News and Notes:  News Release
August 30, 2002

Topeka: KLFA poised to help Kansas with ESEA implementation

The Kansas Learning First Alliance (KLFA) held their first 2002-03 meeting at the KASB office on August 30. Alexa Pochowski, Assistant Commissioner of Education, presented an excellent overview of the new Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), outlining its impact on statewide school improvement efforts. Dr. Pochowski’s report made it clear Kansas, while facing several distinct challenges, is well positioned to implement ESEA and, in many ways, will play a leadership role at the national level. This leadership opportunity fits well with the KLFA mission of making Kansas first in the nation in teaching and learning, a fact not lost on the 36 educational leaders attending the meeting.

Dr. Pochowki’s appearance reaffirmed the need for an ESEA “summit,” where teams from a district could have an opportunity to hear clearly stated the expectations of ESEA and how they will affect the way in which Kansas schools do business. It will also provide an opportunity for those in the field to relay to the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) specific concerns they face as a result of the far-reaching federal legislation. The summit, to be co-hosted by KLFA and KSDE, is tentatively scheduled for January.

KLFA has three goals, which are: improving student achievement; strengthening the professional development of educators; and engaging the public in school improvement and student achievement efforts. Each of the three goals is supported by a workgroup that meets during a segment of each meeting.

The Student Achievement workgroup announced the process and timeline of the enacted math curriculum study, which is being funded by a $50,000 grant awarded by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. They also reported on the development of the KLFA website, which is now on-line at www.kansaslearningfirst.org.

As a result of the Legislators Summit in June, KLFA was invited to address the Legislative Education Planning Committee about professional development. The discussion, slated for next month, will focus on Kansas regulations and how they might be revised to offer improved guidance for professional development in the state. The Profession Development workgroup is also continuing its efforts to make the indicators of quality professional development more widely known.

Getting communities more actively involved with their local schools continues to be the focus of the Public Engagement workgroup. A least two community conversations are planned for this fall; several other districts have started making preliminary plans for hosting an event. Also, seventeen districts have recently been contacted about KLFA making a free presentation to their board or site council about using community conversations as a tool for improving site councils and drawing the community into school improvement and advocacy efforts. The workgroup also reminded all attending to ensure their organization is prepared to approve the KLFA constitution at the October 17 meeting.

Twenty-two statewide educational organizations comprise KLFA; several others have recently expressed an interest in joining. It is affiliated with the national Learning First organization, which is composed of 12 national education organizations. The upcoming school year will be the fifth in which KLFA has been active.