Thursday, July 30 2026
Action Items
| Departments/Schools | Description |
| All Administrators | |
| Principals and Building Administrators |
Informational Items
| Departments/Schools | Description |
| All Administrators | |
| Principals and Building Administrators | |
| Elementary Principals |
Action Items
All Administrators
UPDATE to Mandatory Training Talking Points for KCKPS Harassment & Discrimination Video #5
Contact Person:Lisa Walker
Please note there is an update to the talking points delivered after the first five Harassment and Discrimination training videos.
In Video #5: KCKPS District Harassment and Discrimination Policies & Reporting, the District Disability Discrimination Coordinator is now Katina Brenn, Associate Superintendent of Special Education and Student Support Services.
The facilitation guide, HR Administrator Guide, and KCK Principal Handbook have been updated to reflect this change. During the designated pause in the training, facilitators should use the updated talking points when presenting to participants.
Please reach out if you have any questions.
Cell Phone Messaging
Contact Person:Lauren Hernandez
Administrators,
Beginning July 1, 2026, House Bill 2299 prohibits students from using personal electronic communication devices during the school day and requires that such devices be turned off and securely stored away from students while on school grounds.
We know you, your staff, students, and families are anxious about how to best communicate these expectations with your community.
To help in messaging, here is a link where you will find a Cell Phone Policy Messaging Kit where you will find templates for your staff and families.
If you have further questions, please reach out to your EDs or the Communications & Marketing department.
Thank you,
Communications & Marketing
KSDE Data Quality Certification Training (DQC) 2026-2027
Contact Person: Jonathan Wilson
This is a required training for staff in the following roles who are new or did not complete the DQC Certification last year:
August 27th 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Central Office Training Center 131-133
Buildings: Principals, Assistant Principals, Counselors, Registrars
Diploma+ CCIP district staff
Executive Directors
HR: LPR team
SPED: district compliance staff
SSFS: MES district staff and coaches, McKinney Vento, AtoA district staff, Welcome Center, Alternative/Virtual Programs
Family and Community Engagement Department
Administrators are to sign up relevant staff or refer them to the following sign-up which will ensure that they get reminder communications about the training.
Staff who completed the training last year are encouraged to recertify online via the KSDE training portal. The recertification course for 2026-27 is not yet available; we will communicate when it becomes available.
For additional questions or information, contact Jonathan Wilson
ParentSquare is Coming!
Contact Person: Dr. Canise Salinas-Willich
KCKPS is preparing to transition to ParentSquare, our new districtwide communication platform for staff and families.
Here's What You Need to Do
Continue Using BrightArrow BrightChat
Until ParentSquare launches, BrightArrow BrightChat remains our district-approved platform for two-way communication with families. Please use BrightChat for parent messaging during this transition.
Update Your Employee Contact Information
To ensure a smooth ParentSquare rollout, please verify that your mobile phone number and personal email address are current in Employee Online.
Deadline: As soon as possible
What's Next?
- Continue using BrightChat
- Update your contact information
- Watch for ParentSquare training and rollout updates in the coming weeks
Thank you for helping us create a seamless communication experience for our students, families, and staff.
Better Every Day: Clarity. Culture. Results!
Principals and Building Administrators
2026 Ruby Bridges Walk to School Mini-Grants Available Now!
Contact Person: Juli O'Mealey Simmons
- Mini-grants of $500 and $1,000 will be available to support local Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day Celebrations.
- KCKPS Approval Deadline: Friday, August 28, 2026
- Grant Application Deadline: September 4, 2026, 11:59 Pacific Time
- KCKPS Grant Approval Form link: Grant Final Approval Form
- Funds must be used to support a Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day event on or around November 14, 2026. Projects must align with the goals of Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day:
- 1) Promote constructive dialogue about activism, anti-racism, and anti-bullying
- 2) Inspire young people to make positive changes in their community, and 3) Encourage students to walk, bike, or roll to school on the day of the event.
- Funding
- $500 grants will be awarded for events reaching less than 400 students
- $1000 grants will be awarded for events reaching more than 400 students
- Funds can be used for, but not limited to, some of the following ideas:
- Incentives and giveaways
- Printing costs – posters, handouts, banners
- Supplies for students to make banners, posters
- StoryWalk® Supplies
- Stipends for staff/volunteer organizing
- Books about Ruby Bridges, activism, anti-bullying, anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Guest speakers and presentation
- Educational workshops and activities
- Art, photo, or essay contests
- T-shirts, badges, or other commemorative items (bookmarks, pins, wristbands)
- Food and refreshments
- Media Roundtable
Make sure to register your 2026 Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day Event with the Ruby Bridges Foundation.The Ruby Bridges Foundation
Applications can be found here.
Assessment Schedule Reminder
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.
The 26-27 Assessment Schedule is currently pending KSDE and departmental approval.
Building Testing Coordinator Assignment Reminder
Contact Person: Nathan Harris
Principals please assign your 2026-2027 S/Y Building Testing Coordinator before August 5th.
A Building Testing Coordinator is essential to obtain reliable and valid scores for accountability purposes in addition to organizing the testing process per KSDE.
- Assign your 26-27 Building Testing Coordinator to the document for each applicable assessment (columns C - M).
- Building Testing Coordinator Responsibilities chart is linked in the document to provide you workload and responsibilities for assessments that apply to your building.
- If you wish to be part of all communications in each assessment, please also include yourself as the Building Testing Coordinator.
Schedule Your School’s Family and Community Curriculum Nights
Contact Person: Suzie Legg
We will continue to hold two academic-focused Curriculum Nights at each school this year to engage families, share student data, and empower caregivers to support learning at home. These events align with the KCKPS District goal of increasing two-way communication and fostering collaborative partnerships with families and the community, while providing targeted programming around academic and social-emotional needs.
- First Curriculum Night: September 14 – December 4, 2026
- Second Curriculum Night: January 11 – April 9, 2027
Please coordinate your dates as a high school cluster group using this calendar to avoid overlapping literacy or math nights. For full guidance, see the Curriculum Nights Planning Document.
Information Items
All Administrators
Important Payroll Update: Overtime & Comp Time
Contact Person: Angela Monroe
Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, compensatory (comp) time will no longer be available for eligible non-exempt employees.
Instead, approved overtime worked over 40 hours in a workweek will be paid at the applicable overtime rate through the next available payroll cycle.
Reminder: All overtime must be approved in advance by your supervisor. Please work with your supervisor to plan for any anticipated overtime needs.
Thank you for your continued dedication to our students and district!
Principals and Building Administrators
Annual Suicide Risk Assessment & Critical Incident Response Team Training
Contact Person: Tracie Chauvin
Our annual Suicide Risk Assessment and Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) Training for district school counselors and social workers will be held on the morning of Friday, August 7, 2026 from 8:00am-11:30 am at Central Office 132-133. Please plan accordingly and support their attendance.
This annual training is required to ensure our Behavioral Health Teams are prepared to provide consistent, effective support to our school communities when the need arises. It also supports the district's compliance with the Jason Flatt Act.
Thank you for your partnership in ensuring our counselors and social workers are able to participate in this important annual training.
Elementary Principals
Physical Education Department PD for Elementary
Contact Person: Liz Moyer or Christine Scharenberg
Elementary Physical Education teachers will attend department professional development on August 4 in place of the Conscious Discipline training. A separate professional learning session has been scheduled for all Physical Education teachers on that date.
Elementary Physical Education teachers will participate in the second day of Conscious Discipline training as scheduled.
If you have any questions, please contact Liz Moyer or Christine Scharenberg