English Language Arts
May 2026
Embedded Files
The Finish Line
The Finish Line
May, a month full of final testing, state competitions, promotions, and graduations. It is a time of celebration and reflection, and one that carries a unique blend of emotions that only educators truly understand. The joy of watching students succeed, the bittersweet feeling of saying goodbye to “your kids,” and the energy of end-of-the-year activities all come together in a way that is special to those who have spent the last ten months alongside their students. And yes, we all know that deep “teacher-tired” feeling is very real.
Thank you for the dedication, care, and countless hours you have poured into your work this school year. Much of what you do happens quietly and often goes unseen, but its impact is lasting and meaningful. You have made a difference in ways that extend far beyond the classroom, shaping lives one student at a time.
Make space to smile, laugh, and enjoy these final moments with your students. Just as importantly, take time to rest and recharge—you have earned it. And when you have time, I've added several new resources for you to dive into over the summer. 😎
Thank you all,
The KSDE Website Update
The KSDE Website Update
The KSDE website is currently transitioning from its previous platform to a new, compliant system. As a result, some documents and links may be temporarily inaccessible or more difficult to locate. Additionally, access to the School Improvement Google Site will be discontinued in the near future. We recognize the challenges this transition may present and appreciate your patience as you navigate the updated site.
Until the website links are easily accessible, we have developed a KSDE School Improvement Resource Google Doc that includes a collection of resource links across several curricular areas. We encourage you to open the documents, make a personal copy, and/or download any resources you may need for future use. I am also providing the link to the School Improvement Google Site, which contains several valuable guidance documents. Please take time to access and download these materials before the site is removed.
We understand the frustration and thank you for your patience as we update all the links.
Instructional Writing Rubrics and Writing Checklists
Instructional Writing Rubrics and Writing Checklists
"When students write about what the read, comprehension deepens and leaing becomes more meaningful" (Joan Sedita).
Writing is a hard task. Writing without clear, explicit instruction is nearly impossible. Students are often in cognitive overload with the content and even starting a writing piece seems overwhelming. Instructional tools such as rubrics and checklists can help reduce that burden by providing clear guidance and structure throughout the writing process. Instructional writing rubrics can provide the scaffolding that students need to become self-regulated writers. As Heidi Andrade explains, rubrics "promote student ownership and understanding by clarifying what quality writing looks like" (2004). Checklists further strengthen instruction by helping students focus on specific writing skills and components one step at a time. Together, these tools support high-quality instruction by increasing clarity, strengthening feedback, and fostering greater student confidence and independence.
The KSDE ELA team is currently developing Instructional Writing Rubrics and writing checklists aligned to the ELA Writing Standards and Performance Level Descriptors. These resources are being designed to work alongside instructional strategies that support students as they progress to the next level in writing. Watch for additional information this fall, including opportunities to pilot the resources and share feedback to help ensure these tools become meaningful, effective supports for writing instruction across Kansas classrooms.
Legislative Updates You Need To Know
Literacy Blueprint and Every Child Can Read Act
The 2026 Legislative Session included significant new requirements related to literacy. House Bill 2485 was passed into law this past month and makes significant changes to literacy practices in Kansas. We will highlight a few of the changes briefly here, but you are encouraged to read the bill in its entirety at THIS LINK. The bill expands and extends the earlier Every Child Can Read legislation. While some of what is noted in the bill, such as not allowing three cueing or using materials that are not aligned with structured literacy, are familiar to the work we do in teaching reading, some of the changes are new and have not been requirements in the past. We will address four of those below:
1. For the 2026-2027 academic year, reporting of universal screener data will move to both fall and spring and there will be data for more grade levels than previously collected. In the past we have collected spring data for K,1,2,3, and 8th grade. Now we will be reporting both subskill and composite data for fall and spring and grade levels will include PK (if you have PreK),K,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, and 9th (only fall). We will also be collecting three levels of risk to include high risk, some/low risk, at benchmark. This coming year, systems can use the approved screeners they are already using to meet the requirements.
2. The bill requires Kansas to move to a single statewide universal screening tool. In the next few months, there will be one statewide universal screener selected for use across the state of Kansas which will be implemented starting in the 2027-2028 academic year. That selection will be done using a state procurement process against specific criteria that includes multiple considerations such as technical capabilities/ SIS articulation, validation, reliability and national norming that includes the subskills required as set by the state board of education. KSDE will seek to negotiate a state price for the screener, but there is no fiscal note provided with this bill to fund the screener.
3. Starting in the 2027-2028 academic year, the bill requires that an individual literacy plan be developed in partnership with the parent for any Kindergarten-Grade 3 student who is determined to be high risk based on the universal screener data. Those students would then be provided "A minimum of 90 minutes of targeted and tiered interventions designed to address the student's individual deficiencies per week in one-on-one instruction, small group instruction, tutoring or a summer school program." It is understood that if a student already has an IEP that is addressing reading, they will not need one of these plans. KSDE will create a template for all systems to use in developing these plans and there will be an opportunity for educators to provide feedback on the template before it is finalized.
