Kansas

The purpose of this document is to capture state-by-state information of policy and guidelines related to the science of reading / evidence-based reading instruction to be presented on The Reading League Compass, a website of reliable and reputable guidance and resources for targeted stakeholder groups.

Local control?

Yes

Has your state passed legislation and/or non-legislated rule changes related to the science of reading?

Yes,

Creation of Dyslexia Task Force: Statute | Kansas State Legislature (kslegislature.org)

Most recent “Every Child Can Read Act” S Sub for HB2567

See p. 6 of this House Bill 2567: The bill enacts the Every Child Can Read Act to promote third-grade literacy initiatives. This section requires the board of education of each school district to provide opportunities for students to participate in targeted educational interventions. The bill requires literacy to be attained through the Science of Reading, evidence-based reading instruction, and necessary competencies to attain proficiency. Schools are required to follow and use the guidance of KSDE’s Dyslexia Handbook.

Does your state have an approved curriculum list?

Not at this time, but we are contracting with a group to have a state audit of all curriculum being used (should be completed by Jan. 1, 2024) and are in the process of developing a recommended/ approved curriculum list.

Was evidence-aligned reading instruction a consideration for the curriculum review?

We recommend the use of The Reading League Curriculum Evaluation Guidelines. It is included at our KSDE Dyslexia page (with permission of The Reading League).

Please describe any other instructional-materials work related to the science of reading with links, where applicable

We have several and this is updated and changes periodically. Housed on this web page. Look under the Professional Learning Section.

Does your state mandate or provide guidance on early screening?

Yes, screening is required. We have an extensive screening protocol. Details can be found here:

We have a list of approved screeners. Students are screened three times per year K-8 and once in 9th grade with exit pathways to be excused from screening protocol after fall of 9th grade.

Please describe any other assessment work related to the science of reading with links, where applicable

We have also developed a 2nd grade reading assessment that is optional for all 2nd graders to take in Kansas to check for early literacy skills (how has our LETRS initiative been implemented) and students apply their skills to narrative and informational passage. This is for teacher/ building use to guide instruction and provide parent information.

We have a Kansas Alternative Early Literacy Screener for those students who have significant cognitive disability for K-3

Does your state have policy or guidance related to MTSS that incorporates information on the science of reading and/or evidence-based literacy practices?

Yes. MTSS Structuring Guide for Reading (this is the 2022-2023 guide. The new one should be out any day)

This provides a wealth of information for schools to provide strong, tiered instruction, which is required for accreditation of a school in Kansas.

Does your state have policy or guidance related to instruction and/or professional development

Yes. The State Board of Education has voted to require that structured literacy is the evidence-based model of instruction in Kansas schools. Professional learning is required of all new teachers (6 hours designed by the state- which is being revised at the current time and will be completed by January 2024). As well, districts must provide teachers with annual training based on the needs in their district as described on this document.

Does your state have state-developed guidance documents or training courses related to the science of reading?

Yes. Currently, there are six hours of PD that new teachers must take using

Those are being revised and will be uploaded January 2024. They will include modules for middle/secondary teachers as well.

Has your state reviewed standards for alignment to the science of reading?

Yes. Revised English Language Arts Standards have just been approved by the Kansas State Board of Education July 2023 to align with the structured literacy requirements for instruction. Vertical alignment documents and additional support documents are being created at this time.

Please describe any other standards work related to the science of reading with links, where applicable

KSDE is prioritizing Four Fundamentals that are leading the change to our accreditation process (KESA). These four fundamentals will drive the work that we will be doing from here on. These four fundamentals have been brought before the board and have been discussed with multiple stakeholders and school leadership. The four fundamentals include:

• Structured Literacy

• Balanced Assessment System

• Curriculum/ Standards Alignment

• High Quality Instruction

One of the key components of all professional learning we are planning right now is how these four fundamentals can be supported by all agency personnel. I have linked above the information from the Kansas State Board of Education Meeting. This is an agency-wide priority.

Does your state have guidance or resources for families related to the science of reading?

There is also a section in our Kansas Dyslexia Handbook (but the link for that isn’t available at this time as it is being revised. I will provide it as soon as it is live.

Do you have policy or guidance regarding how to leverage evidence-based practices to support secondary students?

Yes. The Kansas Teaching and Leading Project Grades 6-12

We have a Middle/ Secondary Section on our Kansas Dyslexia Page and Advanced Word Study guide on that page as well.

We have provided PD around the state this past year “Tier 1 Supports for Students with Characteristics of Dyslexia” which is being recorded this week and will be placed on the KSDE Dyslexia page as soon as it is branded and captioned with an accompanying Padlet.

Does your state have state-developed guidance documents or training courses related to the science of reading and Multilingual learners?

No, only a section in the Kansas Dyslexia Handbook and linked resources at the KSDE Dyslexia webpage (National Center on Improving Literacy, IDA, etc.)

Does your state have licensure or program approval criteria to ensure Educator Preparation Programs are aligned to the science of reading?

The Kansas State Department of Education Educator Preparation Standards for PK-6 Elementary are being revised at this time to be taken for Kansas State Board of Education approval this winter. They are being revised to reflect the science of reading requirement for program approval. Other programs (unified, etc.) will be following.

While all institutions of higher education have been required to sign assurance forms until they go through program review, an updated assurance form has recently been sent at the request of the SBOE to require institutions to note the course where the science of reading is being taught

Specifically, an approved assessment is required that all candidates take, provide data on percentage of those passing, have an assurance form on file and complete the following example for program review:

Science of Reading Assessment 9 (Required)

The Science of Reading is required to be assessed. This can be done via Assessments 1-8 or an additional 9th assessment.

Please describe the test(s)/measure(s) used to assess candidates’ knowledge of the Science of Reading and provide data. The knowledge of the Science of Reading assessment can use data provided by key Assessments 1-8 or be a separate assessment (Assessment 9) used by the program. For example, the Praxis Elementary Education Content Knowledge for Teaching (CKT) exam has been identified as an acceptable assessment of knowledge of the science of reading.

Science of Reading Objectives to be addressed:

• 1) Understand the four-part processing system of proficient reading and writing.
• 2) Identify and explain aspects of cognition and behavior that affect reading and writing development.
• 3) Explain major research findings (i.e., The Simple View of Reading, Scarborough’s Rope) regarding the contribution of linguistic and cognitive factors to the prediction of literacy outcomes.
• 4) Understand/apply in practice the general principles of structured literacy teaching, including explicit, systematic, cumulative, teacher-directed instruction.
• 5) Understand that higher levels of literacy include syntax, paragraph organization, and discourse structure.

Data for the Science of Reading requirement must be disaggregated from Standards data to clearly show candidate success.

Do you have a “contact us” website that we can share publicly on TRL Compass?

Please describe and link to any other work you would like to share that relates to the science of reading

Use the interactive state map to find descriptions of state-level policy adoption, guidance, and practices related to the science of reading. State policy may include legislation incorporating training or practices related to the science of reading or state education agency guidance regarding policy, professional development, curricula, instruction, or assessment.

Filter by specific topic area(s) to find state-specific work: 

The Reading League expresses gratitude to our collaborators and associates within the state education agencies for sharing their state-specific data. This data will undergo semi-annual updates, contingent upon the availability and resources of the respective state agencies. For any inquiries, clarifications, or updates, please reach out to compass@thereadingleague.org.