State Board designates 5 types of teaching position
categories as "hard-to-fill" positions
categories as "hard-to-fill" positions
The Kansas State
Board of Education on Tuesday designated five types of teaching position
categories as “hard-to-fill” positions.
Board of Education on Tuesday designated five types of teaching position
categories as “hard-to-fill” positions.
Those designated were
English language and literature for middle school and high school; science for
middle school and high school; elementary school teacher; mathematics for
middle school and high school and fine arts.
English language and literature for middle school and high school; science for
middle school and high school; elementary school teacher; mathematics for
middle school and high school and fine arts.
The designation means
school districts can rehire retired teachers for those positions, in accordance
with a new law affecting the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System.
school districts can rehire retired teachers for those positions, in accordance
with a new law affecting the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System.
The “working after
retirement” law requires schools to pay a surcharge into KPERS to do the
hiring. The “hard to fill positions” designation will be in effect the next
school year.
retirement” law requires schools to pay a surcharge into KPERS to do the
hiring. The “hard to fill positions” designation will be in effect the next
school year.
Education Board
Chairman Jim McNiece said the intent of the law “was to limit retirees coming
back to schools.”
Chairman Jim McNiece said the intent of the law “was to limit retirees coming
back to schools.”
The Kansas State
Department of Education had originally proposed five more narrow teacher
categories as the “hard to fill” positions.
Department of Education had originally proposed five more narrow teacher
categories as the “hard to fill” positions.
Picking broader
categories will provide more flexibility to school districts, education board
members said. There were 317 unfilled teacher positions in Kansas as of Sept.
1, according to the state education department.
categories will provide more flexibility to school districts, education board
members said. There were 317 unfilled teacher positions in Kansas as of Sept.
1, according to the state education department.
New vision for schools: Kansas Leads
the World in the Success of Each Student
The State
Board of Education on Wednesday endorsed a visioning statement that says:
"Kansas leads the world in the success of each student."
Board of Education on Wednesday endorsed a visioning statement that says:
"Kansas leads the world in the success of each student."
The statement was chosen by a landslide
of voters during recent presentations across the state over the past few weeks
by Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson.
of voters during recent presentations across the state over the past few weeks
by Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson.
The two options were:
"Kansas leads the world in student
success." That received 83 votes or 19 percent of the vote.
success." That received 83 votes or 19 percent of the vote.
"Kansas leads the world in the
success of each student." That received 481 votes or 81 percent.
success of each student." That received 481 votes or 81 percent.
The statement will be used as the
Kansas State Department of Education and State Board of Education release a
visioning plan based on what Kansans said during a recent listening tour. That
release is scheduled Tue. Oct. 27 during KSDE's annual conference in Wichita.
Kansas State Department of Education and State Board of Education release a
visioning plan based on what Kansans said during a recent listening tour. That
release is scheduled Tue. Oct. 27 during KSDE's annual conference in Wichita.
During that listening tour, Kansans
said more emphasis is needed on so-called soft skills, such as
conscientiousness, for students to succeed in college and the workforce.
said more emphasis is needed on so-called soft skills, such as
conscientiousness, for students to succeed in college and the workforce.
The re-focus could require more
emphasis on individual plans of study for each student, improving school
climate, getting more engagement from parents and businesses and a larger role
for community service.
emphasis on individual plans of study for each student, improving school
climate, getting more engagement from parents and businesses and a larger role
for community service.
Commissioner Watson said at some point
policymakers will have to talk about how to fund the vision, but at this point
it was necessary to get stakeholders to agree on a direction for public
education.
policymakers will have to talk about how to fund the vision, but at this point
it was necessary to get stakeholders to agree on a direction for public
education.
On Wednesday, the Education Board also
started picking outcomes and indicators for the education vision. That process
will continue.
started picking outcomes and indicators for the education vision. That process
will continue.
Outcomes agreed upon so far include
kindergarten readiness, graduate rates, percent of students completing a
credential or pursuing post secondary education, percent of students who need
remedial coursework when they attend post secondary, and percent of student
with an individual plan of study focused on career interest. And indicators
that were chosen was measuring social and emotional factors.
kindergarten readiness, graduate rates, percent of students completing a
credential or pursuing post secondary education, percent of students who need
remedial coursework when they attend post secondary, and percent of student
with an individual plan of study focused on career interest. And indicators
that were chosen was measuring social and emotional factors.
Several members of State Board
expressed unease proposed accreditation system
Several
members of the Kansas State Board of Education on Tuesday expressed unease with
progress the Kansas State Department of Education is making on a new
accreditation system.
members of the Kansas State Board of Education on Tuesday expressed unease with
progress the Kansas State Department of Education is making on a new
accreditation system.
Education Board Member Ken Willard said
he felt the proposed system to accredit districts was becoming too complex.
Board members Steve Roberts and Janet Waugh also voiced misgivings.
he felt the proposed system to accredit districts was becoming too complex.
Board members Steve Roberts and Janet Waugh also voiced misgivings.
Assistant Education Commissioner Brad
Neuenswander said the department has been careful to go slow during the
process, which started five years ago, to replace the current system called
Quality Performance Accreditation. He said once implemented, the new system
shouldn’t create any new work for school districts.
Neuenswander said the department has been careful to go slow during the
process, which started five years ago, to replace the current system called
Quality Performance Accreditation. He said once implemented, the new system
shouldn’t create any new work for school districts.
Education Board Member Jim Porter said,
“I’m excited about this. We are going to measure the right things.”
“I’m excited about this. We are going to measure the right things.”
“Accreditation is one of our core
responsibilities,” said Education Board Chairman Jim McNiece.
responsibilities,” said Education Board Chairman Jim McNiece.
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