KSDE is here to support you!

If you have questions about curriculum, assessments, standards, etc., the KSDE math team is here to help and support you in any way possible.  All you need to do is reach out. Please contact Jennifer Hamlet, KSDE Math Program Manager, at 785-296-6823 or email her at jhamlet@ksde.org.   

New Virtual Office Hours (Third Wednesday of every month):  Jennifer Hamlet, KSDE Math Program Manager, will host one-hour virtual office hours on zoom for educators to ask questions, get support, or just chat about concerns/issues.  The first one will be October 16th, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

Join Zoom Meeting:     https://ksde.zoom.us/j/82246007530

Passcode: 607090

Frequently asked questions!

Q:  Does KSDE have a list of suggested math curriculum for districts?

A:  At this time, KSDE cannot recommend any specific curriculum.  KSDE did do a survey of math curriculum that is being used by districts across Kansas.  

Q:  Can 8th grade Algebra I count for High School credit?

A:  This is local decision that the school board of education for each district will need to determine.

Q:  Where are the resources for the KAP mini tests, interims, and summative assessments located?

A:  Resources | Kansas Assessment Program (ksassessments.org) 

Q:  Are the Kansas Math Standards changing for the 2024-2025 school year?  If not, when will they be reviewed next?

A:  The Kansas Math Standards will not be changing for the 24-25 school year.  KSDE has not set a timeframe when the math standards will be updated next. 

Q:  When will the Standards Alignment Toolkit for math be done?

A:  We will not have the entire toolkit completed until later this year, but the new Math Guidance Document will be released at the KSDE conference, October 23rd - 25th. 

Q:  Is IXL free for the 2024-2025 school year?

A:  Yes, IXL will be free again this school year.  The future years will be determined later on this year.  

2024 KSDE Great Ideas in Education Conference: Lighting the Path Forward

The 2024 Great Ideas in Education Conference will focus on the tools necessary to strengthen school improvement efforts to support each Kansas student. Through professional development and networking opportunities the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) Great Ideas in Education Conference will help school personnel improve policies and strategies producing safe learning environments and quality teaching and learning practices for each student.

Strands being planned for this conference will include areas to support the Fundamentals and KESA Structures:

• Balanced Assessment System

• Structured Literacy

• High Quality Instruction

• Standards Alignment

• Safe and Supportive Schools

• Technology and Cyber Security

• System Structures

The KSDE Math team will be presenting on some great topics at this year's KSDE Great Ideas Education Conference as well!  Check the topics out below! Register today!  

• IXL for Grades K-5 Math is FREE

• Unlocking Minds: Introduction to Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics

• High-Quality Mathematics Instructional "Look For" Tool

• Resources for the new Math Standards Alignment Toolkit

• Slice Through the Unknown: Using "Thin Slicing" to Foster Student Problem-Solving in Building Thinking Classrooms

• How can a Balanced Assessment System drive instruction?

• Implementing Mathematical Language Routines in the Classroom

• Empowering Learning: Digging Deeper into Thinking Classrooms

• Promoting Math Fluency and Number Sense in Elementary Education

• IXL for Grades 6-12, Math is FREE

Register here

KSDE and Service Centers Teaming Up!

The KSDE Math team and the service centers across the state are joining forces to offer Professional Learning opportunities centered on the Four Fundamentals. We’re thrilled about this collaboration and are committed to providing math educators with top-notch support and resources. Keep an eye out for upcoming dates and locations! 

Prioritization of Standards Guidance 

The state has observed that the term 'priority standards' is being used frequently by school districts. How each district defines priority standards is EXTREMELY important. Are they emphasizing certain standards identified as having gaps based on data, or are they focusing on specific standards while omitting some mandated ones? There is a significant difference between these two concepts.

Below is a release from KSDE outlining their stance on priority standards

Addressing the Prioritization of Standards Fact Sheet

Standards/Assessments

1st Interim assessment window will be open soon!

Key Dates to remember:

• October 14th - November 1st:  Interim 1 window

• January 20th - January 31st:  Interim 2 window

• Full calendar link:  Kansas Assessments Overview Calendar (ksassessments.org) 

• Make sure to check out the new resource assessment sheets! Resources | Kansas Assessment Program (ksassessments.org) 

Interim Blueprints

An updated version of the interim blueprints will be released on the KAP website to provide additional clarification; however, the order of the standards remains unchanged. Please see below for a screenshot of the updated version. We aimed to make the blueprint even more specific and clear for everyone.

We’ve received questions regarding the point range columns. Please note that the blueprint is created before the interim assessments are developed, which is why a point range is established to allow flexibility when building the assessments.

Free Resource for Teachers, Parents and Students!

Lexile & Quantile Hub is a free resource that is provided for all Kansas educators, parents, and students.  Join us for the next Monthly Math Minutes on October 8th for a more in-depth look.

Lexile & Quantile contains targeted, free resources appropriately matched to students by Quantile measure and math content. Free premium membership to all Kansas educators. 

• • Math Content with Quantile Measures.  

