Every. Student. Prepared.
INVESTING IN THE
Workforce of Tomorrow
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
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
2026 Kansas Legislative Session Review
The 2026 Kansas Legislative Session advanced several important education policies focused on student outcomes, workforce readiness, transparency, and long-term success. This year, Kansas lawmakers took action to strengthen classroom learning environments, improve accountability, expand education and workforce pathways, support early…
Follow us on Facebook!
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced that Dr. Karla Eslinger will retire from her current role as Missouri Commissioner of Education, effective June 1, 2026.
Dr. Eslinger has dedicated more than three decades of service to Missouri government and the children in our state, including two years of service as the Commissioner of Education. Most recently, Dr. Eslinger led a series of initiatives focused on strengthening data systems, improving transparency and communication with educators and families, and advancing a comprehensive strategic plan to guide Missouri’s education system into the future.
See the full news release here dese.mo.gov/missouri-commissioner-education-dr-karla-eslinger-retire-june-1
CEP is about more than school meals. In Kansas, it raises bigger questions about student need, At Risk funding, and how districts protect resources for the students who need them most.
Read our latest blog on why this debate deserves a closer look.
Why CEP Is More Than a School Meals Debate in Kansas | Aligned
wearealigned.org
Should Kansas continue using school meal eligibility as the primary way to identify student need for At Risk funding?
This week’s update looks at what phone-free schools can and cannot do, Missouri’s newly passed budget, Wichita’s possible school bond vote, and a quick recap of our Kansas Legislative Review webinar.
These are the kinds of decisions that shape classrooms, communities, and the future workforce across Kansas and Missouri.
Check out this week’s newsletter here:
Weekly Update — 05/08/26 | Aligned
wearealigned.org
Missouri passes its FY 2027 budget, Wichita considers a new school bond proposal and new research highlights what phone-free schools can and cannot do.ICYMI: youtu.be/wd8chCfblUo?si=X0wCplepx5JL1V0p
This content isn't available right now
When this happens, it’s usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it or it’s been deleted.