[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6098233,"mediaKeyId","2824326-30fcd39f087bda65b13a7096281c41cc","parentId",2824326,"title","Community and technical colleges report rising enrollments, strong licensure pass rates and new employer partnerships","audioSeconds",772,"startMs",1302000,"endMs",2074000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2824326-30fcd39f087bda65b13a7096281c41cc&start=1302&end=2074","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2824326-30fcd39f087bda65b13a7096281c41cc/thumbnail_1302000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6098233/Kansas/Community-and-technical-colleges-report-rising-enrollments-strong-licensure-pass-rates-and-new-employer-partnerships","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098233-f69dcb214a0be1417bc6bfe3e9a732b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770583477&Signature=n6t~eB06xYTePX0~e5q-fF7X-F12C7dDUb-pjNb2jiCvq~8uOErtp9DMzRU~rP5bKYdiS5UOjck-mAUTgO44LgzlWB1rrTbC7r0GECJcal7CDZ~gcPb7JddEyeUezyhmkgP30qQGNnxAb-P1IspljI7W1FvDvzSQLFKthQgstFkZfzxhgOHxlOSqP810ba2EYeqYGEcvubHap8ZJ28H-KDwgQGVmz-BW5nZfRjPg2XlH26ykUA5ptvKF32CNgXF4VdU3SWqbW~-6Kvj-ZCAbtUssqpUl~Sf0ecmvSVR7inu5E8qbePjencQH6IDTV0AVSt3~r-VNLMzz5~7W9dI9Pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Board of Regents","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","Presenters for community and technical colleges reported enrollment gains in several regions, high first-time licensure pass rates across health-care programs, and a range of industry partnerships and new program launches.

Seth (community college presenter) highlighted achievements across multiple community colleges. Colby Community College reported a 33% increase in CTE enrollment since 2020 and a year-one wage placement for its associate degree nursing program that \"exceeded $82,000,\" citing campus data. Colby said dental hygiene and physical therapist assistant programs had 100% first-time national board pass rates and practical nursing had a 96% NCLEX first-time pass rate. Colby also noted GrowSafe and an operational farm partnership that gives students full life-cycle agricultural experience.

Dodge City Community College described expanded dual-enrollment access for high school students, development of an automotive technology center supported by a Kansas Department of Commerce draw grant and local industry partners, and a technical education schedule designed to accommodate secondary students.

Fort Scott Community College reported a cosmetology first-time state licensure pass rate of 100% for the December cohort, a nursing department first-time NCLEX pass rate of 93.33% (84.21% overall for 2024), and a new memorandum of understanding in process with Kansas City University to ease rural students' access to advanced health-care programs.

Garden City Community College reported record credit-hour enrollment and a 12.5% head-count increase in spring 2025 (compared to fall 2024), new transfer partnerships with state universities, a planned 10-credit Kansas community health worker program to align with KDHE certification, and expansion of apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs.

Highland Community College, Hutchinson Community College and others described strong licensure pass rates across practical nursing, RN NCLEX, cosmetology and other allied health credentials, employer-hosted youth apprenticeships, career fairs with hundreds of employers, and new training partnerships with agricultural equipment providers.

Technical colleges reported similar growth and employer partnerships. Flint Hills Technical College highlighted outreach to Spanish-speaking populations and expansion of early college programs. Salina Tech described fundraising for student food security and local apprenticeship pipelines. Washburn Tech opened a student health clinic and reported spring enrollment up over 6% year-over-year.

Why it matters: TEA members noted the statewide significance of high licensure pass rates and employer partnerships for workforce development. One member observed that technical and community colleges have successfully increased enrollments, particularly in male students at tech colleges, bucking national higher-education trends.

