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Emporia district outlines KSDE accreditation timeline; year one is a learning year focused on a district improvement plan
Summary
District leaders described the Kansas accreditation process (KISA/KESA2), explaining a three-part accreditation model—compliance, school improvement and outcomes—said this year is a learning year and described steps and an April submission deadline for the district action plan.
Dr. Ryan Kargela, director of assessment and accountability, and Dr. Erica Mickelson, director of teaching and learning, told the board the Kansas accreditation process includes three components — compliance, school improvement and outcomes — and that 2025 is the district’s learning year under the new KISA/KESA2 model.
Kargela said the district must meet standards in compliance (state and federal requirements), develop and implement school improvement structures, and meet outcome measures the state will define. “Accreditation involves 3 components, compliance... school improvement... and then we have the outcomes,” he said.
Mickelson described the local Accreditation and Design Team (ADT), noting each building is represented by an administrator and one teacher or staff representative and that the ADT has been meeting to align district work with KSDE guidance. The district will build a high-quality district school-to-preschool improvement plan, submit it to KSDE in April, and receive feedback within roughly two weeks; the presenters said some parts of the state rubric (measures for ELA and math) will lag because Kansas introduced a new test this year.
The presenters said benchmarked outcome rubrics are being developed by the state and that the district’s cohort group includes Salina and Hays. Mickelson said the cohort partnership will provide peer support and that the state is offering webinars, monthly office hours and occasional face-to-face support.
Board members asked about the role of individual schools and teachers. The presenters said this is a district accreditation process; buildings will align their school improvement plans and Title I requirements to support the district plan, and elementary schools will use Kansas Star and other required tools as part of compliance.
No formal action was taken; district staff will continue developing the plan and return for board updates as the district finalizes measures of progress.
