Topeka Public Schools details KESA accreditation work, structured literacy and new data tools
April 03, 2026 | Topeka Public Schools, School Boards, Kansas
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District leaders presented the Topeka Public Schools accreditation update, describing a shift to an annual accreditation cycle and a concentrated emphasis on two fundamentals: structured literacy and quality instruction.
"What you see up at top is the Topeka Public School Strategic Plan. So, everything we do starts with that and then builds down," said Ms. Wallace, introducing the School Improvement Organizer tied to KESA. Ms. Wallace and Dr. McDonald described how the organizer aligns mission, vision and professional learning across the district.
Dr. McDonald outlined the district's use of the Kickup platform to collect and analyze walkthrough data: "We started to run into problems when we wanted to collapse that data...so we came across and started to use...Kickup," she said. Presenters reported collecting thousands of walkthrough data points (they referenced over 3,000 points on their walk-through tool) that the district will use to disaggregate by building, grade and subject and to inform targeted professional development.
On structured literacy, staff said the district has rolled out PK–12 rubrics (currently PK–2, 3–5 and secondary bands) tied to the science of reading and plans to add a separate preschool rubric over the summer. The team said teachers and curriculum teams will recalibrate and revise rubrics to avoid inflated scores and to maintain alignment with student outcomes.
For quality instruction, presenters described continued emphasis on high-impact instructional strategies (academic discussion, high-level questioning and teacher clarity) and announced plans for administrator training on effective, timely feedback as part of ongoing coaching beginning in May and continuing into the next school year.
The district also described an "impact framework" (evolving from a local learning trifecta) and "smart cards"—durable resource cards that will document expectations for academic discussion, high-level questioning and teacher clarity and will be distributed at New Staff Academy.
Presenters told the board the district will have a six-month KSDE check-in in September and a full accreditation cycle review in February, and they invited schools to use the platform and rubrics to drive building-level planning and professional learning.
Board members asked clarifying questions about rubric revision, data disaggregation and staff engagement surveys; presenters said rubrics would be revised by curriculum teams over the summer and that staff feedback will be solicited.
"What you see up at top is the Topeka Public School Strategic Plan. So, everything we do starts with that and then builds down," said Ms. Wallace, introducing the School Improvement Organizer tied to KESA. Ms. Wallace and Dr. McDonald described how the organizer aligns mission, vision and professional learning across the district.
Dr. McDonald outlined the district's use of the Kickup platform to collect and analyze walkthrough data: "We started to run into problems when we wanted to collapse that data...so we came across and started to use...Kickup," she said. Presenters reported collecting thousands of walkthrough data points (they referenced over 3,000 points on their walk-through tool) that the district will use to disaggregate by building, grade and subject and to inform targeted professional development.
On structured literacy, staff said the district has rolled out PK–12 rubrics (currently PK–2, 3–5 and secondary bands) tied to the science of reading and plans to add a separate preschool rubric over the summer. The team said teachers and curriculum teams will recalibrate and revise rubrics to avoid inflated scores and to maintain alignment with student outcomes.
For quality instruction, presenters described continued emphasis on high-impact instructional strategies (academic discussion, high-level questioning and teacher clarity) and announced plans for administrator training on effective, timely feedback as part of ongoing coaching beginning in May and continuing into the next school year.
The district also described an "impact framework" (evolving from a local learning trifecta) and "smart cards"—durable resource cards that will document expectations for academic discussion, high-level questioning and teacher clarity and will be distributed at New Staff Academy.
Presenters told the board the district will have a six-month KSDE check-in in September and a full accreditation cycle review in February, and they invited schools to use the platform and rubrics to drive building-level planning and professional learning.
Board members asked clarifying questions about rubric revision, data disaggregation and staff engagement surveys; presenters said rubrics would be revised by curriculum teams over the summer and that staff feedback will be solicited.
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