complete the renewal application after THREE years in the network. If a school does not successfully renew, they will need to reapply for the award in the future.
