2025 Kansas MTSS & Alignment Symposium

This session will focus on how our district successfully implemented standards-based rubrics to drive both writing and comprehension instruction with greater intentionality and rigor. Rather than treating writing as a standalone subject, we embedded purposeful writing tasks throughout the day to align with ELA comprehension standards—ensuring students engage daily in writing that reflects the depth of knowledge required by the standards.  Our instructional shift focused on improving our Teacher Clarity by creating and utilizing rubrics that are directly aligned to the language and expectations of each ELA standard. These rubrics serve as both teaching tools (success criteria) and progress monitors, guiding instruction and helping students clearly understand what proficiency looks like. Teachers have utilized the rubrics to design writing tasks that are aligned to our current curriculum that ask students to recount, summarize, analyze, and compare texts—making writing an essential component of how comprehension is taught and assessed. Participants in this session will leave with practical tools, sample rubrics and benchmark assessments, and implementation steps for adopting a similar approach in their own districts or buildings. This includes:
●Developing standards-based rubrics for comprehension and writing
●Embedding writing tasks into daily ELA instruction
●Aligning instruction to the depth of knowledge required by the standard
●Supporting teacher clarity and student ownership of learning
Whether you are leading a building-wide initiative or starting with a single team, this session will offer actionable strategies to increase rigor, promote consistency, and help students write with clarity and purpose.

In this session, we will explore the integration of behavioral risk indicator data and social-emotional assessment tools to support the holistic development of students. As schools face an increasing need to identify and address emotional, behavioral, and academic challenges, data-driven insights are essential for timely interventions. Participants will learn how behavioral risk indicators, such as attendance patterns, disciplinary referrals, and academic performance, can be combined with social-emotional assessments to create a comprehensive picture of a student's well-being.

Self-regulation is the mental process that overrides obstacles that hinder planning, attention, learning, memory, and the coping skills required for students to achieve immediate goals and long-term success. Without the skill to self-regulate, students will succumb to the whim of every thought, distraction, emotion, and desire. The lack of self-regulation is the root of many behavioral and academic issues education faces today. The development of self-control enables students to transcend life’s obstacles and engage in new skills that promote educational success (Inzlicht, Bartholow, & Hirsh, 2015). Therefore, educators must know how to develop self-regulation to maximize student achievement. Learn the key steps identified by neuroscience to promote self-regulation. The steps identified in the research have been found to help students placed at risk by life’s circumstances to experience life success.

School climate is shaped by the brain's subconscious processing of the world. The brain continuously engages in a subconscious empathy process that influences emotions, thoughts, and actions without our awareness. To positively affect school climate, we must understand the brain’s subconscious processes and adjust our behavior accordingly. This session will transform your perspective and empower educators to enhance student outcomes.

Understanding the brain's internal reward system is crucial in designing effective interventions. This system, which significantly influences our development and habits, can also lead to addiction and maladaptive behaviors when it malfunctions. When teachers introduce new practices or aim to instill consistent new behaviors in students, activating this system becomes paramount. Discover the steps for effectively activating the brain’s reward system to design the perfect intervention.

Are you ready to set clear annual priorities to steer your building or district toward a more focused and coherent effort? Climb aboard as we look at three key stakeholder data sets to discover areas of turbulent waters and areas of smooth sailing.  We will look at how staff feedback on the Inclusive MTSS Implementation Scale (IMIS), and family feedback on the Family Engagement Survey (FES), as well as student feedback on the Climate Types Report, can show you how to better target your efforts and build on your strengths. Explore this valuable feedback and data together, examine longitudinal effects, and confidently steer your building or district ship. Perfect for BLT and DLT members and administrators K–12.

Self-regulation is the mental process that overrides obstacles that hinder planning, attention, learning, memory, and the coping skills required for students to achieve immediate goals and long-term success. Without the skill to self-regulate, students will succumb to the whim of every thought, distraction, emotion, and desire. The lack of self-regulation is the root of many behavioral and academic issues education faces today. The development of self-control enables students to transcend life’s obstacles and engage in new skills that promote educational success (Inzlicht, Bartholow, & Hirsh, 2015). Therefore, educators must know how to develop self-regulation to maximize student achievement. Learn the key steps identified by neuroscience to promote self-regulation. The steps identified in the research have been found to help students placed at risk by life’s circumstances to experience life success.

This is an opportunity to ask your questions in an informal Q & A session.

School climate is shaped by the brain's subconscious processing of the world. The brain continuously engages in a subconscious empathy process that influences emotions, thoughts, and actions without our awareness. To positively affect school climate, we must understand the brain’s subconscious processes and adjust our behavior accordingly. This session will transform your perspective and empower educators to enhance student outcomes.

Understanding the brain's internal reward system is crucial in designing effective interventions. This system, which significantly influences our development and habits, can also lead to addiction and maladaptive behaviors when it malfunctions. When teachers introduce new practices or aim to instill consistent new behaviors in students, activating this system becomes paramount. Discover the steps for effectively activating the brain’s reward system to design the perfect intervention.