Thursday, August 13 2026
Action Items
| Schools/Departments | Description |
| All Administrators | |
| Principals and Building Administrators |
Informational Items
| Schools/Departments | Description |
| All Administrators | |
| Principals and Building Administrators | |
| High School Principals | |
| Middle and High School Administrators | |
| Middle School Principals | |
| Elementary School Principals |
Action Items
All Administrators
Last Chance to Register for Adaptive Schools or Cognitive Coaching
Contact Person: Lindsey Schneider
Reminder - Registration is open for two professional learning opportunities designed to strengthen collaboration, leadership, and coaching practices. Registration Deadline for Both Opportunities: Friday, August 21, 2026
Adaptive Schools – 4-Day Seminar
Adaptive Schools provides tools and strategies to make collaboration purposeful, meetings productive, and group decision-making more effective.
Who should attend?
- Required: CSI & ISI principals and Instructional Coaches who have not previously completed Adaptive Schools
- Strongly encouraged: Principals, ICs, and DLT members who have not previously completed Adaptive Schools
- Also open to: Building Leadership Team members
Commitment: Participants must attend all four days in their entirety. Training is limited to 80 participants and registration is first-come, first-served.
Cognitive Coaching – 8-Day Seminar
Cognitive Coaching is designed to deepen and advance coaching practices for leaders who have already completed Adaptive Schools.
Who should attend?
- Principals, ICs, and district leaders who have previously completed Adaptive Schools
Commitment: Participants must attend all eight full days throughout the school year. Training is limited to 40 participants and registration is first-come, first-served. There are only 8 seats left!
Register for Cognitive Coaching
Please share this information with team members who should participate. Questions may be directed to Lindsey Schneider.
Final Proposal Deadline for Learning Summit: August 20
Contact Person: Tiffany Judkins
Please share the following information with all staff:
“KCKPS educators and staff are invited to submit a proposal for this year’s Learning Summit, a three-part series designed for choice-based, job-embedded professional learning focused on student impact.
The final deadline to submit a proposal to facilitate a session is Thursday, August 20! Applicants will receive confirmation of acceptance status by Friday, August 28. You will find the proposal form here.
Facilitators of accepted proposals receive compensation for planning time. For questions, reach out to Tiffany Judkins, Coordinator of Professional Learning.”
KCKPS Social Media Updates: New Kansas Law & Comment Settings
Contact Person: Perla Navarro-Ortiz
Due to the new Kansas law HB 2299, which places new restrictions on how school districts and employees communicate with students through social media, KCKPS is making updates to its social media practices. The law requires school districts to limit social media communication with students to one-way communication.
To comply with HB 2299:
- Comments: All KCKPS social media accounts will need to turn off comments on all future social media posts moving forward. Comments will not be disabled on previously published posts.
- Comment Settings Guide: A guide with instructions for turning off comments on Facebook, Instagram, and X will be provided to support staff with this transition. Each platform has its own tab, with the instructions located on the left-hand side of the document. Click here for the Social Media Comment Guide.
- Social Media Contacts: We are requesting updated social media contact information for each building and department.
For questions and/or to provide updated social media contact information, please reach out to Perla Navarro-Ortiz.
Principals and Building Administrators
Target Community Engagement Fund Grant Open to Individual Schools
Contact Person: Juli O'Mealey Simmons
Attention Principals
TARGET CORPORATE GIVING GRANT OPEN TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS
Funding Range: $1,000–$15,000
Focus Areas:
- Thriving Families: Basic needs and youth development.
- Vibrant Neighborhoods: Community vitalization; Community and green spaces. (i.e., school grounds)
- Emerging Creative & Culture: Cultural partnerships and creative programming.
- Economic Opportunity: Workforce development
District Approval Required (BOE POLICY): Email Grant Coordinator Juli O’Mealey Simmons to communicate intent to apply.
Application deadline: September 3, 2026
Deadline to contact KCKPS Grant Writer: August 27, 2026, at 5 PM CST.
The funder will allow only 10 applications from the district.
