October 15, 2018
Kansas Christian School Colleagues,
I’m pleased to share that the Kansas Association of Independent & Religious Schools (KAIRS) Executive Committee accepted GPACS into membership on October 5, 2018 with voting representation on the Executive Committee. Importantly, membership is inclusive of Kansas Christian schools who are members of GPACS. Having recently joined Missouri CAPE, this is another important expansion of GPACS influence and participation in the legal legislative arena dealing with private education, tuition tax credits, school choice, etc.
For those not familiar with KAIRS www.kairs.com, here are some CliffsNotes. •
The ROI of GPACS membership is definitely increasing. If you haven’t returned your membership forms yet, I hope you will do so soon. Let me know if you have any questions about KAIRS. Continued blessings to you and your staffs.
In His Service
Larry Daugherty
Kansas Christian School Colleagues,
I’m pleased to share that the Kansas Association of Independent & Religious Schools (KAIRS) Executive Committee accepted GPACS into membership on October 5, 2018 with voting representation on the Executive Committee. Importantly, membership is inclusive of Kansas Christian schools who are members of GPACS. Having recently joined Missouri CAPE, this is another important expansion of GPACS influence and participation in the legal legislative arena dealing with private education, tuition tax credits, school choice, etc.
For those not familiar with KAIRS www.kairs.com, here are some CliffsNotes. •
- Currently, KAIRS supports more than 140 non-public schools, 35,000 students, 2,000 full-time teachers, & 22,00 families in Kansas. It is also, the official state affiliate with the Council for American Private Education (CAPE). •
- Last year KAIRS finally succeeded in getting AdvancEd recognized as part of the Kansas State Accreditation model. •
- There was success with expanding the Tax Credit Scholarship bill for non-public schools in Kansas. The hope is to continue to expand tax credit options in upcoming year. •
- KAIRS has four professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators.
- Fall Early Childhood Conference – November 16, 2018 in Salina – Theme “The Power of Play in the Development of Young Children” Speaker: Cari Ebert www.cariebertseminars.com
- Annual Administrators Conference – February 11-12, 2019 in Topeka – This conference educates administrators in relevant legislation and KSDE policies as well as providing a unique opportunity to network with your peers. Theme "Building Resilient Kids, Schools, Families and Communities" Keynote: Rebecca Lewis-Pankratz
- Teacher of Year Recognition Banquet in conjunction with Administrator Conference. Here, “Teacher of the Year” honors are awarded in four categories: Catholic, Lutheran, Christian and Independent schools. (In the future, perhaps we can find a way to submit the highest rated Kansas teacher in our own GPACS Teacher of the Year program. It would be nice for him/her to receive state wide recognition.)
- In the fall KAIRS pays for a non-public school pre-conference day at the annual AdvancEd Conference in Wichita. This day is free to all KAIRS members and allows AdvancEd and KAIRS schools to focus on accreditation issues and research-based strategies specifically for non-public schools.
- Spring Early Childhood Conference – March 2, 2019 at Christ Lutheran Church, Overland Park – Theme: “Making Sense of Sensory” Speaker: Cari Ebert This conference costs less than $25, is approved by KSDE for in-service points, & is especially designed to meet the needs of non-public school pre-school teachers.
- A Teacher Convention is scheduled in July 2019, which also costs less than $25, This full day of educational in-service is an inexpensive way for your teachers to get recertification hours usually from a nationally renowned speaker that would be difficult to bring to your school alone.
- Fall Early Childhood Conference – November 16, 2018 in Salina – Theme “The Power of Play in the Development of Young Children” Speaker: Cari Ebert www.cariebertseminars.com
The ROI of GPACS membership is definitely increasing. If you haven’t returned your membership forms yet, I hope you will do so soon. Let me know if you have any questions about KAIRS. Continued blessings to you and your staffs.
In His Service
Larry Daugherty