Provenance: Updates and data were presented during the meeting's community-college and technical-college report segments and were followed by member questions and comments.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Regents TEA Meeting March 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Community colleges and technical colleges highlighted program growth, high licensure pass rates, new employer partnerships, and initiatives to expand access to CTE programs across western and central Kansas.","taxTitle","Board of Regents, Departments, Boards, and Commissions, Organizations, Executive, Kansas","taxId",25292,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6098238,"Budget & Finance forms task group to clarify Excel and CTE fee reporting",117,2945000,3062000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2824326-30fcd39f087bda65b13a7096281c41cc&start=2945&end=3062","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2824326-30fcd39f087bda65b13a7096281c41cc/thumbnail_2945000.jpg","/articles/6098238/Kansas/Budget-Finance-forms-task-group-to-clarify-Excel-and-CTE-fee-reporting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098238-30ecd998b434bf040e118a737c30d8eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770583477&Signature=H5q7AtykUCp835ia8jV7ogUtZc0Fo693DuDPiEy99A9ZJ5oiWBvj-~Xa~ULL3M4El~Kiad9liB4IjD7cXHroWPtIb22wnux7e154NX-1U0EAstG~IN41pjJoVBxDXfy9UWoxYHyJgORs-uuFleib4hTfRGK34lJhPztkFXMwIWUjSgZgChh~~Mkk~iHTP1TY0poYE6xXi1OHu1BH1ptBzseqWpatLGZO8V7O~i64spG6CVIYl3vTC9dkTTPxAMYxzll~izVkRgE85Ncz4xTB6qZLSCpyKXV6YmTIl9IaWsRQN3Tj7-mialLGCMkE-Ap0dwbvGOPK~Pa-EMLyVksiOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The TEA's Budget & Finance Committee reported it has formed a task group to study Excel and CTE fees and to improve the intelligibility of institutional fee submissions when the TEA reviews and approves annual fees.

Charmin (Budget and Finance lead) told members the group includes community and technical college partners, two presidents (Marlon Thornburg of Coffeyville and Greg Nichols of Salina Area Tech) and CFOs (Carla Armstrong, Garden City Community College, and Nancy Thompson, Flint Hills Technical College). The committee held a kickoff meeting at 9:00 a.m., and members reported that conversation produced many takeaways about how to make submissions more comparable across institutions.

Curtis and others on the committee said the goal is to enable the TEA to \"tell apples from apples and oranges from oranges\" when it reviews fee proposals and to make annual approvals more transparent and data-driven. The task group will continue work and report back with recommendations to refine data submission templates and reporting guidance.

Provenance: The update and task-group kickoff were introduced by Charmin and discussed by Budget & Finance members during the TEA meeting.","TEA's Budget & Finance Committee created a task group including community and technical college presidents and CFOs to make Excel and CTE fee submissions easier to interpret for TEA decision-making.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6098244,"Legislative update: first adjournment, short veto session and Blue Ribbon Commission proviso",230,3124000,3354000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2824326-30fcd39f087bda65b13a7096281c41cc&start=3124&end=3354","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2824326-30fcd39f087bda65b13a7096281c41cc/thumbnail_3124000.jpg","/articles/6098244/Kansas/Legislative-update-first-adjournment-short-veto-session-and-Blue-Ribbon-Commission-proviso","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098244-8029c1beeb33c66bde603a5020df38ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1770583477&Signature=CgFGdct7D9cCZXEoyysOp9mOQivKK1j5E4BUDfH9Y51kbNX9Jt7xH5KlPP9c9WsIS08xEXOLLuv-nPAoFCG5iAZWxiaimr9T04df7Sav7GZywI66jMlIqBmG2VA7Ab2A~YKiKA9Qu2HEvLk1rhf2OPSzqc0~OqAzjAbt-OCF8owwE3pcES3hbGllpwC4-80d0IHB0VNyTtQiYwWt1G1NG7Izj~mqqbGuE3RhI4I5cXJ8m1fC3TMT~GUlkCJjnGfk8lP6l~7co-CiO9MNcOAxcYUx3SttUSHE5heT1-12lFvLkIB-TIdnoxBLN~eMwS1pp46NlaUwcfheALSdU6YRmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A legislative update to the TEA outlined the session timeline, budget process and several higher-education items, including a one-year proviso establishing an initial Blue Ribbon Commission on higher education.

The presenter, Fred (legislative update presenter), told the TEA the Legislature was approaching first adjournment and planned a brief return April 10 for a veto session. \"They plan to be done no later than April 12,\" the presenter said, noting the session had been unusually fast and that negotiators from the House and Senate completed budget work in conference over several days.

The presenter said the Legislature largely produced a bare-bones budget because of a negative forecast and tax relief priorities, and that KBOR's budget outcome looked acceptable so long as a remaining issue affecting several community colleges could be resolved before final signatures. He said a KBOR legislative item changing service scholarship interest rates passed both chambers and was awaiting final action.

