News and Notes:  News Release
November 21, 2002

Topeka: KLFA approves constitution, moves forward on other projects

The Kansas Learning First Alliance (KLFA) increased its organizational capacity by approving a constitution at its November 21 meeting held at KASB. The 29 people from 17 organizations attending also heard about plans for the release of the results of the math audit KLFA undertook with the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE). The results of the study will be released at a conference scheduled for January 23, 2003 at the Kansas National Education Association (KNEA) office.

Work on the constitution started over a year ago with the Learning First constitution serving as a model. After a Public Engagement subgroup created a draft, all member organizations reviewed it and made any recommendations for improvement they saw as necessary. Revisions were incorporated and the revised version was presented to the governing bodies of the member organizations, which gave their final approval over the summer and fall. The constitution makes formal the organizational goals and procedures KLFA has developed since its inception in 1999. It also gives KLFA part of the structural foundation it needs to seek more grants, such as the one from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation that helped fund the math audit.

The math audit used a modified version of a survey developed by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER). Through this study of the “enacted curriculum,” quality practices of instruction can be identified. Once identified, schools not performing well on the state assessments will be able to turn to practices that are effective and not expend a lot of resources finding them. CCSSO has also talked with KLFA about work to develop a similar instrument for reading.

Conversation continued on KLFA assistance with the state Title II Advisory Committee to enhance teacher quality. The preliminary plan is to host regional meetings to help district and university leaders better understand what quality staff development is.

Each of these projects is a product of the three workgroups KLFA has developed to support its goals. The three goals are improving student achievement; strengthening the professional development of educators; and engaging the public in school improvement and student achievement efforts. The goals were identified as ways to achieve the KLFA mission, which is to make Kansas first in the nation in teaching and learning.

The next KLFA meeting will be January 24 at KNEA. For more information about KLFA and its activities, visit the website at www.TeachKansas.org.