Unveiling the Vanguard: Analyzing School Characteristics and Aspirations in a Statewide Education Reform in the United States

• In Event: (Re)Conceptualization Change at Scale: New Visions for and Models of Educational Change

Abstract

Kansans Can is a multi-faceted education reform officially launched in 2017 by the Kansas Department of Education. The reform aims to help Kansan schools achieve five primary goals: kindergarten readiness, social and emotional growth, personalized learning or individual plan of study, civic engagement, and high school graduation and post-secondary success. We utilized the document of Kansans Can School Redesign Project Model Schools and data from report cards to evaluate how the schools’ indicated goals align with the state goals. Our findings show promising improvement in reform aspirations. Using data from 24 Mercury schools and 44 Gemini I schools, the patterns present that the Kansas Can project has been showing visible progress on goals targeting as it enters later phases.

Authors

• Danqing Yin, Sunflower Education Institute

• Rong Zhang, University of Alabama

• Jie Chen, Measurement Incorporated