News and Notes:  News Release
March 11, 2005

Topeka: KLFA celebrates six years of achievement

The Kansas Learning First Alliance (KLFA) celebrated six years of work at its March 11 meeting at KASB. Founded in January, 1999, KLFA brings together a growing variety of organizations interested in making Kansas first in the nation in teaching and learning, the KLFA mission. Twenty-four organizations comprise KLFA, which ensures many educational perspectives are voiced as it works to improve teaching and learning in the state. Parents, board members, administrators, curriculum specialists, teachers and system accountability experts were among the 29 members from 15 organizations in attendance.

In order to accomplish its mission, three goals have been identified, each with a workgroup charged to support it. The three goals are improving student achievement; strengthening the professional development of educators; and engaging the public in school improvement and student achievement efforts. For much of this year, the first two groups have worked together to plan and create a resource document that will draw on research efforts coordinated by KLFA and others, particularly work done by the national Learning First Alliance. The handbook is tentatively scheduled to be released in the late summer or early fall. It will demonstrate clearly how quality professional development and curriculum alignment lead to success on the state assessments.

The Public Engagement group continued its work to help educators and educational organizations better understand what recent surveys and focus groups have said about the public's support of public schools. The Learning First publication, A Practical Guide to Promoting America 's Public Schools: Values, Vision and Performance , makes it clear educators need to understand public support exists for public schools, but it has changed. Until public education advocates recognize and respond to these changing perspectives, many quality achievements of public schools will be overshadowed by rhetoric that paints schools as unsafe, ineffective and inefficient institutions. The group is working to help both educators and the public deal with these changes in public support.

Dr. Sandee Crowther, Executive Secretary of the Kansas Staff Development Council (KSDC) and Lawrence USD 497 Executive Director Planning and Program Improvement will replace Tom Krebs, KASB staff member, as the Chair of KLFA at its June 1 meeting. Blake West, Vice President Kansas-National Education Association, was elected to replace her as Chair-Elect. Each will serve two-year terms.