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Aligned is dedicated to strengthening education and workforce development in Kansas and Missouri. We bring together businesses, educators, and policymakers to craft practical solutions for reform.
Latest Policy Updates & Research
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Monthly Update — June 2026
What a new Texas study teaches us about teacher compensation We are back and excited to bring you evidence from one of the more ambitious teacher compensation strategies in the country, with early research suggesting that it may be paying…
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Weekly Update — 05/15/26
This originally appeared in Aligned’s weekly newsletter. Want future updates in your inbox? Sign up today. Also note that this will be our last weekly update; in June we will switch to monthly updates. New report shows academic recovery is still…
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Why CEP Is More Than a School Meals Debate in Kansas
A simple bill with a complicated question underneath Kansas HB 2402 looks simple on paper. It requires eligible school boards to consider whether to participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision, commonly called CEP, if more than 50% of students in one or more schools qualify for free meals via direct certification. The…
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Weekly Update — 05/08/26
This originally appeared in Aligned’s weekly newsletter. Want future updates in your inbox? Sign up today. Phone-free schools are not a shortcut to better learning Last week, we noted one emerging second-order effect on school cell phone bans: when phones are…
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Aligned was grateful to join the 2026 Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce’s State Legislative Appreciation Dinner.
Thank you to the Wichita Chamber of Commerce for hosting and to the legislators who worked on behalf of Kansas communities this session.
June 11 is the International Day of Play, a reminder that kids need time to move, reset, and simply be kids.
Aligned was proud to support Kansas’ recess bill this past session, and we appreciate Doug Shane for Kansas for bringing this important issue forward. While the bill was vetoed, our support remains the same.
Recess matters. It helps students return to the classroom more focused, engaged, and ready to learn, and Aligned will continue supporting this effort in the years ahead.
Today at 1:00 p.m., the Kansas State Board of Education will discuss devices in schools, including teacher training, screen time policies, research on technology and student outcomes, and next steps for classrooms.
Passing a bill is only the beginning. Our work continues by watching how policies are implemented in classrooms.
Tune in today to follow this important first step in tracking Kansas’ cell phone policy and broader technology use in schools.Reminder:
Special Meeting Notice
Members of the Kansas State Board of Education will conduct a special meeting in the first floor board room of the Landon State Office Building, with the focus being on the issue of device use in schools on Monday, June 8, 2026, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Members of the Kansas State Board of Education will then conduct their regular scheduled meetings on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, and Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
View board meeting resources here: buff.ly/e1jSrdG
This month, we’re taking a closer look at what’s happening across education policy in Kansas and Missouri including school funding conversations, accountability updates, state board changes, and what new research says about teacher pay and retention.
Read the full June update and stay connected to the conversations shaping education from pre-K through career.
wearealigned.org/monthly-update-june-2026/
