In 2015, the Kansas State Board of Education launched a new vision for education in the state—“Kansas Leads the World in the Success of Each Student.” Leveraging both research and information from Kansans regarding what they expected of their schools’ systems, the state invited schools to move away from a “one-size-fits-all” system reliant on state assessments to a more student-focused system that provides supports and resources for individual success as a Kansas high school graduate. The Kansas State Board of Education’s goal is to have all Kansas’ public school districts involved in the redesign process by 2026.
R12CC is assisting the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) to develop a working knowledge of how to use strategic planning to guide redesign, formative assessment tools to monitor implementation fidelity and progress at redesign implementation sites, and evidence-based practices for making continuous improvements to redesign training for district leaders. This work includes designing and implementing a professional learning program for a cadre of trainers to support districts in advancing and supporting student success. Training sessions focus on developing a shared understanding of personalized learning, competency-based education, and their intersection with redesign principles. Through an executive leadership forum, R12CC is also supporting superintendents to address common concerns and critical questions relating to leadership, curriculum and assessment, instructional changes, and planning and constituency building.
The capacity building services that R12CC will provide are aligned with the four areas of support KSDE has initiated to enhance the redesign initiative. By applying evidence-based practices in the four key areas of personalized learning, student success skills, business/family/community partnerships, and real-world application to the elements of school redesign, Kansas will be positioned to scale up redesign efforts throughout the state.
Project Updates
Scaling School Redesign in Kansas
The Kansans Can Redesign initiative guides schools to focus on strategies that ensure students develop academic, civic, and social capacities needed to be successful in postsecondary education, the workforce, and in the community. To support the implementation and scaling
Kansans Can Training Cadre Resource
Over twelve months and 25 sessions, R12CC convened Kansas Redesign Training Cadre members to build their capacity to support districts and schools to use state standards, personalized learning, and competency-based education to continuously
Leading During Period of Uncertainty: Building Capacity for Guiding Change
This past August, in response to the rapidly changing context of delivering education during COVID-19, Region 12 Comprehensive Center launched a monthly forum to engage Kansas school superintendents in conversations about leading change in times of uncertainty. Facilitated by Bryan
Supporting School Redesign through Training Cadre and Leadership Development
R12CC is assisting the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) with implementation and scaling of the Kansans Can Redesign Initiative. Schools engaged in redesign are guided by four core principles—personalized learning, student success skills, family/business/community partnerships, and real-world application—to help
Voices from the Field: An Interview with Mischel Miller from KSDE
Voices from the Field spotlights stakeholders in Region 12 and their work to improve educational opportunities and outcomes. R12CC is privileged to collaborate with and share the insights of Mischel Miller, Director of Teacher Licensure and Accreditation at the
Year 1 Efforts Support Redesign Training Cadre and Superintendents
R12CC is assisting the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) to achieve the Kansas State Board of Education’s vision that all schools will be involved in redesign efforts by 2026. Moving away from a “one-size-fits-all” system, school redesign focuses on