NCLB-Blue Ribbon Awards -5 Schools Nominated

A committee consisting of school administrators, staff members from previously honored NBR schools, representatives from the Kansas National Education Association (KNEA), the Kansas Association of School Boards, the Kansas Association of Elementary School Principals, and the Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals reviewed the data on schools deemed to be dramatically improved to high levels and those achieving at high levels regardless of demographics. The result of the process was the selection of five schools in two categories.

Group A – Schools identified as dramatically improved to high levels, serving least 40 percent disadvantaged students.

Franklin Elementary School
401 W. 2nd
Junction City, KS 66441
Principal: Mrs. Phyllis Gibson
Geary Co USD 475
Superintendent: Mr. Ron Walker

Lakeside Intermediate School
605 Maple
Cawker City, KS 67430
Principal: Mr. Robert Green
Waconda USD 272
Superintendent: Mr. Jeff Travis

Woodlawn Elementary School
508 Elm
Lawrence, KS 66044
Principal: Mrs. Jeanne Fridell
Lawrence USD 497
Superintendent: Dr. Rick Doll


Group B – Schools in the top 10% of the state on the reading and mathematics assessments, regardless of demographics.

Garden Plain High School
720 Sedgwick
Garden Plain, KS 67050
Principal: Mr. Troy McChristian
Renwick USD 267
Superintendent: Dr. Dan Peters

St. George Elementary School
200 Blackjack Road
St. George, KS 66535
Principal: Debbie Edwards
Rock Creek USD 323
Superintendent: Dr. Darrel Stufflebeam

2010 Kansas Teacher of the Year

Karen Tritt, a foreign language teacher at Shawnee Mission West High School, Shawnee Mission USD 512, was named the 2010 Kansas Teacher of the Year.



Tritt was named the 2010 Kansas Teacher of the Year from a field of eight finalists. Throughout the coming year all of the finalists will work as a team to advocate for education and teaching. Selected from a pool of more than 90 nominations, the 2010 finalists are: Joan Moore, a first grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, McPherson USD 418; Jeline Harclerode, a technology teacher at Emporia Middle School, Emporia USD 253; Beth Slawson, a reading specialist and reading recovery teacher at Cottonwood Elementary School, Paola USD 368; Arthur Commons, a science teacher at Baxter Springs High School, Baxter Spring USD 508; Rose Nemchik, a resource teacher at Riverview Elementary School, De Soto USD 232; Cathy Durano, a third grade teacher at Cottonwood Elementary School, Andover USD 385; and Tracey Repp, a mathematics teacher at Andover Central Middle School, Andover USD 385.

Tritt has been a foreign language teacher at Shawnee Mission West High School for the past 4 years. She has seventeen years experience in the classroom. Karen received National Board Certification in World Languages Other than English (WLOTE) in 2003. She was the first in Kansas to be certified for WLOTE and has since mentored three candidates successfully through the process.

In a letter of nomination, Dr. Charles MCLean, Shawnee Mission West High School principal, writes,” Karen is a colleague who, in my professional opinion, emulates effectively engaging teaching skills to meet the needs of ALL students; she possesses the intellectual talent and the genuine caring spirit found in those we respectfully identify as ‘Master’ teachers.”

Karen says that her personal beliefs and feelings about teaching are derived not so much from being an educator as from being a parent. She states, “Every day I send my child to school hoping that his teachers will treat him with respect and dignity, will know him for the delightfully unique individual he is, will expect the best from him and hold him accountable for his learning, will find ways for him to use his strengths within the classroom, and will give him opportunities to shine in front of his peers.”

She continues, “By the same token, each student who walks through my door every day has been entrusted to me by loving parents or guardians who hope for these same qualities in their child’s teachers.” Tritt believes that good teachers are committed to students, highly motivational, and are always learning. Good teachers are reflective and continually evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of instructional activities. They are collaborative members of school or professional organizations through which they can stay current on issues and trends.

As Teacher of the Year, Tritt receives a $4,000 cash award from Security Benefit, a major sponsor of the Kansas Teacher of the Year program.

Tritt also receives a Lifelong Learning Scholarship from the Kansas Board of Regents, Washburn University, Baker University, Bethany College, Kansas Wesleyan University, MidAmerica Nazarene University, University of Saint Mary, Tabor College, and Webster University; and a Jostens Leader in Education ring.

