For past newsletters, please click on the mathematics tab above.
For past newsletters, please click on the mathematics tab above.
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 jennifer.hamlet@ksde.gov.
New Virtual Office Hours (Third Wednesday of every month): Jennifer Hamlet, KSDE Math Program Manager, will host one-hour virtual office hours on zoom from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. for educators to ask questions, get support, or just chat about concerns/issues.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://ksde.zoom.us/j/82246007530
Passcode: 607090
2025 KSDE ASSESSMENT CONFERENCE
The Kansas State Department of Education announced it will continue its partnership with IXL Math for the 2025-2026 school year, with IXL Learning to provide schools with a free supplemental instructional program that can help Kansas students improve their math skills.
-- From January 29 to February 28, classrooms across Kansas are competing to answer the most on-grade-level IXL questions. Here’s how to set your students up for success:
Focus on IXL skills aligned to Kansas standards or the KAP IXL's skill plans.
Encourage students to reach proficiency (Smart Score of 80) on skills.
Track your class’s progress with the Students Quick view report.
Registration link: https://www.ixl.com/contest/kansas
--*NEW ENGAGEMENT TOOL: FOCUS ZONE* Like a bubble to block out distractions, each Focus Zone creates the optimal online environment for concentration and gives students a designated time to practice on-level material.
--Interested in learning how IXL Learning is transforming education for ALL English learners? Between February 11th and 13th, there are four different dates and times to join the IXL Unleashed Webinar Series. See the schedule here to save your spot! If your team doesn't see a time that works, Alex (alexc@ixl.com) is happy to share additional information directly.
--As always, if you have any questions/comments/needs, reach out to your account manager or kansas@ixl.com! (and be sure to check out the IXL Blog!)
Please join us for our monthly professional development from the KSDE math team. Every month we will have mathematics updates from the state, professional development opportunities, and a topic of the month. We would love to have any teachers, curriculum leaders, and administration join us! Register below. You can click the register button at the time of the meeting as well, it does not have to be prior to be able to join.
Join us for a two-part professional learning series, "AI in Math Classrooms: Transforming Learning Through Technology" on February 11th and March 11th from 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. The link below will register you for both the February and March dates, so you only have to register once.
Location Date Registration
Greenbush (Lawrence) 02/24/25 Link to Register
Greenbush (Girard) 03/03/25 Link to Register
Southwest Plains 02/21/25 Link to Register
ESSDACK 02/25/25 Link to Register
Orion 02/26/25 Link to Register
Location Date Registration
Greenbush (Lawrence) 04/21/25 Link to Register
Greenbush (Girard) 05/02/25 Link to Register
Smoky Hill (Salina) 03/06/25 Link to Register
Southwest Plains 04/01/25 Link to Register
ESSDACK 03/31/25 Link to Register
Orion 03/10/25 Link to Register
PRIORITIZATION OF STANDARDS!
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 our stance on priority standards.
Addressing the Prioritization of Standards Fact Sheet
Date updated Tab Cell (column / row) Edit(s)
1/27/25 All F1/G1/H1 All KSDE links updated
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 2025-2026 school year?
A: Yes, IXL will be free again for the 25-26 school year. The future years will be determined on a year-to-year basis.
Q: Are the interim questions rejects from the summative assessment?
A: No, the items on the interims are new and designed specifically for the interim blueprint.
Q: Is the mini test window open all year long?
A: Yes, the mini tests do not have a certain window that they can be accessed. They are free for you to use whenever and however you fill fit for your students.
Q: Can individual whiteboards be used on the Summative Assessment?
A: Yes, as long as the students are spread out and they cannot see each other boards.
Background of Kansas Math Pathways
Traditional postsecondary mathematics, including requiring college algebra for most majors, and requiring traditional prerequisite remediation that does not count toward a baccalaureate degree, impose unnecessary obstacles to degree completion for Kansas students.
According to KBOR’s Developmental Education Data Report, too few students are completing a traditional prerequisite developmental course and a general education math course within a two-year period. Further, according to a 2015 Report published by the Mathematical Association of America, A Common Vision for Undergraduate Mathematical Sciences Programs in 2025, “mathematics courses are the most significant barrier to degree completion in both STEM and non-STEM fields.”
The Kansas Board of Regents seeks to implement proven practices that remove these obstacles and advance access, affordability, success, and completion (all components of the Board’s strategic plan, Building a Future), by working with the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin on Mathematics Pathways.
Kansas is now one of the 22 states participating in the Launch Years Initiative, which supports the scaling of mathematics pathways from high school through postsecondary education and into the workplace, aligned to students’ goals and aspirations. The Dana Center provides resources and support and holds an annual convening at which participating states can share ideas, best practices, and experiences related to the initiative.
The gateway and developmental course placement guidance, corequisite support section framework, shall take effect during the Fall 2026 semester and continually apply thereafter. See below for the timeline and the three pathways' graphics with what programs would fall under each pathway.
click here to see additional information - Math Pathways
The new KSDE Kansas Math Standards Guidance Document is finished! We are so excited for districts to have and utilize this document. Below, you will find a link to the document and an instructional video that talks about its components, creation, interim blueprints, and much more! This is a read only document, so you will need to make a copy to be able to edit and make it your own. If you are not aware of how to make a copy, it is in the video! 😊
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.
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.
Trainings
For the 2024-2025 school year, the following trainings are scheduled:
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.
2025 KATM Conference - Making Math Visible
🗓️ Mark your calendar for March 28, 2025 to attend the 2025 KATM Annual Conference at Wichita State University!🗓️
The theme for our annual conference this year is "Making Math Visible," embedding the following conference strands:
📊 Data Literacy & Visualization
💻 Technology Integration
🎨 Visual Representations of Mathematics
🌍 Real-World and Cultural Relevance
📚 High-Quality Mathematics Instruction
⚖️ Balanced Assessment
Do these areas appeal to you? Then, we'd love to see you in Wichita!
For specific conference offerings, cost of attendance, and to register for Making Math Visible conference, follow the link to our website: katm.org/conference.
2025 KATM Conference Call for Proposals
Call for Proposals
KATM is now accepting proposals for the 2025 KATM Conference: Making Math Visible! We invite you to share your expertise by submitting a session proposal aligned with one of our conference strands:
📊 Data Literacy & Visualization
💻 Technology Integration
🎨 Visual Representations of Mathematics
🌍 Real-World and Cultural Relevance
📚 High-Quality Mathematics Instruction
⚖️ Balanced Assessment
Proposals are due February 14, 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity to inspire and engage fellow math educators!
Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScX-XEGi6gZAaoBIk-Sg4cmhHNhbQhthg775pNmoxvGTfotxQ/viewform
We look forward to your ideas!
Update Your Account Information
We want to stay connected with you! Please take a moment to log in to your account at KATM.org and update your contact information. Ensuring your details are current helps us provide you with the latest resources, event updates, and member benefits.
Simply log in, review your information, and make any necessary changes. It only takes a few minutes! www.katm.org
Thank you for being a valued member of KATM.
They are amazing tools for personalized professional learning and great communities to network with other educators and leaders. Check out @KSDETCHRLEADERS and @KATMWebmaster on twitter and Kansas Association of Teachers of Mathematics on Facebook. #KSMath
Want to network with other math educators and leaders about Building Thinking Classrooms? Follow Dr. Peter Liljedahl, the author of BTC in mathematics, and you'll find tons of math educators and leaders to collaborate with.
Another great BTC resource is the BTC Facebook page where teachers share tips, ideas, success stories, and ways to address some challenges and struggles.