Two recent reports indicate potential policy adjustments in certain areas of education.
The Kansas State Department of Education’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Bullying presented its final report to the Kansas State Board of Education after six public meetings across the state earlier this year. The report has seven main recommendations:
*Better support and direction for school districts
*Developing the state’s focus on social-emotional and character development education specifically to address bullying
*Looking at state law to see if it needs to be adjusted to reflect recent research
*Adjusting local plans to focus on relationships, school climate and culture and the mental health impact of bullying
*Improving data on school bullying and enhancing measures to assess effectiveness of programs
*Addressing cyberbullying
*Enhancing training, professional development and preparation
Meanwhile, the Governor’s Council on Education recently offered five different recommendations for improving schools:
*Establishing a public-private partnership for charitable donations to support programs meeting the needs of students and families
*Designating the Kansas Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund to coordinate the Kansas Early Childhood Education Coordinating Council
*Implementing a real-world-ready policy approach so students have access to high-quality work-based learning experiences
*Establishing a Work-Based Learning Coordinating council to work on industry-sought skills and credentials
*Establishing the Advantage Kansas Coalition to align education with workforce needs in business and industry
Additional work on both sets of recommendations may take place next year.
