Beginning in the 2029-2030 school year, every Kansas school district must ensure each of its elementary schools is served by a licensed reading specialist (hired directly or shared through a cooperative agreement) so that every elementary building has access to expert support in identifying and addressing student reading difficulties.

What is a Reading Specialist?

Reading specialists are instructional professionals who work primarily with pre-K–12 students who struggle with reading and writing, and who are equipped to help teachers strengthen classroom literacy instruction (ILA, 2021). In schools, that means providing direct instruction, coordinating interventions, supporting families/caregivers, and leading the use of screening data to plan instruction.

Scope of Practice

• Literacy leadership of a building literacy programming
• Administers assessments and assists in analyzing data
• Provides professional learning for team conversations
• Develops and monitors student progress on student reading plans in consultation with classroom teachers
• Problem-solves with teachers on intervention needs, communicate with families/caregivers, and contributes reading expertise to school improvement

Scholarship

Scholarships in the amount of $1,400 per semester for 5 semesters with a maximum cumulative award of $7,000 per educator are available at Newman University, Washburn University, and Wichita State University.

Scholarship eligibility:

• Hold a current Kansas teaching license with an endorsement in elementary education (K-6) or special education
• Be actively employed as a teacher in a Kansas elementary school building

Please note: Meeting these criteria establishes eligibility for the scholarship. Universities set their own admission standards for reading specialist degree programs, and applicants must apply and be admitted separately. Scholarship eligibility does not guarantee admission.

For more information about Reading Specialist Scholarships, please contact one of the individuals listed below at the participating universities.

• Newman University Jane Hayes This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Washburn University Dr. Carolyn Carlson This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Wichita State University Dr. Kim Moody This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

1. At www.ged.com, select “Grads and Transcripts” from the menu at the top of the screen.
2. Under the "Requests Transcripts" section, select either "GED Grads" or "Third Parties."
3. Under the drop-down menu labeled "Where did you earn your GED?" select Kansas.
4. Under the "When did you earn your GED?" section, select either “2014 and Later” or “Before 2014,” depending on the date of completion. The system will then prompt users to create or access the GED account. Follow the prompts to order official records.
5. For additional assistance, contact Parchment using the Chat feature at www.parchment.com
   or call the Parchment Help Line at 847-716-3005.

Systemwide Transfer Associate Degrees

Elementary Ed (PK-6) Transfer Associate (pdf)

• Guidance on Transfer Information for Elementary Education Majors (pdf)

Business Administration, Management, & Operations Transfer Associate (Check Sheet - Institution Form for AY 2027)

• Instructions for submitting above form for AY 2027 (pdf)
• Example Check Sheet (pdf)

Computer Science Transfer Associate (pdf)

• Example Check Sheet (pdf)

Pre-Bachelor of Science in Nursing Transfer Associate (Check Sheet - Institution Form for AY 2027)

• Instructions for submitting above form for AY 2027 (pdf)
• Example Check Sheet (pdf)

Pre-Social Work Transfer Associate (Check Sheet - Institution Form for AY 2027)

• Instructions for submitting above form for AY 2027 (pdf)
• Example Check Sheet (pdf)

Systemwide Associate-to-Baccalaureate Programs

Systemwide Associate-to-Baccalaureate Programs (pdf)

The Kansas Board of Regents adopts this Statement on Free Expression to reaffirm the System's long-held commitment to full and open inquiry and discourse, and the robust exchange of ideas and perspectives by students enrolled in our State Universities and present on our State University campuses. The principles of freedom of speech and freedom of expression in the United States and Kansas Constitutions, in addition to being legal rights, are essential to achieving the three-part university mission to deliver a high-quality academic experience for our students, engage in meaningful and productive research, and provide other valuable public services for the benefit of our local communities, the State of Kansas, the nation, and the world. The purpose of this Statement is to express our continuing dedication to these principles and to maintaining our campuses as environments where the open exchange of knowledge and expression of ideas furthers our mission. This Statement generally concerns student expression in non-academic situations; it does not attempt to address the rights of non-students or students' academic work within the classroom setting.