Principals interested in applying should contact the KCKPS Grant Coordinator, Juli O’Mealey Simmons (juli.omealeysimmons@kckps.org), as soon as possible, as the district will approve the 10 applications on a first-come, first-served basis.
Direct any questions to Juli O’Mealey Simmons
PD on Wednesday, August 19 - FastBridge Training
Contact Person: Nathan Harris
Purpose: Ensure all staff administering FastBridge assessments are trained and certified for the 2026–27 school year.
Facilitation:
- Access the FastFlix Reading, Behavior, and Math Assessments resource in the Training and Resources section of the FastBridge program. (All Building staff have access to FastBridge through ClassLink.)
- Use these materials to plan your building’s PD. Select lessons, videos, and resources that fit your building’s needs and grade levels.
- Refer to the FastBridge Assessment Schedule to determine which assessments are required for each grade level.
Participation Requirements:
- Required: Any staff member who will administer a FastBridge assessment must participate in this training and sign off upon completion to be certified.
- Returning staff option: At the building’s discretion, returning staff may recertify individually by completing the assessment-specific certification in the FastBridge Training and Resources section.
Building Responsibilities:
Determine the format (whole group, grade level teams, or individual certification for returning staff).
Ensure Building Testing Coordinator tracks completion and compliance for all staff who will administer assessments.
Information Items
All Administrators
Facebook, Instagram & Digital Accessibility
Contact Person: Dr. Lauren Hernandez
Social media is a fast and fun way to connect with families, staff, and students—but it moves quickly, and accessibility is often overlooked.
With accessibility requirements based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), we have some new requirements to follow. To meet WCAG guidelines, here are a few easy practices to ensure everyone can engage with your posts, including people who use screen readers, have low vision, are hard of hearing, or process information differently.
Write Clear, Meaningful Captions
- Use plain language.
- Break up long paragraphs into short, readable chunks.
- Place the most important info near the beginning of your post.
- Use sentence case (not ALL CAPS or all lowercase).
- Avoid emojis in place of words—screen readers will read them aloud.
- Place hashtags and emojis at the end of the caption.
Example
Correct: Join us for the Spring Art Show! Thursday, May 9 at 6:30 PM in the gym. Free and open to all families. 🎉🙌
Incorrect: 🎨✨come 2 r SPRING SHOW may 9 gym @ 6:30!!! 🎉🙌
Add Alt Text to Images
All images should include alt text that describes what the image shows and why it’s important.
This helps screen reader users understand your content.
Posting Flyers
Your flyer should be clear and simple. Avoid using too many words or important information as screen readers will not be able to read the text. The flyer can have pictures and graphics, but all important information should be in the caption.
Below are 2 examples of how you can post a flyer and pictures while also being accessible.
The first example shows a flyer about a school enrollment event. The post’s text gives more detailed information about the event. This is accessible because a person who uses a screen reader will be able to get the information from this post. If the post was just a flyer with the information, the screen readers would only see the flyer as an image, and would not be able to read the information on the flyer.
The second example shows how you can post a picture of an event while also having detailed information in the post’s text.
For more information, please visit our Digital Accessibility Guidelines.
2026 - 2027 Student Code of Conduct
Contact Person:Dr. Sarah Lucero
You can find the 2026-2027 Code of Conduct here.
Virtual Learning Fall Registration
Contact Person: La'Derrick Collins
Fall 2026 Virtual Learning Registration is open through August 20th 2026. All students must complete orientation to finalize their enrollment. Orientation sessions are scheduled for August 7- August 28, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Once registration is processed, a link will be sent to the guardian to schedule their orientation appointment. Please note that students who do not complete orientation will be referred back to in-person learning at their home school for the fall semester. For more information or assistance with registration, please contact our office at virtualschool@kckps.org.
