The Governor’s Council on Education had its first meeting of 2020 today.
The Council meeting began with a restructuring of its committees, now focused on two main priorities with associated workgroups: Universal Early Childhood and Advantage Kansas.
The workgroups under the banner of Universal Early Childhood consist of Strengthening the Early Childhood Education Continuum and Private Public Partnership.
The workgroups in support of Advantage Kansas are the Work-based Learning Coordinating Council, Postsecondary Affordability, Diploma-Plus and Market Assets and Talent Pipeline Focused on Re-entry Citizens.
Governor Laura Kelly visited with each workgroup individually, listened to their progress and asked questions. The Governor also gave an update on the significant progress made on the Council’s recommendations.
“I’m encouraged by the progress the Council has made over the past year,” Kelly said. “We will continue working with the recommendations of the Council to ensure our state’s education system is serving the needs of all Kansans.”
The previous meeting of the Council in December of 2019 concluded with a set of recommendations focused on greater collaboration between businesses, workforce training programs and educators, along with enhanced access to a high-quality education for Kansans of all ages.
Following the Council’s first set of recommendations, Kelly signed Executive Order 20-02 creating the Early Childhood Advisory Council, charged with assisting the Governor in developing a coordinated, comprehensive service delivery system to serve the children and families of Kansas. The Council will work to identify service gaps and promote cooperation between departments and agencies with the common goal of serving children and families.
The Council has also started creating work plans for the public-private partnership and the Advantage Kansas Coalition, which will include the statewide Work-based Learning Coordinating Council.
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