As the 2010 Kansas Teacher of the Year, Tritt will also receive an educational technology package valued at approximately $16,000 from the SMARTer Kids Foundation and SMART Technologies of Canada. This year’s Teaching Excellence Award includes a SMART Board™ with projector and audio system; class license for
Notebook™ software; unlimited school site license for SMART Ideas®, a concept-mapping software; an AirLiner™ wireless slate; the Bridgit® data-conferencing software;
computer lab license for Synchron Eyes™ classroom management software; one class set of Senteo™ interactive response system; and technology training.

In addition, Tritt will receive The Hubbard Foundation Kansas Teacher of the Year Ambassadorship. The ambassadorship provides funds for travel and other necessary expenses incurred by the Kansas Teacher of the Year. Enterprise Rent-a-Car will provide the lease of a car and the Kansas Corn Commission will provide ethanol gas for Tritt to use while fulfilling her Teacher of the Year duties.

All eight members of the 2010 Kansas Teacher of the Year team will receive a $2,000 cash award from the Security Benefit, and a one year site license for SMART Ideas concept mapping software and technology training. The Kansas Teacher of the Year semi-finalists and finalists also receive a ceramic apple with engraved base from The Master Teacher in Manhattan.

The Teacher of the Year program has state and national competitions. The national program, presented by the ING Foundation, is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers. The Kansas program is sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education.

Top Performing Schools

The fourth annual Governor’s Achievement Awards, honoring top performing schools in the state, were recently announced.

To receive this prestigious award, schools must have achieved the Standard of Excellence in both reading and mathematics for 2009. Additionally, the school must have made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in both reading and mathematics and one additional measure in 2009. For elementary schools and middle/junior high schools that measure is attendance and for high schools the measure is graduation rate. Additionally, the school must have been among the top 5 percent of schools in both reading and mathematics on the 2009 state assessments at its respective level, i.e. elementary schools, middle/junior high schools, or high schools.

Forty-one elementary schools, 12 middle/junior high schools, and 17 high schools qualified for the award.

Schools receiving this award are as follows:


ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Argonia Elementary School, USD 359 Argonia
Brookridge Day School, Overland Park
Clifton-Clyde Grade School, USD 224 Clifton-Clyde
Dighton Elementary School, USD 482 Dighton
Edgerton Elementary School, USD 231Gardner Edgerton
Eisenhower Elementary School, USD 211 Norton
Franklin Elementary School, USD 475 Geary County
Gardner Elementary School, USD 231 Gardner Edgerton
Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School, Wichita Catholic Diocese
Holy Family School, Dodge City Catholic Diocese
Jennie Wilson Elementary School, USD 457 Garden City
Lakeside Elementary School, USD 272 Waconda
Lakeside Intermediate School, USD 272 Waconda
Lakewood Elementary School, USD 229 Blue Valley
Lincoln Elementary School, USD 402 Augusta
Lincoln Elementary School, USD 475 Geary County
Linn Elementary School, USD 223 Barnes
Mont Ida Elementary School, USD 365 Garnett
Moonlight Elementary School, USD 231 Gardner Edgerton
Morse Elementary School, USD 229 Blue Valley
Most Pure Heart Mary Elementary School, Kansas City Catholic Diocese
Olsburg Elementary School, USD 384 Blue Valley
Pawnee Heights Elementary School, USD 496 Pawnee Heights
Phillipsburg Elementary School, USD 325 Phillipsburg
Plymell Elementary School, USD 457 Garden City
Regency Place Elementary School, USD 233 Olathe
Robinson Elementary School, USD 402 Augusta
Sheridan Elementary School, USD 475 Geary County
Smith Center Elementary School, USD 237 Smith Center
St Ann Elementary School, Kansas City Catholic Diocese
St John Elementary School, Salina Catholic Diocese
St Joseph Elementary School, Dodge City Catholic Diocese
St Mary Elementary School, Wichita Catholic Diocese
St Patrick Catholic Elementary School, Wichita Catholic Diocese
Stafford Elementary School, USD 349 Stafford
Stilwell Elementary School, USD 229 Blue Valley
Sunnyside Elementary School, USD 233 Olathe
Tipton Community School, USD 272 Waconda
Union Valley Elementary School, USD 313 Buhler
Wellington Christian Academy, Wellington
Westmoreland Elementary School, USD 323 Rock Creek