Board Policy Update - Social Media Policy
Contact Person: Dawn Downing
The Social Media Policy was adopted/approved on July 21, 2026. This is a brand new policy. JCDCA Social Media Policy
Principals and Building Administrators
HES Form Reminder
Contact Person: Dr. Angela Grant
Not all families are required to fill out a Household Economic Survey (HES) form. Families whose income are directly certified via SNAP, Medicaid, et cetera do not need to fill out an HES form. These families and students are included in the “Complete HES Forms -All Students” report in the HES coordinators folder of the Filter Designer in Infinite Campus and will count towards your building’s completion rate.
Please remind HES coordinators to consult the “Complete HES Forms -All Students” and “Incomplete HES Forms - All Students” report daily. Outreach efforts should focus on families appearing on the Incomplete Forms report.
Thank you for your continued efforts to support strong HES completion rates and maximize funding for our district!
Important Reminder: First Semester Instructional Materials Checkout
Contact Person: Brandi Mendenhall
The following communication has been emailed to the designated person that supports curriculum materials management in your building.
This is a reminder that all first-semester materials for your building should be checked out to staff by this time.
Completing the checkout process helps us maintain accurate records and allows other buildings to identify where additional materials may be available when there is a need.
Thank you for your assistance in keeping our materials inventory accurate and accessible across the district. If you have any questions or need assistance with the checkout process, please let me know.
Update to Registrar PD
Contact Person: Jenell Englert
Registrar training will occur on the following dates outside the department PD calendar:
- November 10th (8:30-10:30 in CO 131)
- This session was added because many registrars are also attendance secretaries and they will have to participate in Attend to Achieve trainings on 11/4 and 11/11. However, registrars have time sensitive training needs regarding permits that need to be covered in November.
- December 9th (2pm-4pm in the East Wing)
- The department PD day in December is on 12/18, but registrars will need training before leaving for Winter Break on tasks that need to take place during December (in particular, communicating revoked permits to families).
Update to i-Ready Window
Contact Person: Dr. Angela Grant
The i-Ready Inform Math Assessment window for grades 1-8 will now end on September 4. This allows all buildings at least two weeks for testing after the end of device rollout.
DERA and Curriculum & Instruction encourage buildings to complete the assessment by the original August 28 deadline whenever possible. Completing the assessment early in the window will support instructional planning and help teachers remain in sync with district pacing guides.
Assessment Schedule Available
Contact Person: Nathan Harris
In addition to the Assessment Schedule being available on the DERA Intranet page, please remind staff to choose to bookmark the intranet page or the 26-27 KCKPS Assessment Schedule in the event of assessment changes throughout the year.
High School Principals
Student Conference Opportunity
Contact Person: Dr. Lauren Hernandez
This Fall, UMKC would like to host a Student Community Leadership Conference specifically designed for KCKPS and KCMO districts. The date is October 13, 2026. The event is free, lunch is provided, and the program will end at 1:30pm.
Please reach out to Robert N. Page at the Legacy Group Online.
Secondary ELA Has Officially Launched Our New HQIMs!
Contact Person: Dr. Kendra Holliday
We've officially launched Amplify ELA in our middle schools and CommonLit 360 in our high schools!
Thank you for your partnership in helping make this launch a success. We know Year 1 brings excitement, many questions, and opportunities to learn, and we appreciate all you've done to support your ELA teachers so far through this transition.
As a reminder, all of the tools and resources needed to support ELA implementation this year can be found in the ELA GVCs and the Secondary ELA Canvas Course.
As we move through Year 1, our professional learning will continue to focus on supporting teachers with collaboratively internalizing units and lessons, applying targeted scaffolds, and ensuring all students can access and meet grade-level rigor.
Research tells us that professional learning is most impactful when it extends beyond the training session and is embedded in teachers' day-to-day work. That's why we've developed the PLC Roadmap—to support ongoing collaboration and implementation between district professional learning sessions throughout the year.
- Amplify ELA PLC Roadmap
- CommonLit 360 PLC Roadmap
If you have any questions or would like additional support, please don't hesitate to reach out to Dr. Kendra Holliday. We’re excited to partner with you as we continue strengthening ELA instruction across our district.
