2026 Great Ideas in Education Conference: Full Schedule

9:30am CDT

Balanced, Developmentally Appropriate Assessment in Preschool: What It Looks Like in Practice

Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am CDT

Early childhood assessments gather and provide educators, parents and families with critical information about a child’s development and growth. Prekindergarten programs must incorporate a variety of developmentally appropriate formal and informal screening and assessment methods and tools to guide curriculum implementation and monitor children’s growth over time. In this session, participants will examine criteria for selecting effective assessment tools and methods and explore how to use this information to strengthen instructional practices and enhance teaching and learning within their preschool programs.

Speakers

Natalie McClane

Preschool Programs Coordinator, Kansas State Department of Education

Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am CDT
Cedar 204

Early Childhood

11:05am CDT

The Kansas Preschool and Kindergarten Guides

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT

Cedar 204

The Kansas Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Guides provide information on high quality instruction in preschool and kindergarten classrooms. These guides include information on child development, learning environments, classroom management, family engagement, Kansas curricular standards, assessment, and program structures for preschool and kindergarten.
Participants will examine these resources to deepen their understanding of what is available and how they can be effectively utilized with early childhood staff to support the implementation of high-quality programming for the youngest learners in their community.

Speakers

Natalie McClane

Preschool Programs Coordinator, Kansas State Department of Education

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Cedar 204

Early Childhood

2:50pm CDT

Using Formative Assessment to Improve Teaching and Learning

Tuesday July 28, 2026 2:50pm - 3:50pm CDT

Cedar 204

Discover how formative assessment can become a powerful driver of daily instruction. This session explores practical, low‑prep strategies for gathering real‑time evidence of student learning and using that information to adjust teaching, differentiate support, and provide meaningful feedback. Educators will leave with simple, high‑impact tools that make assessment an integral, seamless part of responsive classroom practice.

Speakers

Julie Ewing

Assistant Director, Kansas State Department of Education

Tuesday July 28, 2026 2:50pm - 3:50pm CDT
Cedar 204

Assessment

3:55pm CDT

From Compliance to Capacity: What Districts and Schools Must Know About Serving Multilingual Learners

Tuesday July 28, 2026 3:55pm - 4:55pm CDT

Cedar 204

Serving English learners effectively requires both strong instructional systems and a clear understanding of legal and regulatory responsibilities. This session provides an overview of the federal and state compliance requirements that guide English learner programming under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), including Title III and federal civil rights obligations. Participants will review key expectations related to identification and placement, service provision, monitoring and reclassification, and meaningful communication with families in languages they understand. The session will also highlight common compliance challenges and provide practical strategies for aligning district procedures, documentation, and program implementation to ensure equitable access to instruction and sustained program quality.

Speakers

Emily Scott

ESOL/Title III Coordinator, Kansas Department of Education

Supports Title III and ESOL programs, helping schools and districts provide strong, effective services for multilingual learners. Partners with educators to offer practical technical assistance and meaningful professional learning that can be directly applied in classrooms and pr... Read More →

Tuesday July 28, 2026 3:55pm - 4:55pm CDT
Cedar 204

8:00am CDT

Selecting High Quality Instructional Materials for Early Childhood

Wednesday July 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT

Cedar 204

The Kansas Department of Education (KSDE) believes that both the materials and the process used to select instructional materials matter. This session will help guide participants through selecting quality instructional materials for preschool programs based on current research.

Speakers

Natalie McClane

Preschool Programs Coordinator, Kansas State Department of Education

Wednesday July 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Cedar 204

Early Childhood

2026 Great Ideas in Education Conference

9:30am CDT

Natalie McClane

11:05am CDT

Natalie McClane

2:50pm CDT

Julie Ewing

3:55pm CDT

Emily Scott

8:00am CDT

Natalie McClane

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