Record rates of covid-positive teachers across Kansas and Missouri have left districts scrambling to find warm bodies to plug the staffing holes.

Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson warned that some districts are edging closer to temporary closures or shifts to remote learning. 

Watson told KSHB 41 News, "I think every public and private school system right now is under stress as the substitute teacher load in every one of our private and public-school districts is high. The lack of substitutes is there," Watson said. "But as we sit here, right now, in mid-January, I would say every one of our school districts is under stress, to find enough qualified staff to stay open."

Faced with a dire situation, the Kansas State Board of Education temporarily eased regulations by removing the college credit requirement to work as substitute teachers.

According to the Kansas City Star, Lee's Summit School District superintendent stepped into the classroom to teach, and COVID-related absences forced the Southern Boone School District to shutter temporarily.

Last fall, the Missouri State Board of Education changed requirements for substitute teachers to address the shortages. Applicants now need only have a high school diploma, pass a background check and take a 20-hour online course. 

Early Care and Education

Pre-K funding

Two proposed bills would allow school districts and charters (LEAs) to draw down increased funding for Pre-K programs. Right now, LEAs can claim up to 4 percent of their overall free- and reduced lunch population to receive additional state aid. Senator Lauren Arthur and Representative Brenda Shields's proposed legislation would incrementally raise that threshold to 10 percent over four years.

SB 816 (Arthur) - Modifies the calculation of average daily attendance for early childhood programs. Read First Time on 1-5-22.

HB 2341 (Shields) - Modifies the calculation of average daily attendance for early childhood programs. Read Second Time on 1-10-22

Early childhood quality

In 2016, Missouri removed the ban on quality rating systems for early care and education programs. SB 638 legislation also established a voluntary pilot quality assurance report (QAR) to provide benchmarks and frameworks for quality improvements. Unfortunately, initial withholds stalled program implementation, and pandemic-related disruptions to the child care industry slowed progress.

The QAR has a sunset provision that Aligned worked to extend once with SB 743, which expires on August 28, 2022. We will continue to work with lawmakers to make the QAR program permanent. Generally, for states to receive federal funding for early care and education, grant requirements specify that there must be a quality system in place, or the state must demonstrate that one is in the works.

HB 2365 (Shields) - Makes the early learning quality assurance report permanent. Read Second Time on 1-11-22.

SB 846 (Eslinger) - Repeals the expiration date on the early learning quality assurance report program. Read First Time on 1-5-22.

SB 800 (Hegeman) - Repeals the expiration date on the early learning quality assurance report program. Read First time on 1-5-22.

Teacher Shortages

Alternative certifications

In 2018, Aligned helped pass HB 1665, which created the Visiting Scholars program, an alternative certification pathway for subject matter experts to obtain a valid credential to teach in a business-education program in Missouri high schools. With many districts facing severe staffing shortages across the state, broadening this innovative program makes sense. The Visiting Scholars expansion provisions will allow school leaders to hire subject-matter experts with college degrees in hard-to-fill subject areas or hard-to-staff schools. The following bills include language to amend the current visiting scholars' provisions.

HB 1928 (Pollitt) - Modifies requirements for a visiting scholar's certificate of license to teach. Read second time on 1-6-22.

HB 2089 (Pollitt) - Modifies provisions governing teacher employment. Read second time on 1-6-22.

SB 999 (Gannon) - Modifies provisions regarding employment of retired education personnel by school districts. Read first time on 1-5-22.

Pay flexibility

Findings from a recent survey presented to the State Board of Education in January of 2020 suggested that 70 percent of students were not interested in pursuing a teaching career. When asked, "What would make the teaching profession more attractive to you?" the most common response was "Better pay." For example, math and science teachers earn salaries far lower than professionals in other math and science fields.

Allowing school superintendents and local school boards flexibility in placing teachers on the salary schedule provides another tool for recruitment and retention in addressing shortage areas.

The following bill permits an alternative pay structure.

