Aligned

Small and rural are not always the same thing.

Kansas currently provides low-enrollment funding mainly based on district size.

But a small district near other resources does not face the same cost pressures as a small district serving students across a large rural area.

Aligned recommends updating the formula to consider both enrollment and student density.

The goal is not to remove rural support. It is to better target it.

https://www.the74million.org/article/want-federal-tax-credit-money-for-public-schools-heres-what-to-do-now/

Want Federal Tax Credit Money for Public Schools? Here’s What to Do Now Roza & Cicco: How much of the new federal scholarship money will flow to school districts depends almost entirely on how actively leaders pursue it.

We are excited to share the second webinar in our 2026 Webinar Series: Apprenticeships in Kansas.

Kansas employers need talent.
Students need real career pathways.
Apprenticeships can help build both.

Join Aligned and the Office of Registered Apprenticeship for a conversation on how Kansas can grow its workforce through practical, work-based learning.

Register today and be part of the conversation.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/FA9KBO67S5aXWFNHr19_4A

At-risk funding should be based on a clearer count.

Kansas currently uses free lunch eligibility to help determine at-risk funding. But school meal eligibility was not designed to be the only measure for school finance.

Aligned recommends using direct certification instead.

That means identifying economically disadvantaged students through participation in other public programs, paired with a simpler concentrated poverty weight for districts serving higher-need communities.

Better data. Clearer funding. Stronger alignment to student need.

Need to earn your Kansas Seal of Literacy?

Universities across Kansas are enrolling now for Foundations of the Science of Reading courses, and the state is investing in educators who participate.

✅ Tuition is covered by a state scholarship
✅ Earn 6 graduate credit hours
✅ Receive explicit instruction in Structured Literacy
✅ Get personalized coaching to support implementation
✅ Earn the Kansas Seal of Literacy and a $500 stipend upon successful completion

Ready to learn more or find a participating university?

Explore the Foundations of the Science of Reading: https://kansasregents.gov/about/kansas-blueprint-for-literacy/foundations-faq

More evidence that strong literacy policy can move the needle.
Indiana’s third-grade reading proficiency has now surpassed pre-pandemic levels, following years of focused work around evidence-based reading instruction, early screening, literacy coaching and targeted student support.

Many of these same strategies are included in the literacy legislation Aligned has supported in Missouri. Indiana’s progress offers another encouraging example of what can happen when states commit to strong, research-backed literacy policy.

Indiana’s third grade literacy rates move past pre-COVID levels on latest state tests

Indiana’s third grade literacy rates move past pre-COVID levels on latest state tests IREAD proficiency rates improved across all racial and ethnic groups, and for students receiving free or reduced-price meals. Search for your school’s results here.

The Kansas State Board of Education is meeting today, and there are a few items on the agenda that we have on our radar.

From literacy and assessment updates to federal funding, we’ll be following the conversation throughout the day.

Tune in live and view the full agenda here: https://www.ksde.gov/state-board/meeting-information

Not able to watch? Check out our newsletter later this week for updates on what was discussed and what it could mean for Kansas students and schools.