News and Notes:  News Release
August 26, 2005

Topeka:  August meeting kicks off the 05-06 school year for KLFA

Since its inception in 1999, the Kansas Learning First Alliance (KLFA) mission has been to make Kansas first in the nation in teaching and learning.  At its August 26 meeting, efforts were focused on two initiatives designed to reach that goal: one nearing completion and the other in preliminary stages.  Both projects continue to represent KLFA’s commitment to collaboration and achievement.  Also, Sandee Crowther, representing the Kansas Staff Development Council (KSDC), assumed the chair for the start of her two-year term.  She succeeds Tom Krebs, who represented KASB.

Tools for Quality Practice: A Resource Guide for Professional Learning was reviewed by members of the Student Achievement and Professional Development workgroups.  The publication will soon be posted on the KLFA Web site, www.teachkansas.org, and will be available for download.  It brings together a number of KLFA initiatives, access to Learning First Alliance publications and a thorough review of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.  It also contains extensive bibliographies and Web sites for further investigation. 

The Public Engagement workgroup continued its efforts to promote public support for schools by helping educational organizations become focused on what they might need to do to help achieve the KLFA mission.  The concept of “reciprocal accountability” is similar to a curriculum audit in that it is designed to reveal strengths, gaps and overlaps in member organizations’ efforts to help their members as they work to improve student achievement.  The workgroup also discussed the latest version of the Learning First Alliance publication Values, Vision and Performance.  First released last year, the document, based on extensive polling and focus group research, identified important messages that resonate with voters when discussing public education.  The revised publication will become available for general distribution within 30 days.  It will also be the focus of discussion when five members of KLFA attend the annual State Affiliates Conference in Alexandria, VA in October.  The Conference brings together representatives from the state affiliates along with representatives from their counterparts at the national level.

The group also approved goals for the upcoming year.  They include:

• KLFA will participate in professional development opportunities that support student learning;
• KLFA will strengthen its organizational capacity;
• KLFA will increase its visibility and influence on statewide policy and program issues; and
• Each of the three workgroups will develop its own set of goals to support KLFA.

The next KLFA meeting is October 12 at the KASB building in Topeka.