Education (Testing & Assessment)

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 517: Expanding the every child can read act reporting requirements and amending the Kansas blueprint for literacy to provide certain requirements for the state board of education, the state board of regents and school districts with regard to literacy education and reporting.

SB 517 expands Kansas' "Every Child Can Read Act" by requiring school districts to create individual literacy plans for high-risk students (kindergarten through third grade) and employ reading specialists. It mandates detailed annual reporting on student reading proficiency, screening data, and intervention outcomes to the state education department, including metrics for all student subgroups. The bill also aligns literacy goals with state assessment scores, requires teacher training in literacy practicums, and updates the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy to include new standards for educator preparation. These changes directly affect school districts, teachers, and students, focusing on early literacy intervention and accountability.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands literacy requirements with mandatory student plans, reading specialists, and detailed reporting to strengthen K-3 literacy outcomes per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers Testing & Assessment

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 514: Authorizing students to participate in school activities immediately upon transfer to another school unless such students were recruited, induced or unduly influenced to transfer for athletic activity participation.

SB 514 allows Kansas students who transfer mid-year to immediately join school activities (like sports, music, or drama) at their new school, unless they were recruited or induced primarily to join for athletic purposes. Students must still meet basic eligibility standards (academic requirements, behavior, skill assessment, and team capacity limits). The rule specifically delays athletic participation for one year if a student transferred solely for sports recruitment, but does not affect eligibility for nonathletic activities like music or debate. Schools cannot delay eligibility for nonathletic transfers or impose unnecessary barriers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves barriers for students to immediately join school activities (non-athletic), expanding educational access and participation opportunities per bill's intent.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Testing & Assessment

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signed · Kansas · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SB 382: Providing for the administration of statewide assessments to virtual school students by such students' virtual schools, adding third parties who contract with school districts to the definition of special teacher, providing for special education state aid reimbursement for certain qualified teachers, authorizing nonpublic schools to permit nonaccredited private elementary or secondary school students to participate in certain activities and authorizing foreign exchange students who reside with a host family to enroll in and attend the resident school district of the host family.

SB 382 allows Kansas virtual schools to administer and proctor statewide student assessments (like standardized tests) remotely for full-time virtual students. It requires virtual schools to follow strict security rules: assessments must occur during the same time window as in-person students, use synchronized sessions managed by school staff, monitor students via camera (using one device with integrated proctoring or two devices), enforce browser lockdown, and maintain a 10:1 student-to-proctor ratio. The bill directly affects full-time virtual school students in Kansas and their schools, enabling remote testing while ensuring assessment integrity. All costs for implementation will be covered by the state education department, and the policy supplements Kansas' virtual school act. The bill is currently pending before the Education Committee after introduction in January 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables virtual schools to administer standardized assessments remotely with security protocols, ensuring equitable access to required testing for virtual students without restricting curriculum or funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Special Education Testing & Assessment

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2530: Substitute for HB 2530 by Committee on Education - Providing for the transferability of credentials earned through ACT workkeys career readiness assessments towards a degree.

HB 2530 requires Kansas high schools to provide free career readiness assessments (ACT WorkKeys) to students in grades 9, 11, and 12, with participation optional. It mandates that Kansas colleges and universities accept certain WorkKeys credentials (platinum, gold, or silver) as transferable credit toward technical degrees, following American Council on Education guidelines. Schools must publish exam details online, and the state board must report annual assessment data to lawmakers. The bill directly affects Kansas public and nonpublic high school students, school districts, and postsecondary institutions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates career assessments and credit transfer for technical degrees, enhancing educational pathways and access for students transitioning to higher education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2488: Requiring the university of Kansas school of medicine to use a letter grading system or other tiered grading system to assess student performance.

HB 2488 requires the University of Kansas School of Medicine to replace its current student assessment system with either a standard A-F letter grading system or a tiered system with at least four distinct performance levels for all medical degree courses. This directly affects medical students and faculty at the University of Kansas School of Medicine by mandating objective, comparable feedback on coursework. The bill’s key provision, outlined in Section 1(b), specifies that every course in the medical curriculum must use one of these two grading methods for evaluating student performance. The legislation aims to create a standardized environment for feedback, as stated in the legislative findings, though it does not specify how the grading system must be implemented. The bill was introduced on January 21, 2026, and is pending committee review.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates standardized grading system for medical school performance, enhancing objective feedback and educational assessment standards in higher education.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education Testing & Assessment

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 48: Requiring school districts to demonstrate improvement in academic performance and be in compliance with all federal and state statutes and rules and regulations to achieve or maintain accreditation.

SB 48 requires Kansas school districts to demonstrate measurable academic improvement - specifically reducing students scoring at the lowest level on state assessments and increasing those scoring above the mid-level - starting in 2026 to maintain accreditation. It also mandates full compliance with all federal and state education laws, with districts facing accreditation loss if noncompliance isn’t corrected by June 30 of the following school year. Districts failing accreditation must publicly report their challenges and resource reallocation plans to education committees during the next legislative session. This directly affects all public school districts in Kansas, tying their accreditation status to specific, quantifiable academic progress and legal compliance.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires measurable academic improvement and compliance to maintain accreditation, enforcing standards for school performance.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Testing & Assessment

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 252: Expanding the tax credit for low income students scholarship program act to allow certain high school students and students eligible to be enrolled in certain school districts to be eligible for scholarships, increasing the tax credit for contributions and the aggregate tax credit limit, providing for aggregate tax credit increases under certain conditions and providing for program administration by the state treasurer.

SB 252 expands Kansas' low-income student scholarship program to include specific high school students and those eligible to attend school districts with low standardized test scores (under 50% meeting achievement levels). It increases tax credits for donors and raises the annual program limit, while keeping scholarships capped at $8,000 per student. The state treasurer will now manage program administration, and new eligibility rules allow current scholarship recipients (who haven’t graduated or turned 21) and students in qualifying districts to participate. This directly affects low-income families seeking educational options through tax-credit-funded scholarships.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credits for donors to fund low-income student scholarships, increasing tax incentives and program funding limits while targeting underserved students.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands scholarship access for low-income students in underperforming districts, increasing educational opportunity and funding through tax credits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Financial Aid Testing & Assessment

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 49: Requiring that each attendance center needs assessment be conducted by the local board of education and include input from board members, teachers, school site councils and school administrators and that board members receive certain state assessment data and identify allocations of money in the school district budget and budget summary.

SB 49 requires Kansas school districts to conduct annual needs assessments for each school building, involving input from board members, teachers, school site councils, and administrators. These assessments must be published online and used by school boards when approving budgets to improve student academic performance. The bill also mandates that board members receive state assessment data showing student scores and document how budget allocations address barriers to students achieving proficiency goals. School budgets must explicitly identify how funds are allocated to meet these goals, with all related documents made publicly available online. This bill directly affects school board decision-making processes and budget transparency in Kansas public schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires data-driven needs assessments with stakeholder input to improve budget allocation for student achievement, aligning with strengthening school resource management and academic performance.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Testing & Assessment

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