Tagged: Board of Education

Kansas officials involved in drafting new science standards for public schools are trying to reassure the State Board of Education that retraining teachers and buying new classroom materials won't be unusually expensive.

The Kansas Board of Education could develop a set of recommendations for teaching cursive writing in Kansas schools. The board discussed the issue Wednesday at a meeting in Topeka.

Cursive writing is not required to be taught in Kansas, but some members have heard from their constituents about the issue. 

Education officials surveyed Kansas school districts and 90 percent of the ones that responded said they do teach cursive.

Janet Waugh is a board member from Kansas City, Kan.

Kline hearing in Kansas Supreme Court today; More Kansas families are struggling to make ends meet; Board of Education to consider cursive writing standards.

Kline Ethics Case Before Kansas Supreme Court

The Kansas Supreme Court is preparing to take up an ethics case against former Attorney General Phill Kline over his actions during investigations of abortion providers. The court will hear arguments from attorneys Thursday.

Three school districts in Kansas have stopped using the official state assessment tests for student performance. The districts have switched to tests prepared by ACT, which is known for college entrance exams.

The Kansas Board of Education Wednesday voted not to include the ACT test scores in the state’s official report card provided to the federal government. Including the ACT scores would lower the state’s overall grade.

“When we’re discussing assessment results, we can’t compare oranges and apples,” says board member Jana Shaver from Independence.

State Board of Education members are reviewing the progress of Kansas and other states in drafting common science standards.

The board plans to hear Tuesday afternoon from the state official overseeing work on the standards and from a member of the state’s standards-writing committee.

Kansas is working with 25 other states and the National Research Council on common standards for possible adoption in their public schools.