KCKPS recognizes gold-seal biliteracy recipients and state music honorees

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools recognized students on May 13 who earned the state’s gold and silver seals of biliteracy and a large group of students and ensembles who received top ratings at regional and state music contests.

Alexandria Rain, the district’s world language curriculum and instruction coach, told the board that the seal of biliteracy program has expanded since 2022 from IB students at Sumner Academy to students across all high schools; students tested in 10 languages this year, including Spanish, French, Swahili, Somali, Tagalog and Kinyarwanda. This year’s gold-seal recipients all earned the distinction in Spanish. Rain introduced the gold-seal students by name.

Elizabeth Burns, assistant director of fine arts, presented a roll call of students and ensembles that earned 1 (outstanding) ratings at state and regional contests for choir, band and orchestra. Presenters named students from Sumner Academy, JC Harmon, Wyandotte High School and other district schools who achieved top honors in solo, ensemble and all-state selections. District staff and principals attended to celebrate the honorees.

Board members congratulated the students. Superintendent Dr. Anna Stubblefield and other administrators praised the expansion of access to biliteracy pathways and the breadth of musical achievement across the district.

The recognitions were presented during the regular board meeting as part of the agenda’s awards and recognitions section.