Kansas

Teacher Certification and Professional Development

 Kansas grants teaching licenses/credentials for Chinese language instruction. There is a state world language coordinator. For more information contact:

Phyllis Farrar  
World Languages & ESOL Program Consultant
Kansas State Department of Education
120 SE 10th Avenue
Topeka , KS 66612 -1182
785-296-1891
pfarrar@ksde.org

The University of Kansas School of Education offers the only approved program in Kansas to become certified as a teacher of Chinese at the PK-12 level. For information, contact: 

Manuela Gonzales-Bueno
World Languages Program Advisor
KU School of Education
1122 West Campus Rd, room 342
Lawrence, KS  66045-3101
785-864-9674
mgbueno@ku.edu

Kansas has a general educational partnership with China; click here to read the Memorandum of Understanding (PDF document) . In 2006, a n agreement between the Kansas State Department of Education and the Office of Chinese Language Council International (HANBAN) also was signed to create a pipeline of language teachers from China who can be certified to teach in Kansas.

The Confucius Institute at the University of Kansas (www.confucius.ku.edu) has established a Chinese language council for Mandarin teachers in Kansas and western Missouri. The Institute provides council members with professional development workshops as well as opportunities for networking and information exchange. For more information contact:

William Tsutsui
Executive Director
Confucius Institute at the University of Kansas
12610 Quivira Road
Overland Park, KS 66213
785-864-9435
btsutsui@ku.edu

School Directory

Olathe North High School
(public high school; grades 10-12)
contact: Juiling Lin
notes: 2 levels of Mandarin plus annual exchange with sister-high school in China

Maize Senior High School
(public high school; grades 10-12)
contact: Marsha Beard
notes: newly established Mandarin program

Shawnee Mission Center for International Studies
(public high school; grades 10-12)
Shawnee Mission, KS
contact: Tanya Low 
notes: 5 levels of Mandarin plus annual exchange with sister-high school in China

Wichita North High School
(public high school; grades 10-12)
contact: Marcus Marshall
notes: newly established Mandarin program

Interactive Distance Learning Classes
Several public high schools are receiving Mandarin instruction (level one and/or two) for the academic year using Interactive Distance Learning (IDL) technology. Instructors are provided by the Confucius Institute at the University of Kansas. These schools include: Free State High School in Lawrence, KS (grades 10-12)
Hiawatha High (grades 10-12)
Lawrence High School in Lawrence, KS (grades 10-12)
Lyndon High in Lyndon, KS (grades 9-12)
Madison High in Madison, KS (grades 9-12)
Marysville High School in Marysville, KS (grades 10-12)
Valley Heights High in Blue Rapids, KS (grades 9-12)
Washburn Rural High School in Topeka, KS (grades 10-12)
White City High in White City, KS (grades 9-12)
Winfield High School in Winfield, KS (grades 10-12)

For more information contact: William Tsutsui, 785-864-9435, btsutsui@ku.edu.

Policy Initiatives
In October 2006, the Kansas Task Force on Chinese Language Training, a statewide group of policymakers, educators, and business leaders, released its report on the status of Chinese language programs in Kansas and made specific policy recommendations to increase opportunities for learners of all ages to study Chinese. Download the entire report (pdf ).

Building upon the Report, a Kansas Summit on Strategic Languages was held in December 2006. More than 100 representatives from political, educational, and business communities discussed ways to include strategic languages in the K-12 curriculum throughout the state. More information about the summit is available at www.KansasintheWorld.org. A follow-up is planned for fall 2007.

For more information contact: William Tsutsui, 785-864-9435, btsutsui@ku.edu.

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Do you know of other programs or relevant information for this state? If so, please share with us.