Image courtesy KDSE

In his annual report to the Kansas State Board of Education, Education Commissioner Dr. Randy Watson highlighted the ongoing priority of preparing Kansas students for success beyond high school. He said the state continues to focus on raising graduation rates while ensuring students gain both academic and practical skills to strengthen the workforce.

Watson presented a draft of “Coherence”, the Kansas State Department of Education’s 2024-25 annual report, showing steady growth in postsecondary participation. More than 40,700 high school students took college-level courses in 2024-25, earning over 366,000 dual credit hours—up more than 33,000 from the previous year. AP exam success has also risen, with nearly 12,240 exams earning top scores in 2023-24. Participation in career and technical education continues to increase, and literacy initiatives have expanded, with over 17,000 educators completing or enrolled in LETRS® training. Teacher vacancies have dropped 21% since 2024, marking major progress in strengthening Kansas’s educator workforce.