Educate Kansas is a statewide initiative dedicated to strengthening educator recruitment and retention across Kansas. In partnership with Kansas State University and local school districts, the project provides data-driven coaching and professional support to help schools attract and retain high-quality educators. Using research-based tools and district-specific data, Educate Kansas promotes the teaching profession and connects educators to meaningful career opportunities. Explore job postings and resources at www.educatekansas.org.
The Kansans Can Competency Framework offers free K-12 curriculum, an intervention process, and professional learning to build students’ self-efficacy, self-regulation, assertiveness and conflict management. In partnership with KSDE, the project supports educators and families in developing resilient learners who collaborate to expand skills, express their wants and needs respectfully, and apply strategies to self-regulate and persevere. Build students’ academic resilience with: 300+ instructional activities which teach intra- and interpersonal competencies, integrated K-12 classroom application, an aligned intervention process, formative assessments, and resources to engage families.
Kansas Inclusive Learning and Teaching (KILT) increases inclusive learning and teaching through a sustained system of professional learning. By building educator capacity and promoting equitable access to instruction, KILT supports schools in creating environments where all students can succeed. In partnership with the Kansas State Department of Education and Infinitec, the project advances inclusive practices through professional learning in Universal Design for Learning and assistive technology. Educators can engage in KILT professional learning to expand inclusive opportunities in their schools.
The Kansas Instructional Resource Center (KIRC) supports educators who serve students with visual impairments by providing accessible instructional materials and opportunities for professional development. Through partnerships with the Kansas State Department of Education and the Kansas State School for the Blind, KIRC ensures that students have equitable access to learning resources in various formats, including braille, large print, and digital text. The project also provides adaptive equipment and training for educators to improve instructional strategies statewide. Educators can connect with KIRC to access resources that foster inclusion and support learning for students who are blind or have visual impairments.
The Kansas Learning Network (KLN) strengthens school and district systems to improve outcomes for all learners through targeted, data-informed coaching. In partnership with the Kansas State Department of Education and the Southwest Plains Regional Service Center, KLN collaborates with leadership teams to identify root causes and implement effective, evidence-based practices. By focusing on capacity building and systems change, KLN helps create environments where students can succeed. Identified schools and districts partner with KLN to strengthen leadership, collaboration, communication, and data-informed decision-making.
The Kansas Science of Reading Professional Learning Course with LETRS® strengthens early literacy instruction by equipping educators with the knowledge and skills to teach reading effectively. Supported by the Kansas State Department of Education through ESSER funds, this statewide initiative provides free professional learning for PreK–Grade 3 instructional staff in identified districts, as well as educators who support struggling readers at any grade level. By building understanding of evidence-based reading practices, the course helps improve outcomes for Kansas students. Educators and administrators can participate in LETRS® training to enhance literacy instruction and accelerate student growth.
Kansas MTSS and Alignment partners with districts to create a coherent, evidence-based system that supports the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs of every student. In collaboration with the Kansas State Department of Education and Keystone Learning Services, the project provides phased training and coaching to leadership and building teams from early childhood through high school. By aligning instruction and interventions, districts build responsive systems that use data to guide continuous improvement. District teams engage with Kansas MTSS and Alignment to strengthen coherence and improve student outcomes across their systems.
The Kansas Parent Information Resource Center (KPIRC) strengthens family engagement to support the educational success of every Kansas child. In partnership with the Kansas State Department of Education and Kansas Families and Schools Together, Inc. (KFAST), KPIRC collaborates with schools, families, and communities to integrate family engagement practices into local initiatives and statewide policies. The project provides professional learning, technical assistance, and resources that help educators and families work together to improve student outcomes. Educators and families can connect with KPIRC to build strong, collaborative relationships that enhance learning across Kansas.
The Kansas Youth Transition Network (KYTN) supports students with disabilities as they move from school to employment and adult life. Led by the Kansas State Department of Education, the project brings together statewide partners to improve transition planning and strengthen services for youth. Through collaboration with the University of Kansas Center on Developmental Disabilities and community-based Centers for Independent Living, KYTN coordinates resources and training that promote successful postsecondary outcomes. Partners can connect with KYTN to align efforts and expand opportunities for young people across Kansas.
The Kansas Teacher Retention Project supports early-career special educators through ongoing online mentoring in the e-Mentoring for Student Success (eMSS) program. In partnership with the Kansas State Department of Education and Pittsburg State University, the project connects new teachers with trained mentors who provide guidance and professional support. By fostering connection and confidence among beginning educators, the project helps strengthen retention and teaching quality statewide. Mentors and mentees can access the eMSS learning platform through Torsh Talent to continue their professional growth.
