Dr. Randy Watson Commissioner of Education | Kansas State Department of Education
A total of 245 Kansas school districts and systems have been recognized with the 2025 Kansans Can Star Recognition Program awards, according to an announcement by Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson. The awards were presented during the Kansas State Board of Education meeting held on October 14 in Topeka.
The Kansans Can Star Recognition Program is designed to celebrate the achievements of school districts and systems across Kansas in areas that are considered key indicators of educational success. The program evaluates both quantitative and qualitative measures, allowing districts to be recognized with gold, silver, bronze, or copper stars in several categories.
Quantitative measures include academically prepared for postsecondary, high school graduation, postsecondary success, and the Commissioner’s Award. Qualitative measures cover social-emotional growth, kindergarten readiness, individual plans of study (IPS), and civic engagement.
The Commissioner’s Award is given to districts that surpass their predicted postsecondary effectiveness rate by at least .4 standard deviation. This rate takes into account risk factors such as poverty, chronic absenteeism, and student mobility within a district’s population.
In 2025, 43 districts or systems received the Commissioner’s Award for exceeding their predictive rate by .4-.99 standard deviation. Forty-two achieved the Commissioner’s Award with Honors for outperforming by 1-1.99 standard deviations. Four districts—Erie-Galesburg USD 101, Plainville USD 270, Satanta USD 507, and St. John–Hudson USD 350—received the Commissioner’s Award with Highest Distinction for exceeding their predicted rates by two or more standard deviations.
Other recognitions included:
- Social-emotional growth: 40 districts/systems (9 silvers, 11 bronzes, 20 coppers)
- Kindergarten readiness: 26 districts/systems (3 silvers, 20 bronzes, 3 coppers)
- Civic engagement: 28 districts/systems (4 golds, 2 silvers, 13 bronzes, 9 coppers)
- Individual plan of study (IPS): 48 districts/systems (23 coppers, 20 bronzes, four silvers and one gold)
- High school graduation: 148 districts/systems (76 golds, 28 silvers, 38 bronzes and six coppers)
- Academically prepared for postsecondary: 140 districts/systems (2 golds, 21 silvers, 42 bronzes and 75 coppers)
- Postsecondary success:140 districts/systems (10 golds ,36 silvers ,42 bronzes ,52 coppers)
Dr. Randy Watson said during the announcement that these awards highlight excellence in Kansas education through both data-driven outcomes and efforts supporting students’ growth.
For a complete list of all recipients of the Kansans Can Star Recognition awards for this year as well as further details about the program visit https://www.ksde.org/Agency/Fiscal-and-Administrative-Services/Communications-and-Recognition-Programs/Vision-Kansans-Can/Kansans-Can-Star-Recognition
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