HB 1770 (Lewis) allows school districts to create differentiated teacher salary schedules. Read second time on 1-6-22.

Individualized Learning

Missouri has an opportunity to take a significant step forward in education by supporting student-centered, competency-based education (CBE). We know students learn at different rates and in various ways, but previous educators designed the system for learning within a rigid timeframe and uniform instruction. As a result, students who master content quickly often have to slow down while others catch up, whiles those who need additional time to reach proficiency are sometimes left behind. A competency-based education system awards students credits within a more individualized time frame and demonstration of mastery. 

HB 1956 (Richey) - Establishes the Competency-based Education Grant Program and Competency-based Education Task Force. Read second time on 1/6/22.

SB 660 (Arthur) - Establishes the Show Me Success diploma Program, The Competency-Based Education Grant Program, The Competency-Based Education Task Force, and a competency-based credit system for high school students. Referred to Senate Committee on Education on 1-10-22.

Click here to see the current status of Aligned Priority legislation.

The first full week of session has officially come to an end. Bills are being assigned, public hearings are taking place, and the halls are starting to fill with special interest groups. While the extraordinarily quick start is leaving many Capitol regulars trying to adapt to the hastened pace, many are trying to be mindful of the current uptick of COVID cases.

This week, the House Redistricting Committee passed the proposed congressional redistricting map out of the committee. Numerous other committees dedicated their week to hearings on key priority issues, including initiative petition reform, charter school funding, and anti-vaccine mandates. The House is already working swiftly to get its priorities over to the Senate side of the building.

Meanwhile, tensions are already flaring in the Senate, and they spent their week debating proposed rule changes. For the first time in decades, the Missouri Senate approved changes on how members can use the previous question (PQ) to end a filibuster. After a five-hour debate, the Senate adopted compromise language, and 10, instead of 5, senators are now needed to move a PQ motion. Since session began, tensions and complaints have carried over and continued from last session. With internal fighting and disagreements already underway, this should make for an interesting session.

Click here for the full legislative summary including our tracking report.

The 2022 Kansas Legislative Session kicked off on Monday with more steam than usual. Lawmakers introduced over 70 bills and scheduled several hearings for next week. In addition, committees were busy receiving reports from agency heads on various programs and settling into the rhythm of the legislative session. 

State of the State Address 

Governor Laura Kelly presented her election-year State of the State Address on Tuesday evening, where she made clear to Kansans what her priorities are for the upcoming year. Medicaid expansion continues to top that list. 

As expected, she proposed eliminating the state sales tax on food and a $250 per taxpayer bonus as her tax cut plan due to the nearly $3 billion ending balance projected for this fiscal year. The Governor also announced a freeze on tuition for higher education at state universities. In her speech. Kelly touted her administration’s success in economic development, broadband access in rural communities, and “closing the bank of KDOT” from sweeps to the State General Fund. 

The address had few surprises and garnered little reaction from House and Senate leadership. 

Click here to read the rest of the report from our legislative consultant.

Governor Laura Kelly and the State Finance Council (SFC) approved using over $150 million in federal COVID-19 funds on day one of the 2022 session. The education-related funding will:

1. Provide $1,000 per child to low-income families to purchase educational materials, computers, software, and tutoring services ($50 million).
2. Provide $4 million for broadband matching funds for school districts to use alongside the FCC’s E-rate program.
3. Provide $11.7 million for the Kansas Board of Regents to address opportunity gaps, student well-being improvement, and higher education efforts.

The SFC took recommendations from the Strengthening and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) executive committee, which oversees the distribution of ARPA funds.

We are finalizing our policy briefs for 2022 and our annual report for 2021. We hope to share both with you soon. Buckle up for busy sessions on both sides of the state line, but in the meantime, enjoy the long weekend and GO CHIEFS!

Torree Pederson

President

Aligned

Torree@WeAreAligned.org

(913) 484-4202

Linda Rallo

Vice President

Aligned

Linda@WeAreAligned.org

(314) 330-8442