TOPEKA — Numerous school districts excelling in outcomes established around the vision for education in Kansas were recognized during the Kansas State Board of Education meeting on Tuesday.
The vision for education in Kansas – Kansas leads the world in the success of each student – was announced in 2015 by the State Board of Education and the Kansas State Department of Education. That announcement was followed shortly by a new accreditation model, Kansas Education Systems Accreditation, which accredits at the system level to create systemic change among school buildings in a district.
The Kansans Can Star Recognition Program is designed to support the KESA process by providing a level of recognition that helps districts identify where they want to focus their improvement efforts.
The program recognizes district success in the outcome measures Kansans said they value. These outcomes, categorized as either quantitative or qualitative measures, are serving as a roadmap to help Kansas reach its educational vision.
Districts had to apply for recognition in the qualitative measures area. Applications were due to KSDE by Dec. 31, 2020.
District recognition in the quantitative measures area are automatically calculated by KSDE based on collected district data. No application is necessary.
Districts can receive gold, silver, bronze or copper stars in the qualitative measures of:
●Social-emotional growth.
●Kindergarten readiness.
●Individual Plan of Study.
●Civic engagement.
Districts can receive gold, silver, bronze or copper stars in these quantitative measure areas:
●Academically prepared for postsecondary.
●High school graduation.
●Postsecondary success.
There also were 54 districts that achieved the Commissioner’s Award; 39 received the Commissioner’s Award with Honors; and four received the Commissioner’s Award – Highest Distinction.
Local and area school districts that were recognized include the following.
High school graduation
GOLD
Beloit USD 273
Canton-Galva USD 419
Ell-Saline USD 307
Goessel USD 411
Hillsboro USD 410
Salina Catholic Diocese
Southeast of Saline USD 306
SILVER
Concordia USD 333
Waconda USD 272
BRONZE
Clay Center USD 379
Ellsworth USD 327
Rock Hills USD 107
Twin Valley USD 240
COPPER
Lincoln USD 298
Marion-Florence USD 408
Solomon USD 393
Academically Prepared for Postsecondary
BRONZE
Rock Hills USD 107
COPPER
Abilene USD 435
Beloit USD 273
Central Plains USD 112
Chapman USD 473
Clay Center USD 379
Ellsworth USD 327
Goessel USD 411
Hillsboro USD 410
Inman USD 448
Marion-Florence USD 408
Moundridge USD 423
North Ottawa County USD 239
Republic County USD 109
Salina Catholic Diocese
Smoky Valley USD 400
Southeast of Saline USD 306
Sylvan Grove USD 299
Waconda USD 272
Postsecondary success
GOLD
Salina Catholic Diocese
SILVER
Beloit USD 273
Clifton-Clyde USD 224
Ell-Saline USD 307
Hillsboro USD 410
Marion-Florence USD 408
Southeast of Saline USD 306
BRONZE
Canton-Galva USD 419
Clay Center USD 379
Concordia USD 333
Ellsworth USD 327
Goessel USD 411
Lincoln USD 298
Logan USD 326
McPherson USD 418
Republic County USD 109
Rock Hills USD 107
Sylvan Grove USD 299
Twin Valley USD 240
COPPER
Abilene USD 435
Central Plains USD 112
Solomon USD 393
Kindergarten Readiness
COPPER
Hillsboro USD 410
Moundridge USD 423
Commissioner’s Award
Beloit USD 273
Herington USD 487
Hillsboro USD 410
Lincoln USD 298
Salina Catholic Diocese
Sylvan Grove USD 299
Twin Valley USD 240
Commissioner’s Award with Honors
Clifton-Clyde USD 224
Concordia USD 333
Marion-Florence USD 408
Republic County USD 109