News and Notes:  News Release
January 8, 2009

Topeka: 21st Century Skills - the focus of KLFA work

With a continuing eye to the Kansas State Department of Education 21^st Century learner and learning environment profiles, and the Partnership for 21^st Century Skills initiative, the Kansas Learning First Alliance moved forward on its 2008-09 objectives at its meeting Jan.8.  Thirty-seven representatives from 22 of its member organization attended the meeting.

Most of the meeting was spent in the three workgroups that are used to carry out KLFA work.  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.

The Professional Development focused its efforts on creating and implementing models that would promote the five components of the learning environment and the 10 learner skills KSDE identified and were approved by the State Board in December.  The Student Achievement group grappled with making the Partnership resources available to school personnel.  The Public Engagement group continued with plans to partner with KTWU and bring to public television an opportunity for the public to better understand of how the new world economies and demographics will affect Kansas schools, families and business.

As part of the general session, the group heard a review of how the Kansas Plan for the implementation of 21^st Century teaching and learning was created. The document was put together by KSDE and, after approval by the State Board, was submitted to the national 21st Century Partnership. The group was then asked to identify models currently in use in the state that showcased 21^st Century skills.  Examples cited were the Library/Media department at Topeka USD 501 and the service learning grants through KSDE.

The mission of KLFA is to unite the education community to improve our outstanding public education system, pre-K through higher education, to empower each Kansan to succeed in the diverse, interdependent world of the 21st century.