  • More than 600 textbooks and software programs with over 80,000 lessons have been calibrated to the Quantile scale. 

  • Over 3,100 online and downloadable resources have been calibrated to the Quantile scale. 

  • Title:   Educator Access to the Lexile and Quantile Hub

    • Description:  This video provides an overview of how educators register to access tools and resources in the Lexile and Quantile Hub. KSDE has a partnership with MetaMetrics that allows all educators Premium access to the Lexile and Quantile Hub at no additional cost. 

    • https://youtu.be/dJx64pb5njI

  • Title:   Classroom Applications using Quantile Teacher Assistant

    • Description:  This video provides a demonstration of how to utilize Quantile measures and the Quantile Teacher Assistant tool to support classroom instruction. 

    • https://youtu.be/F5Ojz_NqDzY

Understanding Quantile Measures

The Quantile® Framework for Mathematics gives you a powerful tool to personalize math learning for students by linking assessments to instruction.

It’s based on a scientifically validated developmental scale that measures both the math skill level of your students and the difficulty of math skills and concepts they encounter.

• A student Quantile measure helps you better understand which skills and concepts your students are ready to learn so you can better personalize math instruction.

• Math concepts and skills also have Quantile measures, so it’s easy to figure out which math concepts students are ready to learn next.

A growing number of math programs and state assessments report Quantile measures. In addition, many textbooks and instructional materials are linked to the Quantile scale. When you’re able to match students with math resources that support their knowledge and build it further, you’re also supporting their path to college and career readiness.

See full article:  Understanding Quantile® Measures - Quantile (quantiles.com)

IXL Updates

Reminder that the state is paying for IXL Math again this year! 

- New Admin Report: Time Spent. See how your students are engaging with IXL’s robust suite of resources

- New District Engagement Tool: School versus School Leaderboards. IXL has made leaderboards even bigger and better by adding school-versus-school tournaments!

- New Teacher Feature: IXL Badges. Looking for a fun way to sophisticate your IXL usage? Teachers can collect IXL Badges for all the ways they help students achieve!

-Overview: For some of IXL's most recent updates across the platform, see this one-pager.

PD:

- Drop by Booth 37 at the KSDE Great Ideas in Education Conference to chat with local IXL consultant, Alex Cramer (alexc@ixl.com). Educators are also providing IXL sessions during the Conference: Elementary: October 23, 2024 8:30am - 10:00am and Secondary: October 24, 2024 8:30am - 10:00am.

-Want to get reacquainted with IXL? Sign up for an IXL Unleashed webinar in November. These sessions specifically highlight how IXL support every student. The session will cover topics like IXL in other languages, assessments, and other notable new releases.

The Science of Math is not the mirror of the Science of Reading

It’s essential for educators to critically evaluate new educational trends and theories, distinguishing between those supported by robust evidence and those that lack such evidence. The "Science of Math" is emerging as a buzzword in educational discourse, but it is not currently supported by the same level of scientific rigor as the "Science of Reading."

The Science of Reading is based on five decades of interdisciplinary research across the world and it is derived from thousands of studies conducted in multiple languages (Science of Reading Defining Guide, p. 6). In contrast, the Science of Math does not yet have the same breadth of research to substantiate its principles.

The Science of Math primarily incorporates concepts from behaviorism and cognitive psychology, but it lacks the extensive, longitudinal evidence that supports the Science of Reading. As a result, the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) currently does not endorse the Science of Math as a theoretical framework for teaching mathematics.

Educators should remain informed about emerging trends and evaluate them based on the strength and depth of supporting research. It’s crucial to rely on well-established, evidence-based practices to guide educational strategies and interventions.

The Kansas Math Project Update

The Kansas Math Project is an instructional resource that educators can choose to utilize. It that can be beneficial for tiered interventions or for teachers who want to dig deeper into their content by watching a module being taught using a different methodology.  KSDE is not mandating that this is the way or the only way you should be teaching mathematics.  Again, this is just a resource that school districts can utilize for tiered interventions or a teacher content resource.   Foundational and grade-level modules will be delivered both synchronously and asynchronously via Moodle.

Trainings

For the 2024-2025 school year, the following trainings are scheduled:

• Oct. 14-15, 2024, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Hays (attendance required both days).

• Oct. 16-17, 2024, at the Sunflower Foundation, Topeka (attendance required both days).

• Feb. 24-25, 2025, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Hays (attendance required both days).

• February 26-27, 2025, at the Sunflower Foundation, Topeka (attendance required both days).

• April 28-29, 2025, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Hays (attendance required both days).

• April 30 & May 1, 2025, at the Sunflower Foundation, Topeka (attendance required both days).

Registration for these trainings will be available at https://ksdetasn.org/mtss/kmp-information once all logistical information is confirmed.

If you would like to do the trainings via Moodle, please click the following link:  Trainings via Moodle   Once there, click on “Create account,” create your free Moodle account and begin with KMP Foundational Module A. You will sequentially go through KMP Foundational Modules A-E, taking each module’s quiz and ending with the cumulative quiz.