A fundamental purpose of an institution of higher education is to provide an environment where divergent ideas, opinions, and philosophies can be rigorously debated and critically evaluated. Through this process, often referred to as the marketplace of ideas, students are generally free to express their ideas and opinions, even if others may disagree with them or find those ideas and opinions to be disagreeable or even offensive. The very process of debating divergent ideas and challenging others' opinions develops the intellectual skills necessary to think critically and respectfully argue through civil discourse. The development of these important skills leads to personal and scholarly growth and is an essential component of the academic and research missions of each of our institutions.

It is equally important that we, as governmental entities, not stifle the lawful dissemination of students' ideas, even if we or members of our communities find those ideas abhorrent. Students wishing to express ideas with which others may disagree must generally be free to do so without fear of being disciplined by the University. This does not mean that such ideas are necessarily endorsed or tolerated, nor should they go unchallenged by members of the University community openly and vigorously contesting their merit, but the Board and the Universities are prohibited from pursuing disciplinary or punitive actions that unlawfully inhibit or penalize protected expression. And though we value civil behavior and believe all members of our campus communities have a responsibility to promote and maintain a climate of civility and mutual respect, the Board, and by extension the Universities they govern, cannot use a desire for civility and respect as the basis to silence expression. The Board and the Universities should empower, enable and encourage students to speak and listen and to do so respectfully, rather than interfere with or silence their protected expression of ideas.

We also recognize, however, that some speech is not protected, such as true threats,¹ incitement to imminent violence,² "fighting words,"³ and unlawful, targeted harassment.⁴ The Board and its Universities can restrict speech that is not protected by the First Amendment, though it is important to note that these exceptions are narrowly interpreted. Additionally, reasonable restrictions on when, where, and how expression is disseminated are allowable and appropriate. Because universities and colleges are first and foremost places where people go to engage in scholarly endeavors, it is necessary to the efficient and effective operations of each University for there to be reasonable limitations on the time, place, and manner in which First Amendment rights are exercised. By law, these time, place, and manner limitations must be narrowly drawn and content-neutral and must serve to ensure that our students have the opportunity to express their ideas and opinions.

The Kansas Board of Regents is committed to protecting and encouraging students' exercise of their First Amendment free speech rights in accordance with this Statement.

A copy of the signed March 17, 2021 statement adopted by the Board.

Credits

Concepts and language for this Statement were gleaned from the following sources: State University System of Florida Statement on Free Expression, the Chicago Principles Report of the Committee on Freedom of Expression, Kansas State University' s Statement on Free Speech and Expression, the Arizona Board of Regents Policy on Free Expression, and the Iowa Board of Regents Policy on Free Expression. We are grateful for the work of these organizations.

References

1 Criminal threats directed at a specific individual or group with the intent of placing the individual or group in fear of bodily harm or death. Watts v. United States, 394 U.S. 705, 708 (1969). Back to reference 1.

2 The government may prohibit speech advocating the use of force or crime if the speech "is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action," and is "likely to incite or produce such action." Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444 (1969). Back to reference 2.

3 Personally abusive epithets in one' s face, tending to cause an immediate violent reaction. Chaplinsky v. State of New Hampshire, 315 U.S.568 (1942), citing Cantwell v. Connecticut, 310 U.S. 296, 309, 310 (1940). Back to reference 3.

4 Conduct sufficiently severe or pervasive "to alter the conditions of [employment] and create an abusive working environment." Meritor Savings Bank v. Vinson, 477 U.S. 57 (1986). Davis v. Monroe County Board of Education, 526 U.S. 629 (1999) ("whether an environment is 'hostile' or ' abusive' can be determined only by looking at ... the frequency of the discriminatory conduct; its severity; whether it is physically threatening or humiliating, or a mere offensive utterance; and whether it unreasonably interferes with an employee' s work performance"). Back to reference 4.