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District outlines KISA needs assessment process; action plan approved and implementation planned
Summary
The district presented its needs assessment and Kansas Educational Systems Accreditation (KISA) process: a guiding coalition drafted and submitted a district action plan that was approved by the state; buildings will develop blueprints and the district will implement the plan in 2025-26 with reporting for 2026-27 requirements.
The board heard an overview of the district's needs assessment process under Kansas Educational Systems Accreditation (KISA). The executive director of learning services described a multi-stage process that produced a district action plan, which the district submitted and which was approved; the district will now implement the plan and support building-level blueprints and professional development.
Lede: District leaders told the board the KISA-related needs assessment is required by Kansas law before establishing a budget and that the district's action plan has been approved by the state/regional accrediting staff.
Nut graf: The process included a district guiding coalition of roughly two dozen representatives, regional KSDE engagement, a school improvement day with like districts, and building-level feedback. The district will now implement short-term steps and collect required data as it prepares post-implementation submissions for 2026-27.
Key elements described
- Guiding coalition: About 23 staff representing elementary, secondary, special education and administration formed a district guiding coalition to draft the action plan and coordinate implementation with building PLCs. - Regional review and school improvement day: KSDE regional staff reviewed the district's materials; district representatives met with like districts (Manhattan, Seaman, Shawnee Heights) during a school improvement day that produced a draft action plan. - Plan approval and implementation timeline: The district's action plan was submitted and approved; the coming year will focus on implementing the plan, creating building blueprints and providing aligned professional development. - Focus areas: The district emphasized standards alignment, assessment, professional development and PLC tools as central to the district goal.
Board context and next steps
District staff said they will return with the district action plan, example blueprints and a professional development schedule. The board was advised that future KISA reviews will include performance metrics and a mix of goal attainment and year-to-year growth measures once the state finalizes those metrics.
Ending: The presentation closed with an invitation for questions and a preview that the next board update will present the district action plan and sample building blueprints.