MIDDLE/JR HIGH SCHOOLS

Clifton-Clyde Middle School, USD 224 Clifton-Clyde
Kennedy Middle School, USD 489 Hays
Lakeside Junior High School, USD 272 Waconda
Lakewood Middle School, USD 229 Blue Valley
Leawood Middle School, USD 229 Blue Valley
Oakley Middle School, USD 274 Oakley
Oxford Middle School, USD 229 Blue Valley
Pioneer Ridge Middle School, USD 231 Gardner Edgerton
Prairie Heights Middle School, USD 417 Morris County
Prairie Star Middle School, USD 229 Blue Valley
Sabetha Middle School, USD 441 Sabetha
Thunder Ridge Middle School, USD 110 Thunder Ridge



HIGH SCHOOLS

Baileyville-St. Benedict High School, USD 451 Baileyville-St. Benedict
Blue Valley High School, USD 229 Blue Valley
Blue Valley North High School, USD 229 Blue Valley
Centralia High School, USD 380 Vermillion
Claflin Jr/Sr High School, USD 354 Claflin
Clifton-Clyde Sr High School, USD 224 Clifton-Clyde
Frankfort High School, USD 380 Vermillion
Garden Plain High School, USD 267 Renwick
Hanover High School, USD 223 Barnes
Lakemary Center Paola, Paola
Linn High School, USD 223 Barnes
Little River High School, USD 444 Little River
Minneola High School, USD 219 Minneola
Norwich High School, USD 331 Kingman - Norwich
Oswego High School, USD 504 Oswego
Weskan High School, USD 242 Weskan
Wilson Jr/Sr High School, USD 328 Lorraine

Kansas Making Some Progress on Afterschool

Afterschool Alliance Survey of Kansas Households Finds Increase in Afterschool Enrollment Since 2004, But Also Vast Unmet Demand for Afterschool Programs

A new survey finds an increase in participation in afterschool programs by Kansas youth over the last five years, along with high satisfaction rates among their parents. The percentage of Kansas children in afterschool programs increased to 13 percent, up from just 9 percent in 2004. But a significant percentage of the state’s children are still unsupervised each afternoon after the school day ends. The data come from the landmark America After 3PM study, conducted for the Afterschool Alliance.

“Kansas is making some progress, and can be proud of that,” said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. “But there’s still a long way to go. The great majority of Kansas parents who want their kids in afterschool programs aren’t able to find them, usually because programs aren’t available, they can’t afford the fees, or transportation issues make it impossible. These are all barriers we can and should overcome. Quality afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and help working families. Every Kansas family that needs an afterschool program should have access to one.”

The new study finds that 35 percent of the state’s schoolchildren are on their own in the afternoons, and another 13 percent are in the care of their brothers or sisters. In addition, the parents of 31 percent of children not already in afterschool say they would enroll their kids in a program if one were available.

Ninety-five percent of Kansas parents say they are satisfied with the afterschool program their child attends. “Despite hard work by the afterschool community, we’re barely holding our own in the effort to provide afterschool for all Kansas kids and families,” said Marcia Dvorak, Director of the Kansas Enrichment Network. “So we’ve clearly got our work cut out for us. Too many children who need afterschool programs don’t have them, and families are carrying a heavier burden as a result. That’s particularly difficult during these hard economic times. For afterschool programs to meet the huge unmet demand from families, they’re going to need more support from all sectors – from the business and philanthropic communities, as well as from the government at all levels.”

“This research confirms what we see every day, that afterschool programs are reaching only a fraction of the children and families who need them – and the recession is making matters worse,” said Afterschool Ambassador Patricia Houston, Community Education Coordinator for the City of Wichita Community Education program. “Afterschool programs make such a difference in children’s lives and futures. We simply must find a way to significantly expand the availability of afterschool programs.

In key respects, the Kansas results from the America After 3PM study reflect national findings:

• The number and percentage of children participating in afterschool programs in the nation has increased significantly in the last five years, with 8.4 million children (15 percent) now participating. That compares with 6.5 million children in 2004 (11 percent).
• But the number of children left alone after the school day ends also has risen, to 15.1 million children (26 percent of school-age children) in 2009. That is an increase of 800,000 children since 2004. Thirty percent of middle schoolers (3.7 million kids) are on their own, as are four percent of elementary school children (1.1 million children).
• The parents of 18.5 million children (38 percent) not currently participating in an afterschool program would enroll their children in a program if one were available to them, a significant increase from the 15.3 million (30 percent) seen in 2004.
• The vast majority of parents of children in afterschool programs are satisfied with the programs their children attend, and overall public support for afterschool programs is similarly strong. Nine in 10 parents (89 percent) are satisfied with the afterschool programs their children attend. Eight in 10 parents support public funding for afterschool programs.

