USA|Kansas

KPERS names new Executive Director

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:35:43 PST

The Kansas Public Employees Retirement System’s Board of Trustees has named Alan Conroy as KPERS’ new Executive Director. Conroy is expected to assume his new position February 13, 2012.

Call for nominations: 2013 Kansas Teacher of the Year

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:08:54 PST

The Kansas State Department of Education is accepting nominations for the 2013 Kansas Teacher of the Year. This program identifies, recognizes, and utilizes representatives of excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms of the state

Call for Nominations: Friends of Education Award

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:57:00 PST

There may be no greater time to recognize those business, community organizations and public sector partners who support public education. The Friends of Education program, sponsored by the Confidence in Public Education Task Force, was established to recognize volunteer efforts throughout the state in five major categories: school volunteer, community leader, community/civic organization, business/partner activities and public sector institutions.

Governor Brownback Delivers Second State of the State Address

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:58:49 PST

This evening, Governor Sam Brownback delivered his second State of the State address before the Legislature and Kansans via broadcast across the state. Click here to read the text of the Governor's Address.

New national report shows rural enrollment continues to grow

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 12:56:01 PST

Nearly one in four American children attend rural schools and enrollment is growing at a faster rate in rural school districts than in all other places combined, according to Why Rural Matters 2011–12, a biennial report by the Rural School and Community Trust. In addition, rural schools show increasing rates of poverty, diversity, and students with special needs. These widespread trends are most evident in the South, Southwest, and parts of Appalachia.

Democratic Legislative Leadership proposes Kansas Kids First, a plan to restore K-12 funding

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:22:28 PST

Earlier today, Kansas Democratic Leadership proposed a school finance plan to restore K-12 education funding at press conferences scheduled at Mission Valley Middle School in Shawnee Mission USD 512 and at Lowman Hill Elementary School in Topeka USD 501.

Governor Announces Plan to Improve Career and Technical Education

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 15:27:44 PST

Topeka – Career and Technical educators and stakeholders joined Kansas Governor Sam Brownback today for the announcement of his plan to boost the percentage of students who are career and college ready upon high school graduation. The plan, which proposes improvements to career and technical education (CTE) programs, is part of Governor Brownback’s Road Map for Kansas commitments to improve education.

2012 Legislative Session Opens Today

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 10:50:56 PST

At 2:00 p.m. this afternoon, the Kansas Legislature will convene in Topeka for the 2012 session. On Wednesday, January 11, Governor Brownback will deliver his second State of the State address in the House Chamber.

Accounting firm analyzes school district balances

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:06:12 PST

The accounting firm of Allen Gibbs and Houlik has completed an analysis of school district balances. The white paper was created to help readers understand the complex but critical issue of school finance unencumbered cash balances.

Kansas KIDS COUNT Report Shows Recession's Effect on Children

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:27:07 PST

Kansas children are feeling the full impact of the recession, according to the latest Kansas KIDS COUNT report. The report, released today by Kansas Action for Children, measures county-by-county how kids are doing across 25 indicators of health, education and economic success.

States Still Struggling to Recover from Recession According to the Most Recent Fiscal Survey of States

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:56:47 PST

The Fiscal Survey of States is published twice annually by the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) and the National Governors Association (NGA). The latest Fiscal Survey, released at the end of November, affirmed what many believed to be true -- states are still struggling to recover from the recession.

Advance Registration for the Annual Convention ENDS WEDNESDAY

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:33:27 PST

The 41st USA|Kansas annual convention, Kansas Administrators: Leading Education in the 21st Century - will be held in Wichita from Wednesday, January 25 - Friday, January 27, 2012. The USA|Kansas annual convention provides opportunities for engaging in meaningful professional development, networking and recognizing administrator achievements. This year’s convention continues the tradition of offering valuable opportunities for professional development and networking. We have increased the number of keynote speakers this year, added a conference bookstore and have a hands-on science activity scheduled in the exhibit area.

Common Core Standards Implementation Focus of KLFA Meeting

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:14:54 PST

Topeka - Implementation of the Common Core Standards (CCS) was a key focus of the Kansas Leaning First Alliance meeting Oct. 27, 2011. KLFA work groups (Student Achievement and Professional Learning) devoted much of their efforts to plan for training of personnel in the field in conjunction with the Kansas State Department of Education. The CCS training opportunities would start later this month and extend through next summer.

White House announces new flexibility guidelines for ESEA

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:23:09 PST

WASHINGTON – In an effort to support local and state education reform across America, the White House today outlined how states can get relief from provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act – or No Child Left Behind (NCLB) – in exchange for serious state-led efforts to close achievement gaps, promote rigorous accountability, and ensure that all students are on track to graduate college- and career-ready. For a fact sheet on the details of the flexibility announcement click here.

Seaman principal named president of school administrators group

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:46:15 PST

Topeka - Rod Garman, North Fairview Elementary School principal, has been named United School Administrators of Kansas (USA|Kansas) president for 2011-2012. In 2009, Garman was appointed to the USA|Kansas board of directors by the Kansas Association of Elementary School Principals (KAESP).

USA|Kansas announces Fall Regional Education Summits

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:06:22 PST

First in Education, The Kansas Way is a series of six regional summits in October 2011 focusing on critical issues in education by brining together education leaders, policy makers and experts from all across Kansas to share information, ideas, the latest research and what's on the horizon for Kansas education. The summits are jointly sponsored by the Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) and United School Administrators of Kansas (USA|Kansas), in cooperation with the Kansas State Department of Education and the Kansas Board of Regents.

UPDATED INFORMATION NOW AVAILABLE: The American Jobs Act

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:44:52 PST

Before a joint session of Congress, President Obama proposed the American Jobs Act. According to the President, the purpose of the Act is to create jobs in America, reform spending programs and reduce the deficit. The White House has released additional information about the impact on states, should the plan be enacted. Earlier today, the White House released additional information about how the proposed American Jobs Act would impact schools.

State Board receives 2010-2011 AYP results

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 17:33:18 PST

TOPEKA – Despite an increase in performance targets of as much as 8 percent, more Kansas public schools met adequate yearly progress (AYP) requirements in the 2010-11 testing cycle than in the previous year. State Board of Education members learned during their monthly meeting today that 84 percent of the state’s 1,367 public schools met AYP in 2010-11, compared to 81 percent in 2009-10. The same number of school districts made AYP in 2010-11 as did the previous year.

2011-2012 USA|Kansas Membership Directory is now available online

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:52:53 PST

The USA|Kansas Membership Directory is a resource developed by USA|Kansas to provide contact information for districts, buildings, special education cooperatives, institutions of higher education, education service center and other organizations we work with on a daily basis.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: KAMSA Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year Awards

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:57:08 PST

Please help KAMSA celebrate outstanding middle level leadership. Please take time now to recognize your exceptional Middle School Principal or Assistant Principal in your district by nominating him/her for the 2011-2012 Principal/Assistant Principal of the Year Award.