The Kansas Teachers of Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired (TSVI) and Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists (COMS) Preparation and Mentorship Project builds capacity to serve students who are blind or visually impaired by supporting the preparation and mentoring of future educators. In collaboration with the Kansas State Department of Education and the Kansas State School for the Blind, the project recruits participants and offsets costs for graduate-level training programs. KSSB provides preservice mentoring, onsite support, and an immersion experience that fulfills student teaching or internship requirements. Newly certified professionals receive continued mentoring and assistance in securing employment to ensure sustained impact across Kansas.
The Teacher of the Deaf (TOD) Project expands access to qualified educators who serve students who are deaf or hard of hearing. In collaboration with the Kansas State Department of Education, the Kansas School for the Deaf, and the TASN Coordination project, the initiative offsets tuition and materials for participants completing a master’s-level program in Deaf Education. KSD provides mentoring, on-site teaching experiences, and immersion opportunities to prepare educators for success in the field. Newly trained teachers receive continued support through professional development and connection to statewide networks that strengthen deaf education across Kansas.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Early Childhood ensures that young children with disabilities, ages 3 through 5, receive quality educational services in the least restrictive environment. Guided by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the program supports early learning that fosters growth in language, cognition, motor, and social-emotional development. In collaboration with local agencies and early learning partners, KSDE strengthens systems that prepare each child to enter kindergarten ready for success. Families and educators can connect with KSDE’s Early Childhood Team to access guidance and resources that promote inclusive early learning across Kansas.
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Special Education provides leadership and support to ensure learners with diverse needs are prepared for college, career, and community success. Special education partners with Kansas districts to strengthen instructional systems, enhance equitable access, and build educator capacity. Through this leadership, KSDE issues and oversees the contracts that make the Technical Assistance System Network (TASN) and its statewide supports possible. Educators and leaders can connect with special education to access guidance and resources that advance outcomes for all Kansas students.
The Autism and Tertiary Behavior Supports (ATBS) project helps Kansas schools build capacity to support students with autism and other complex behavioral or learning needs. In collaboration with the Kansas State Department of Education and administered by Keystone Learning Services, the ATBS team provides on-site consultation, technical assistance, and professional learning grounded in evidence-based practices. The interdisciplinary team includes educators, behavior specialists, speech-language pathologists, and social workers who partner with districts to strengthen systems of support. Schools can engage with ATBS to improve student outcomes through effective instruction, communication, and behavior supports.
The TASN Capacity Development Project supports the Kansas State Department of Education in maintaining compliance with federal and state requirements while advancing the vision and outcomes of the Kansas State Board of Education. Through a contract administered by Utah State University’s Technical Assistance for Excellence in Special Education (TAESE), the project provides coordination, consultation, and targeted assistance that strengthen statewide systems of support. This collaboration ensures alignment with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). KSDE staff and partners engage with the TASN Capacity Development Project to enhance implementation and sustain improvement efforts across Kansas.
The Technical Assistance System Network (TASN) Coordination Project provides statewide leadership to align and integrate the work of all TASN initiatives in support of the Kansas State Department of Education’s Special Education and Title Services (SETS) vision. Administered by Pittsburg State University, the project collaborates with KSDE SETS leadership to ensure consistent communication, coordinated planning, and clear priorities across all funded efforts. By supporting evaluation, federal reporting, and systems improvement, TASN Coordination strengthens statewide capacity to deliver accessible, high-quality services. Educators and partners engage with TASN Coordination to build coherence and improve outcomes for Kansas students.
The TASN Evaluation Project measures the effectiveness and impact of the Kansas Technical Assistance System Network (TASN) to ensure its supports are evidence-based and meaningful. In collaboration with the Kansas State Department of Education’s Special Education and Title Services, the project evaluates implementation and sustainability across all TASN initiatives. Housed within the Research Collaboration at the University of Kansas' Life Span Institute, the team utilizes continuous feedback loops to inform improvement and enhance statewide services. KSDE staff and TASN providers engage with Evaluation to use data for decision-making and to enhance outcomes for educators, families, and students.
The TASN General Supervision, Timely and Accurate Data (GSTAD) Project strengthens Kansas’s accountability system under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). In collaboration with the Kansas State Department of Education’s Special Education and Title Services, GSTAD provides technical assistance, data analysis, and coaching to support implementation of the Kansas Integrated Accountability System (KIAS). Administered by Westat and its partners, the project promotes effective general supervision and data use to guide improvement. KSDE and district staff engage with GSTAD to enhance data accuracy, ensure compliance, and strengthen outcomes for students with disabilities.
The School Mental Health Initiative (SMHI) strengthens school and community systems to support the mental health and social-emotional well-being of Kansas students. Funded through the State Personnel Development Grant administered by the Kansas State Department of Education, the project integrates mental health and trauma-informed practices within the Kansas Multi-Tier System of Supports and Alignment framework. By partnering with districts and community mental health providers, SMHI promotes coordinated services that respond to student needs and improve family outcomes. District and community teams engage with SMHI to build capacity for prevention, early intervention, and sustained mental health supports.