Kansas education commissioner highlights academic challenges

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas' education commissioner says there are several challenges the state faces in its education system.

The Topeka Capital-Journal (http://bit.ly/2b4bYDm ) reports that commissioner Randy Watson told the Kansas Board of Education on Tuesday that the state must work with students and their families to improve high school graduation rates.

According to Watson, only 86 percent of Kansas high school students will finish high school on time.

"Eight-six isn't good enough," Watson told the Kansas State Board of Education.

Watson says the state is also challenged by high turnover among superintendents and principals. There was a turnover of 61 superintendents this past school year.

The state has 280 superintendents for its 286 school districts. According to Watson, some of the superintendents are new that particular level of district administration, some graduated from high school only 10 years ago and some superintendents were teachers as of last school year.

"We have a greening of our staff," Watson said, "not a graying."

Kansas' education department is promoting a concept in which high schools work more closely with students and their families on developing individual study plans that help each student prepare better for life after high school.

Individual plans would incorporate each student's interests and goals to help them explore career interests while still in high school. They could be connected to potential careers through job-related coursework and internships.

Watson said the department has an "aspirational" goal of reaching a 100 percent graduation rate.

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Information from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com

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