1. October 7, 2008

2. Ensure that all students meet or exceed high academic standards and are prepared for their next steps (e.g., the world of work and/or post- secondary education)

3. Redesign the delivery system to meet our students’ changing needs

4. MTSS is a coherent continuum of evidence based, system-wide practices to support a rapid response to academic and behavioral needs, with frequent data-based monitoring for instructional decision-making to empower each Kansas student to achieve high standards.

6. How does gifted education fit into MTSS?

7.  Create/approve industry recognized assessments for each of the career clusters  Integrate core content standards with technical program standards  Support implementation of individual career plans of study for all students in 8 th grade and above  Improve access to career and technical education by removing barriers and promoting partnerships

8.  Recommend KBOR update Qualified Admissions  Create 21 st century school standards  Support professional development for teachers to help guide students in planning for future careers  Revise teacher preparation program standards to reflect the integration of content standards  Support the creation of dynamic funding systems that respond to the changing workforce & economic development needs

9.  Fewer than 40 percent of the nation’s largest and fastest- growing job classifications require four-year college degrees.  Fewer than 30 percent of all jobs demand college degrees. www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/feb/06/; Paul Barton article

10.  Creativity & Innovation  Critical Thinking & Problem Solving  Communication & Collaboration  Information, Communication, Technology & Media Literacy  Flexibility & Adaptability  Initiative & Self-Direction  Social & Cross-Cultural Skills  Productivity & Accountability  Leadership & Responsibility  Employability & Career Development

11.  Relationships  Relevance  Rigor  Results  Responsive Culture

12. How does gifted education fit into the integration of career/technical education and academics?

13. Provide an effective educator in every classroom

14.  14% of teachers quit in their first year  33% of teachers leave within three years  50% leave within the first five years  36% of Kansas teachers can retire in the next five years  25% fewer students going into teaching  Kansas ranks 37 th in the nation for teacher’s salaries

15.  Working Conditions ◦ Planning time; 21 st century technology; induction and mentoring programs; professional development; business partnerships  Teacher Preparation ◦ Technology; awareness of NCLB, QPA, IDEA; data issues; national standards; mid-career access to teaching; consistency of preparation programs; business partnerships

16.  Salary & Benefits ◦ Continua of pay; retirement system; improved benefits  Image & Promotion ◦ Statewide campaign; grow your own programs; celebrate successes  Regulations/Requirements/Data ◦ KBOR discussions; legislative action for funding at least one year in advance; earlier date for continuing contract notifications; KSDE licensing

17. How does gifted education fit into the work of the Teaching in Kansas Commission?

18. Ensure a visionary and effective leader in every school

19.  Add 14 th standard focusing on teacher leadership beyond the classroom  Add teacher leadership to the domains for licensure renewal  Task force to develop a blueprint for teacher leadership throughout the state  Develop opportunities for teachers to engage in collaborative work  Indicators of teacher leadership quality into accountability measures

20.  Review of teacher preparation programs  Endorsement for teacher leadership  Statewide framework for evaluation of school administrators  Fund leadership initiatives for continuing education programs for school leaders  Induction program for school leaders  Coaching for school leaders

21. How does gifted education fit into the work of the Kansas Educational Leadership Commission?

22. Improve communication with all constituent groups and policy partners

23.  PD2  Press releases  ITV sessions  Listservs  Telephone calls  E-mails  Service centers  Conferences, summer academies, symposiums, workshops, meetings

24. How does gifted education fit into the objective of improving communication?

25. 1. Multi-Tier Systems of Supports (MTSS) 2. Careers/Academics 3. Teaching in Kansas Commission 4. Kansas Educational Leadership Commission 5. Standards for 21 st Century Schools

26.  Kansas state statute requires Special Education services be provided through the development and implementation of individualized education plans (IEPs) for eligible students identified as gifted and needing special instructional support.  Kansas is one of only a few states that mandates gifted education services be provided through special education  Consequently, funding follows

30.  Be an advocate  Work with general education teachers— especially in the MTSS framework  Build relationships; work as a team  Do not isolate gifted education  Consider more push-in programs and less pull-out programs  Offer a continuum of services  What’s good for gifted, talented and creative students is good for all students