News and Notes:  News Release
January 6, 2011

Topeka: KLFA celebrates 12 years of education collaboration and accomplishment

The Kansas Learning First Alliance celebrated its twelfth anniversary at its meeting Jan. 6 at the KASB office.  The group was conceived by leaders of several Kansas education organizations in 1999 and then formerly coalesced into an affiliate of the Learning First Alliance in 2000.  It was the first state affiliate of LFA, which now number 13.  Two former chairs, Christy Levings, former KNEA president, and Tom Krebs, KASB Governmental Relations Specialist, joined chair Sue Givens, El Dorado USD 490 superintendent, and Chair-Elect Nancy Bolz, Director AdvancED Kansas, in highlighting the many KLFA accomplishments.  They included:

• Moving from Good to Great, a structured conversation held in Wichita in 2003 for 750 participants to discuss the then newly instituted NCLB;
• The collaborative effort with KTWU to produce Reading, Writing and a Quality Education for Kansas Kids in 2009;
• The analysis of Challenge Award winners professional development practices in 2003;
• The creation of Tools for Quality Practice: A Resource Guide for Professional Development in 2005;
• The initiative with the Council of Chief School Officers to determine the state’s enacted math curriculum in 2003; and
• Helping to plan the Washington, D.C. conference that brought together executive directors and presidents from LFA organizations from over a dozen states in 2006.

Before splitting into the three work groups KLFA uses to achieve its goals, members also heard a review of the recommendations of the Kansas Education Commission.  A number of the subcommittees of the Commission were co-chaired by KLFA leaders.

The three groups work toward improving student achievement; strengthening the professional learning 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.

Both the Professional Learning and Student Achievement work groups worked on getting KLFA messages to ongoing state initiatives.  The Community Engagement group continued to discuss strategies to partner with KTWU that will get Kansans more aware of critical issues involving education.

Almost 30 people from 24 member organizations were in attendance.

The date and location of the March meeting is still being determined.  The last meeting of the school year will be Thursday, May 12 at KASB.  Meetings start at 10:00 A.M.

Visit the KLFA Website at www.klfa.org for more information, including agendas for upcoming meetings as they are developed.  KLFA also has a Facebook page; be sure to visit the page and join as a friend.