State education department reports 11 years of rising achievement; U.S. Education Department and ACT college testing service see smaller changes.

Board of Ed seeks reprieve from 2014 federal education act requirements.

Few rise to the top third of the world's classes, many fall into the bottom half, according to a presidential website.

Educators want a plan that measures students' progress instead of comparing the same classes each year.

Fewer than half tell a KansasReporter poll they plan to use special-fund reserve for basic education; others say thay want more time to study the idea.

The request, to bring state school spending up to statutory requirements, "will be dead on arrival," one board member predicts.

Kansas education officials, hoping to steer student success measurements away from tough federally mandated standards, plan to develop an alternative system that tracks individual pupil progress.

Leaders at the six state universities hope to fill in decreases in state funding with increases in tuition and fees this fall

In an abrupt announcement at the beginning of the Kansas Board of Regent’s monthly meeting, Chair Gary Sherrer resigned, saying he does not want to lead a panel that no longer trust his abilities.

Federal education officials have turned down Kansas' request to be excused from needing to hit higher targets for improving students' performance, the state's education commissioner said Friday.