House Bill 2402, which the presenter summarized as a measure to create a Blue Ribbon Commission on higher education, was introduced late in the session. HB 2402 did not advance as a stand-alone bill but was inserted as a one-year budget proviso to begin work on higher-education review and data gathering. The presenter said the initial proviso will begin information gathering this year and that any larger, multi-year commission design would likely return in a subsequent session.

TEA members asked procedural questions about leadership changes and timelines. The presenter noted the speaker of the House has announced he will not run again and that leadership changes could occur before any final Blue Ribbon Commission report.

Provenance: Legislative remarks began with the TEA request for an update and concluded with members' procedural questions and comments about next steps.","TEA received a legislative update explaining that the Kansas Legislature was near first adjournment, would return for a short veto session April 10'12, and that the session included a one-year proviso to start a Blue Ribbon Commission on higher education.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6098247,"KBOR staff outline Perkins V state-determined performance levels; 60-day public comment planned",115,4888000,5003000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2824326-30fcd39f087bda65b13a7096281c41cc&start=4888&end=5003","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2824326-30fcd39f087bda65b13a7096281c41cc/thumbnail_4888000.jpg","/articles/6098247/Kansas/KBOR-staff-outline-Perkins-V-state-determined-performance-levels-60-day-public-comment-planned","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098247-d3009005eb2d2a0b1c76c9fe74993962/orig.mp4?Expires=1770583477&Signature=c6a9edwbBrOCnvZZCE8pbY9C2B9VsyOXH8seOkczYhdkSjvRLfPyX3mHset4H6A9qXEFIUDhNOCCE6oIId-pZ~1SY7plkMXJ3t4supHV7tZKDBM14L69nFwIOq-R8Bd67PzFo2tu8jpMCMKdboCiIEn1VeBiEv0fX59gjvnCbik2x9L5-r6N4QfMfpwD2uYh-7HpZHoq7hbRGq2X~3wN1uONFvfHhinqAN7QIfsIGMz~pBrEVUeBTAV1jOKRpmIE80eFVjmhl3jrjK6vaQhhUCdS5jR-F61Mra9SlkSKPu4p56TsPib9pN4B-qEp8gT2aRfnxcOQdvL32O~w6TevvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Vera Brown told the TEA that Kansas' proposed state-determined performance levels (SDPLs) under the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V) are out for public comment and that final targets will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education on May 9.

\"Our SDPLs, as proposed, are already out for comment. On our website, there is a link for a survey,\" Dr. Vera Brown said, urging stakeholders to provide feedback during the 60-day comment window. She explained that states must use a two-year average baseline of actual data and set targets showing \"meaningful progress,\" while describing procedures for addressing unexpected circumstances, such as changes to assessments or cut scores.

Dr. Brown and staff provided performance information from the previous two years and noted Kansas is performing strongly on some indicators, including graduation and placement measures. She said Kansas will lower some targets where a new statewide assessment is coming and the change would make direct comparisons to previous data unreliable.

April White clarified how Kansas reports indicators under the state's split Perkins allocation: the seven indicators marked with an \"S\" are secondary indicators and the three marked with a \"P\" are postsecondary indicators. White reiterated that postsecondary indicators measure placement one year after program completion, attainment of recognized postsecondary credentials, and performance on participation in nontraditional programs.

The TEA did not take formal action on the SDPLs at the meeting; staff asked members to share the online survey with local stakeholders and to submit any written comments during the public comment period. Staff will compile comments, prepare formal responses and include them with the final SDPL submission to the U.S. Department of Education.

