Image courtesy KSDE
Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson announced 245 districts and systems recognized in this year’s Kansans Can Star Recognition Program during the State Board of Education meeting on October 14 in Topeka. The program celebrates districts and systems for outstanding achievements that reflect success across Kansas schools, using both quantitative and qualitative measures.
Districts can earn gold, silver, bronze, or copper stars in areas such as academic preparation for postsecondary education, high school graduation, postsecondary success, and the Commissioner’s Award. Qualitative recognition covers social-emotional growth, kindergarten readiness, individual plans of study (IPS), and civic engagement. The Commissioner’s Award honors districts that exceed their predicted postsecondary effectiveness rate, which accounts for risk factors like poverty, chronic absenteeism, and student mobility, with higher deviations earning awards with Honors.
Four districts that surpassed their predicted rate by two or more standard deviations received the Commissioner’s Award with Highest Distinction in 2025:
- Erie-Galesburg USD 101
- Plainville USD 270
- Satanta USD 507
- St. John–Hudson USD 350
Other 2025 Star Recognition awards included the following:
- There were 40 districts/systems recognized in the social-emotional growth outcomes area: 9 silvers, 11 bronzes and 20 coppers in 2025.
- There were 26 districts/systems recognized in the kindergarten readiness outcome area: 3 silvers, 20 bronzes and 3 coppers in 2025.
- There were 28 districts/systems recognized in the civic engagement outcome area: 4 golds, 2 silvers, 13 bronzes and 9 coppers in 2025.
- There were 48 districts/systems recognized in the individual plan of study (IPS) outcome area: 23 coppers, 20 bronzes, four silvers and one gold for 2024.
- There were 148 districts/systems recognized in the high school graduation outcome area: 76 golds, 28 silvers, 38 bronzes and 6 coppers in 2025.
- There were 140 districts/systems recognized in the academically prepared for postsecondary outcome area: 2 golds, 21 silvers, 42 bronzes and 75 coppers in 2025.
- There were 140 districts/systems recognized in the postsecondary success outcome area: 10 golds, 36 silvers, 42 bronzes and 52 coppers.
