News and Notes:  News Release
May 28, 2008

Topeka: Commissioner Posny shares educational landscape with KLFA

Teaching students “the basics” is the core mission of schools, but in the 21^st century, “the basics” encompass much more than the three Rs.  With that in mind, Education Commissioner Alexa Posny gave Kansas Learning First Alliance members an overview of some critical  initiatives, particularly as they related to aligning P-20 educational efforts across the state.  Over 40 people from almost 20 member organizations were on hand to hear the Commissioner. 

Commissioner Posny first made some clarifications to frame her remarks, specifically addressing the sometimes confusing use of the terms P-20, P21, and 21^st century skills. Governor Sebelius recently named members to her Governor’s P-20 Education Council, which will meet for the first time in July.  The Council, as part of its duties, will oversee the Partnership for 21^st Century Skills (P21) initiative in Kansas.  The Partnership describes itself as the nation’s leading advocacy organization focusing on infusing 21^st century skills into education.  It aims, at both the state and national level, to serve as a catalyst to position 21^st century skills at the center of US K-12 education by building collaborative partnerships among education, business, community and government leaders.  “21^st century skills” is a term often used generically as a reference to emerging trends in education, but are specifically defined in the context of the Partnership.  After making the various definitions clear, Commissioner Posny was then able to focus on some of the key challenges the Kansas State Board of Education faces and the different initiatives and working groups that are seeking to address them.

After a lengthy and informative session with the Commissioner, the members heard updates on a number of the initiatives the Commissioner mentioned as well as others, including the National Learning First Alliance State Partners Meeting in Washington, D.C. in April; the Partnership for 21^st Century Skills; the Math, Engineering, Science and Technology (METS) Community Conversation in Kansas City; the Kansas Educational Leadership Commission; and the Teaching in Kansas Commission.

After the reports, the three ongoing workgroups met to review ongoing projects and to discuss future activities in light of information gathered from the morning’s reports. The three groups work towards improving student achievement; strengthening the professional development of educators; and engaging the public in school improvement and student achievement efforts. To focus their work, three general goals offer guidance.  They are:

• KLFA will broadly disseminate its work to influence practitioners.
• KLFA will increase its visibility among policy makers. 
• KLFA will strengthen and increase its organizational capacity.

Meeting dates for next year were approved.  They include August 21-22, which will include retreat activities the evening of the 21^st; Oct. 12; Jan. 8, 2009; Mar. 12, 2009; and May 27, 2009.  At the January meeting, KLFA will celebrate its tenth anniversary as a Learning First Alliance affiliate.  The Kansas affiliate was the first state to take on the national’s work at a state level.