Executive Order 19-03

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly signed Executive Order 19-03 on January 24, 2019, creating the Governor’s Council on Education.

EXECUTIVE ORDER 19-03

Establishing the Governor’s Council on Education

WHEREAS, Kansas is committed to a shared vision of increased prosperity and improved well-being for all Kansans; and

WHEREAS, providing quality education is vital to the success and well-being of individual Kansans, and is essential to growing the economy and cultivating a highly trained and skilled workforce; and

WHEREAS, an integrated approach to career preparation, beginning with early learning and continuing through post-secondary education, would benefit individuals, companies, industries, and the State as a whole; and

WHEREAS, aligning education with state agencies and business needs will help create vibrant communities, cultivate opportunities for Kansans, and promote an innovative, entrepreneurial economy; and

WHEREAS, ensuring access to quality early learning, and encouraging seamless transitions from K-12 to technical schools, community colleges, and universities and on to business and industry is vital to realizing our shared vision of increased prosperity and improved well-being for all Kansans; and

WHEREAS, economic growth depends on cooperation and coordination between the education community and high-growth, innovative businesses and industries; and

WHEREAS, upholding values of transparency, inclusion, and accountability between educators, businesses, industry, and our broader Kansas community will help create effective working relationships that will aid in the achievement of our shared vision.

NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Kansas, I hereby establish the Governor’s Council on Education (“Council”):

1. The Governor shall appoint the following to serve as members of the Council:
   1. One representative from each of the following agencies or organizations:
      1. Governor’s Office
      2. Kansas Department of Education
      3. Kansas Board of Regents
      4. Kansas Children’s Cabinet
      5. Kansas Department for Children and Families
      6. Kansas Department of Labor
      7. Kansas Department of Commerce
      8. Kansas Association of School Boards
      9. United School Administrators of Kansas
      10. Kansas Association of Community Colleges
      11. Kansas Independent Colleges Association
      12. Kansas Association of Technical Colleges
      13. Kansas Association of Workforce Boards
      14. Kansas Parent Teacher Association
      15. Kansas National Education Association
   2. Between five and ten members of the business community.
   3. Public school superintendents representing the various regions of Kansas.
   4. Members of non-profit organizations who have expertise in areas that could assist in advancing the goals, strategies, and operations of the Council.
   5. Additional individuals the Governor determines have relevant experience or qualifications.
2. The Governor shall select a chair and vice-chair, or co-chairs, from the Council’s membership.
3. Members shall receive no compensation or reimbursements for expenses and shall serve voluntarily. Officers or employees of state agencies who are appointed to the Council as part of their duties shall be authorized to participate on the Council and may claim subsistence, allowance, mileage or associated expenses from their respective agency budgets as permitted by law.
4. The Council shall be subject to the Kansas Open Records Act and the Kansas Open Meetings Act.
5. Plans, reports, or recommendations of any nature adopted by the Council shall be considered advice to the Governor, and shall not be construed as official policies, positions, or interpretations of laws, rules, or regulations by any department or agency of state government, nor shall any such department or agency be bound in any manner to consider such advice when conducting their advisory and regulatory affairs.
6. The Council shall:
   1. Develop strategies and tactics to pursue an integrated approach to career exploration and workforce development that aligns with and complements the “Kansans Can” initiative of the Kansas State Department of Education and focuses on the human capital needs of business and industry across the state;
   2. Expand public-private partnerships focused on universal access to quality early learning, and strengthen collaboration between agencies and organizations focused on preparing young Kansans to succeed in school and beyond;
   3. Expand public-private partnerships focused on access and work-based learning experiences and career pathways tied to high-demand, high-wage, and critical-needs careers in Kansas;
   4. Identify goals, initiatives, strategy metrics, and systems metrics, and report progress on each to the Governor annually; and
   5. Inform and advise the Governor on educational initiatives and policies to improve the overall success of education and workforce development in Kansas.
7. The Council shall be staffed by the Education Commission of the States, along with the Kansas Department of Education and Kansas Board of Regents.
8. The Council shall meet quarterly or as often as the Chair or co-Chairs of the Council determine is necessary.
9. The Council shall submit regular reports to the Governor with an annual report submitted in December of each year.
10. Executive Order 18-10 is hereby rescinded.

This document shall be filed with the Secretary of State as Executive Order No. 19-03. It shall become effective immediately and remain in force until rescinded.