Provenance: The SDPL presentation began when Dr. Vera Brown introduced Perkins V and the SDPL process and concluded with staff standing for questions about indicators and reporting.","Dr. Vera Brown and staff described Kansas' proposed Perkins V state-determined performance levels (SDPLs), including timelines, indicators and a public comment period; TEA members heard that the targets are based on two-year baselines and that some levels are set lower to accommodate an upcoming assessment change.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6098252,"TEA says STARS–Fort Scott dispute is a local contract and service-area issue; recommends institutions work together",1560,3729000,5289000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2824326-30fcd39f087bda65b13a7096281c41cc&start=3729&end=5289","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2824326-30fcd39f087bda65b13a7096281c41cc/thumbnail_3729000.jpg","/articles/6098252/Kansas/TEA-says-STARSFort-Scott-dispute-is-a-local-contract-and-service-area-issue-recommends-institutions-work-together","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6098252-f6cb12245b1a7a2c4ee07ad59d982b55/orig.mp4?Expires=1770583477&Signature=FbmTAOghnysBwci4wlLlXOwI1euaxbsQTAV4pD7dZ5CvAKStTlTb8SoK7ADq0GBCw9d9pY~T0KPfd4KpXaWc6Tfh~hZMFtQGwd6PgjcOXFMfmbgTqtlEiHEh3qCuNSWabrPtTWYADFhNJtj0HukhcEa7Dlj0s8QcRaFV4QyafMGiG9rmeyq1rUlAg~NUFEAHpTrIKLM81kfbXAG9mJym630Kz4mzWaEnh8pBLmITRa2dtGVRYtHWppvwEo69Kh7J~liFPqqJEHMOIp~a3UV8P02wWjSc1E3UyyoJNJT~McZMrb31qJvcDG8qoeBeoekpKBaChZ6MAWbMfygnUwia0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","TEA members voted to recommend that Fort Scott Community College and the Southeastern Technical Academy for Rural Students (STARS) work together to resolve their dispute over the Pleasanton campus, after staff concluded the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) and the TEA lack statutory authority to force changes to local contracts or to reassign service-area funding.

The recommendation followed an April 27, 2025 letter from STARS requesting a separation from Fort Scott and possible mediation or a release to partner with another institution. April White, Vice President April White, summarized STARS' request to the TEA: \"STARS is seeking guidance from the Kansas Board of Regents and possibly mediate a release from Fort Scott Community College to create a partnership with another institution that will agree to a fair and equitable MOU for all parties involved.\"

TEA staff told members that STARS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit which purchased and renovated a building at 1701 Laurel Street in Pleasanton and that Fort Scott operates classes there, hires faculty and provides curriculum. April White and staff reported the first student cohort in 2023 was about 40 students and that enrollment has grown to more than 120 in the third year. Team members said there is no executed memorandum of understanding (MOU) between STARS and Fort Scott despite the long-running collaboration.

Why it matters: TEA staff reviewed state law and Board policy and found three relevant constraints: (1) local boards of trustees control contracts and the college's authority to enter into MOUs, (2) KBOR controls community college service-area designations and those maps are a statewide policy matter, and (3) state statute limits state funding for courses taught outside a college's main campus or service area unless specific exceptions apply. April White told members the specific statute cited prevents the Board from unilaterally reallocating state CTE funding from the college currently serving the area.

TEA staff recommended the matter remain local because Fort Scott currently offers the programs requested by STARS and the statutes and KBOR policies cited do not provide the TEA authority to force a change in contracts or funding flows. \"Students are enrolled there and students are the ones who are going to be harmed if this doesn't exist,\" April White said, urging the two entities to resolve the dispute to maintain services.

The TEA approved a motion to forward that recommendation to the Kansas Board of Regents and to ask the Board to encourage Fort Scott and STARS to negotiate a written agreement that protects students and clarifies financial responsibilities. The motion was made by David (TEA member) and seconded by Deborah (TEA member); the body recorded the motion and approval without further amendment.

Background and next steps: TEA staff noted the Board's service-area map covers all 105 Kansas counties and that revising those service areas would be a major, statewide process beyond the scope of this case. Staff offered to assist Fort Scott and STARS with data analysis and to convene technical conversations, but said any formal MOU or contract outcome must be decided locally by the college's board of trustees. The TEA will transmit the staff report and its recommendation to the full Board of Regents.

Provenance: Staff presentation and discussion of the STARS request began with April White's summary of the April 27 letter and background meetings with both parties. The TEA's recommendation motion and vote occurred at the close of the discussion and were recorded in the meeting minutes.","Kansas TEA reviewed a request from the Southeastern Technical Academy for Rural Students (STARS) seeking release from Fort Scott Community College, concluded state law and policy limit KBOR's direct authority, and voted to recommend the two parties negotiate a local solution to protect students.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Community and technical colleges report rising enrollments, strong licensure pass rates and new employer partnerships

Budget & Finance forms task group to clarify Excel and CTE fee reporting

Legislative update: first adjournment, short veto session and Blue Ribbon Commission proviso

KBOR staff outline Perkins V state-determined performance levels; 60-day public comment planned

TEA says STARS–Fort Scott dispute is a local contract and service-area issue; recommends institutions work together