Aligned

09/04/2026

We’re excited to announce the third webinar in Aligned’s 2026 webinar series: Literacy in Missouri.

This conversation will break down where Missouri students stand today, what progress is already happening, and what future legislation could mean for schools, families, and policymakers.

If you care about student outcomes, workforce readiness, or the future of education in Missouri, this is a conversation worth making time for.

https://wearealigned.org/events/

09/02/2026

Good news for Missouri students! The Missouri Charter Public School Commission is sending $685,000 in surplus funds back to the schools it sponsors. Schools will receive $10,000 to $70,000 each to put toward classrooms, staffing, and student opportunities.

Worth a read:

09/02/2026

September is Attendance Awareness Month, an opportunity to bring greater attention to chronic absenteeism and its impact on student success.

Students cannot benefit from strong instruction, effective teachers, or academic supports if they are consistently missing school. Addressing chronic absenteeism requires schools, families, communities, and policymakers to understand the barriers keeping students out of the classroom and work together on solutions that help students attend consistently.

At Aligned, we believe improving student outcomes means ensuring students have access to learning every day.

Attendance matters.

09/01/2026

Check this out!

https://www.salina.com/story/news/local/2026/08/31/salina-united-way-looks-to-boost-local-child-care-support-with-event/91464079007/

Child Care Aware of Kansas Onecommunity

Salina Area United Way hosts a community event on September 12 to address local child care needs and tax credits.

09/01/2026

Join us today at noon for our Webinar!

08/31/2026

We want to hear from you!

Kansas is developing a Comprehensive Literacy Implementation Plan, and we want to hear from the people who know our students, schools, universities, and communities best.

Reaching our goal of stronger literacy outcomes for every Kansas student will take a coordinated, statewide effort. Your perspective can help ensure the plan gets us there.

Learn more about this opportunity and complete the interest form:
https://kansasregents.gov/about/kansas-blueprint-for-literacy/comprehensive-literacy-plan-small-group-discussions

08/31/2026

This is one of the easiest ways to make the formula simpler.

Kansas should keep transportation funding.

But Aligned recommends moving it outside the weighted student formula so it stands on its own.

Why? Because the current structure adds an extra formula step without changing the purpose of transportation aid.

Same goal. Cleaner formula. Easier to understand.

08/24/2026

Small and rural are not always the same thing.

Kansas currently provides low-enrollment funding mainly based on district size.

But a small district near other resources does not face the same cost pressures as a small district serving students across a large rural area.

Aligned recommends updating the formula to consider both enrollment and student density.

The goal is not to remove rural support. It is to better target it.

08/20/2026

https://www.the74million.org/article/want-federal-tax-credit-money-for-public-schools-heres-what-to-do-now/

Roza & Cicco: How much of the new federal scholarship money will flow to school districts depends almost entirely on how actively leaders pursue it.