2025 Kansas MTSS & Alignment Symposium

Can thoughtful systemic benchmark assessments effectively change instruction? Two large Kansas districts developed a district comprehensive assessment system aligned with their pacing and curriculum to inform classroom strategies and support the level of rigor needed for state assessment readiness. When designed thoughtfully a comprehensive assessment footprint can provide teachers with clear insights into student understanding, enabling actionable feedback and instructional adjustments. By examining patterns in student thinking across assessments and learning experiences, educators can uncover deeper insights into students' conceptual development, learning processes, and schemas, allowing for more targeted and sustained instructional adjustments. Emphasizing growth over evaluation, assessment should promote clarity, individualized support, and professional development, ultimately enhancing student outcomes.

Does teaching math vocabulary seem time consuming and challenging to incorporate consistently within math lessons, consequently it gets left out? Let us help you! We will share recommendations from the Institute of Education Sciences, the critical components needed to teach concise & precise mathematical language as well as easy to implement strategies. Leave this session with new insight and ideas on how to immediately embed essential math vocabulary into your daily objectives. Let’s approach teaching math vocabulary with the same purposeful focus we give to core math skills.

In this interactive session designed for building leaders with active PLC processes, participants will explore how to strengthen Professional Learning Community (PLC) implementation by actively assessing, analyzing, and supporting collaborative teams. Effective PLCs require two key leadership strategies: shared leadership and loose-tight decision-making — knowing when to allow flexibility and when to hold firm to non-negotiables. Leaders will learn how to evaluate the health of their teams, recognize common pitfalls, and apply high-leverage leadership moves that foster collective responsibility, a focus on results, and continuous improvement. Through reflection tools and collaborative practice, participants will leave with practical strategies to enhance PLC implementation and student outcomes in their buildings.

• Too often, professional learning communities and teacher teams engage in surface-level data discussions that don't lead to meaningful instructional shifts. Collaborative inquiry transforms these conversations into a powerful, research-based process that drives authentic change and empowers teacher teams.
  
  Join us as we showcase how our district has successfully embedded collaborative inquiry cycles to move from theory to action by creating systems that support teacher reflection, problem-solving, and continuous improvement. We will share how we've structured these cycles, the impact on teacher practice and student outcomes, and the lessons we've learned along the way.
  
  In this session you will:
  Explore the research behind collaborative inquiry and why it is a high-impact professional learning practice.
  See real-world examples of how structured inquiry cycles have led to improved instruction and student learning.
  Learn strategies to build collaborative, data-driven teams that engage in meaningful problem-solving.
  
  Whether you are an administrator, instructional coach, or teacher leader, this session will equip you with actionable steps to make collaborative inquiry part of your professional learning culture.

In this presentation, the Syracuse District Leadership Team will share how a strong partnership, grounded in a supportive school board and a clearly targeted vision and goals, has driven meaningful system improvement. We will highlight the strategic alignment of professional development and resource allocation to support student learning and educator growth. Through stories, data, and lessons learned, we will illustrate how intentional leadership and collaboration have shaped our journey—and what we’re most proud of as we continue to build a stronger, more equitable system.

Staff from Baldwin USD 348 will provide a panel discussion as they tell their realignment story regarding the K-12 implementation of a systemic approach to behavior and social-emotional interventions. Through this discussion, our team will share what went well, what didn't go well, and what we wish we knew prior to our journey.

Join us for an interactive session exploring the TEMPLE Read-Alouds Project — a research-based routine designed to support early childhood educators in fostering both literacy and numeracy skills.

This room is available, during this time only, for school teams to meet and debrief/plan based on what they've learned so far at the symposium.

Curious how schools are combining assessment tools to make instruction more effective? Join the Eudora Elementary team to learn how they leverage both iReady and FastBridge to personalize learning, guide interventions, and empower teachers with real-time data. This session will offer a practical, behind-the-scenes look at how two systems can work better together and insights you can take back to your district. Perfect for schools using or considering the integration of these tools!

Learn how we left textbooks behind and restructured our math classes. We’ll walk you through how we used integrated math, spiraled content, standards-based grading, and responsive teaching to build a system for all learners. Leave with practical ideas to create your own flexible, student-centered curriculum.