4."Beginning in school year 2029-2030, each school district shall employ, either through direct employment, shared cooperative agreement or by contract, a licensed reading specialist for each elementary school of the school district". KSDE will continue to provide information regarding institutions that have reading specialist programs that provide an endorsement and any funding or grant opportunities we learn of to support this requirement.
Please know that KSDE will continue to support you and your system as we navigate these requirements and do our best to keep you updated with any information we have as we move forward in addressing the requirements in this legislation.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email: Mary Lonker or Dr. Laurie Curtis
Join Us! Extended Learning Opportunities with KSDE
Purchase your copy directly through The Writing Revolution Website, Amazon, or any bookstore of choice.
The Writing Revolution 2.0
The Writing Revolution 2.0
Join the KSDE ELA team for an abridged study of The Writing Revolution 2.0 highlighting what is new, what is improved, and what works for explicit writing instruction in your classroom. This abridged study is designed for busy educators who want meaningful takeaways without the full book commitment. You’ll walk away with clear strategies, fresh ideas, and tools you can implement in your classroom.
When: Meet for 8 short times through Zoom for an hour each day.
June 8 - 11th from 10:00 - 11:00 AM
June 15 - 18th from 10:00 - 11:00 AM
Who: Any educator wanting to strengthen writing instruction in the classroom
How: Click on the Registration Link. But hurry! Registration will close by May 19th.
Earn PDC points to submit to your district for the next school year!
You will receive 1 hour of professional development credit for each Monday meeting you can attend. A certificate will be sent out the following day for you to collect and submit to your district.
Once registration is closed, you will receive a confirmation email, a zoom link, and an outline for each meeting date in June.
Registration opens in March so secure July 27-29 on your calendars and start building your team who will attend this transformative event.
Click on THIS LINK to find out more information, group rate pricing, and registration.
Great Ideas Conference
Great Ideas Conference
Make 2026 your district’s most aligned and impactful year yet by attending the Great Ideas in Education Conference, July 27-29, to ignite coherence, accelerate learning and expand opportunities.
Join the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) for a powerful three-day experience at the Wichita Hyatt Regency & Convention Center designed to align leadership teams and drive meaningful change across Kansas schools. This year’s theme focuses on high-leverage practices that boost student success, remove barriers, and create equitable opportunities for every learner.
Why attend the Great Ideas conference?
Strategic back-to-school kickoff: Perfect timing to review data, refine plans, and start the year with clarity and momentum.
Collaborative learning: Connect with peers from similar districts, share best practices, and strengthen collective impact.
Role-aligned sessions: Every team member—from academics to operations—will gain actionable insights tailored to their responsibilities.
Purchase your copy of the book directly through the Keys to Literacy website, click on the QR code above, or buy through your favorite bookstore or online store.
The Essentials of Adolescent Literacy
The Essentials of Adolescent Literacy
The KSDE ELA team will be partnering with the Early Literacy team to offer a text-based learning opportunity with Joan Sedita’s new book, Adolescent Literacy Integrating Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Instruction in Grades 5-12.
When: Starting next fall through Zoom.
We will begin Monday, September 7th - Monday, November 2nd
From 5:00 - 6:00 PM
Who: Any educators in grades 4-12, including classroom teachers, special education/intervention educators, literacy coaches, and administrators.
What To Expect: This book helps secondary educators understand the unique aspects of adolescent literacy. We will cover the practical suggestions for integrating reading and writing instruction into content-area classrooms and providing data-driven intervention for older struggling students.
How: Click on the registration link. Registration will be open until August 19, 2026.
Earn PDC points to submit to your district!
You will receive 1 hour of professional development credit for each Monday night meeting you can attend. A certificate will be sent out the following day for you to collect and submit to your district.
Once registration is closed in August, you will receive a confirmation email, a zoom link, and an outline for each date
Interested in Teaching AP?
Interested in Teaching AP?
Advanced Placement classess gives students the opportunity to engage in complex text, explore ideas in depth, and develop strong communication skills. For schools that don't currently offer these courses, introducing AP English courses opens doors for students to not only earn college credit, but also ensures students have access to rigourous academic opportunities that prepare them for post secondary reading and writing content. If interested in learning more, you can check out the AP Summer Institutes that offer training either in person or virtually. Grants are even available to attend the summer training for free! You don't even need to begin teaching an AP course yet, but become trained and knowledgeable on how to align your curriculum and get resources and ideas.
HELP SPREAD THE NEWS! Make sure you and your colleagues are signed up to receive the ELA newsletter with updated information, professional development opportunities, and guidance documents each month. Click the link HERE to join our KSDE ELA Listserve.
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