More national data

More Kansas data

KANSAS: $178 Million in Federal Education Grants

Formula grant programs are noncompetitive awards based on a predetermined formula and provide funding for a variety of programs, including resources to improve teacher quality, career and technical education, and support for children facing the challenges of living in poverty. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B grant program supports children and students with disabilities from ages 3 to 21.

The grants are being distributed through the following programs:

Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to help students living in poverty. $10.8 billion.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B for America's six million students with disabilities. $8.6 billion.

Improving Teacher Quality State Grants.$1.6 billion. And, Career and Technical Education. $773.6 million.

These so-called formula grant programs dispense funds to states on July 1 and Oct. 1 based on congressionally mandated formulas that, depending on the program, take into account such measures as population, poverty rates and enrollment. Formula grants originate from the Education Department's annual appropriation from Congress and are separate from the $100 billion in stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

KANSAS breakdown— Title I: $77.42 million; IDEA-B: $80.07 million; Teacher Quality: $12.96 million; Career-Tech: $7.43 million; TOTAL: $177.88 million.

87.6% ofSchools & 88.5%of Districts Make AYP

For the 2008-09 testing cycle, 87.6% of the state’s public schools and 88.5% of districts made adequate yearly progress (AYP), even though the targets for mathematics and reading have been steadily increasing since 2002. This compares with 90% of public schools and 92% of districts making AYP last year and 89 % the previous year.

Ninety-five percent or 625 of all Title 1 schools (657) in Kansas met or exceeded the reading and mathematics targets, all of which increased by 4 to 6 percentage points over the previous year.

$301 Million in Recovery Fund for Kansas

to Save Teaching Jobs and Drive Education Reform

$301 million was made available for Kansas under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This funding will lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save hundreds of thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts. Kansas will be eligible to apply for another $148 million this fall. The funding is being made available per Kansas's successful completion of Part 1 of the State Stabilization Application, which was made available on April 1st.

To date, Kansas has received $98 million in education stimulus funds-representing a combination of funding for Title I, IDEA, Vocational Rehabilitation Grants, Independent Living Grants and Impact Aid. On April 1, Kansas received more than $35 million in Title I funding and $58 million in IDEA funding. This represents 50 percent of the Title I and IDEA funding Kansas is eligible for in total. On April 1, Kansas also received $2.6 million in Vocational Rehab funds and more than $564,000 in Independent Living funds. On April 10, Kansas received $1.5 million in Impact Aid funding.

In order to receive today's funds, Kansas provided assurances that it will collect, publish, analyze and act on basic information regarding the quality of classroom teachers, annual student improvements, college readiness, the effectiveness of state standards and assessments, progress on removing charter caps and interventions in turning around underperforming schools.

Kansas is also required by the Department of Education to report the number of jobs saved through Recovery Act funding, the amount of state and local tax increases averted, and how funds are used.

See Kansas and other state applications for initial funding under the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Program

Kansas ACT and SAT Results

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ACT Results

The percentage of U.S. high school graduates meeting all four of ACT’s College Readiness Benchmarks increased slightly in 2009 as the pool of students taking the ACT® continued to expand, according to the not-for-profit ACT’s annual grad class report on college readiness. Nevertheless, the findings suggest continued effort to improve college readiness is needed on the part of states and school districts.

Kansas ACT Report


SAT Results

More than 1.5 million students (1,530,128) in the class of 2009 took the SAT, the most widely used and researched standardized college admission test.

Kansas SAT Report

Has NCLB Hurt Kansas Students?

Many States Show Gains Since 2002 at All Achievement Levels

Kansas Report

Student performance on state reading and math tests has generally risen at three achievement levels, according to a 50-state study by the Center on Education Policy (CEP). The study found more states with gains than declines in the percentages of students reaching or exceeding the basic, proficient, and advanced levels of achievement, and relatively few instances of sizeable declines in the percentage scoring below the basic level.