Middle and High School Administrators
World Languages: Supporting Instruction in 2026-27
Contact Person: Delia Perez-Solorzano
World Language teachers launched the 2026-27 school year with a shared focus on proficiency-based instruction and intentional use of our adopted instructional resources. Throughout the year, professional learning will continue to support teachers with collaborative planning, instructional implementation, and creating meaningful opportunities for students to use language to communicate.
Administrators, implementation coaches, and teachers can find curriculum, professional learning materials, and implementation supports in:
- World Languages GVCs - Link to District GVC Landing Page
- World Languages Canvas Course - Link (Must be logged into Classlink first)
Instructional Routines
- Galería Instructional Routines for Heritage Spanish teachers
- Wayside Instructional Routines for Spanish & French teachers using EntreCulturas and EntreCultures
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting World Language teachers and students.
For any questions or additional support, please contact Delia Perez-Solorzano.
Middle School Principals
Quarter 1 Lexia Challenge: Start Strong!
Contact Person:Dr. Kendra Holliday
As we begin Quarter 1, our focus is on strengthening W.I.N. implementation through G.U.L.P.S. by helping students consistently meet their personalized Lexia usage goals (minutes and units).
Why does it matter? Last year's district data showed that students who met or exceeded their personalized usage goals in at least 50% of the weeks they used Lexia demonstrated stronger growth in Word Study, Grammar, and Comprehension than students who did not. (See the this district data slide.)
Quarter 1 Challenge
- The building with the highest average weekly unit completion will earn the Lexia Traveling Trophy.
- The top WIN class at each building will receive a celebratory treat!
As you visit WIN classrooms, encourage students and teachers to stay focused on G.U.L.P.S. and celebrate progress along the way. Building strong routines now lays the foundation for meaningful growth throughout the year.
Please see the linked Quarter 1 Lexia Challenge flyer for additional details. If you have any questions or would like support strengthening WIN implementation, please don't hesitate to reach out to Dr. Kendra Holliday.
Elementary School Principals
i-Ready Math Resources to Support Beginning-of-Year Planning
Contact Person: Mikheala Dozier
i-Ready Math Resources to Support Beginning-of-Year Planning
As you prepare for the new school year, these i-Ready resources can support beginning-of-year professional learning, PLCs, and collaborative planning. They provide historical data and instructional tools to help teachers identify student strengths, determine areas of need, and proactively plan Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III instruction. Using these resources before the first Inform Assessment can help teams make informed instructional decisions from the start and position students for success.
Tips and Tools: Setting Goals and Engaging Students (Prior to Fall Inform Assessment)
The Tips and Tools: Setting Goals and Engaging Students resource provides strategies to prepare students for the Inform Assessment, support goal setting, facilitate data conversations, engage families, and build student ownership of learning.
Unpacking Standards, Unit Preparation, and Lesson Internalization Resources
Support strong Tier I instruction with the Unpacking Standards Activity Guide, Unit Internalization, Kindergarten Lesson Internalization,1st Grade Lesson Internalization, and 2nd–5th Grade Lesson Internalization. Available in i-Ready Success Central, the MTSS Protocol, and the Math Additional Resources section of the GVC, these tools help teachers unpack standards, anticipate student thinking, and internalize lessons for effective Tier I instruction.
Historical Results (Student) Report
The Historical Results (Student) report provides up to three years of student assessment, growth, and lesson completion data.
Instructional Uses
- Analyze student performance over time.
- Identify strengths and instructional needs before the first Inform Assessment.
- Plan differentiated Tier I instruction and targeted Tier II/Tier III supports.
- Monitor learning trends throughout the year.
Historical Results (Class) Report
The Historical Results (Class) report provides a class-wide view of prior Inform Assessment performance and online instruction progress.
Instructional Uses
- Identify class-wide strengths, trends, and unfinished learning.
- Prioritize standards for Tier I instruction.
- Identify students who may benefit from Tier II or Tier III support.
- Inform collaborative instructional planning.
If you have any questions or would like additional support, please don’t hesitate to contact Mikheala Dozier.