News
Mon, 11/24/2025
United to Transform: The Power of Kansas Collaborations
Through conversations with more than 2,000 Kansans—from people with lived experience to local leaders—one truth became clear: no single organization can fix a complex system alone. Communities thrive when partners come together, share power, and build solutions
Fri, 11/21/2025
New KU initiative uses cutting-edge sports technology to help Kansas high school athletes train smarter
A new initiative led by the Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory helps Kansas high school athletes train smarter, stay healthier and sets the stage for groundbreaking sports science research.
Thu, 11/06/2025
ATLAS awarded $3M contract to enhance math instruction in rural Alaska
Accessible Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Systems (ATLAS) at the University of Kansas has received a five-year, $3 million contract to make math instruction more meaningful by connecting classroom learning to students’ lives and local traditions.
Thu, 10/30/2025
KU research enhances football on and off the field
A collaborative project between KU sports science researchers and the KU football team is filling gaps in research while improving the team’s performance, athlete preparation and injury prevention.
Fri, 09/19/2025
Google to kick off weeklong KU event on AI in education and research
On Sept. 29, Google will host “Falling into AI,” a weeklong event that invites the Jayhawk community to engage with researchers and industry leaders across the university working with artificial intelligence.
Thu, 09/18/2025
ATLAS outlines bold vision for instructionally embedded assessments
States are rethinking how large-scale assessments serve students and teachers. Instructionally embedded assessments give educators meaningful insights during instruction, not just at the end of the year.
Thu, 09/11/2025
Back-to-school goes beyond the classroom
At the Achievement & Assessment Institute (AAI), back-to-school season is more than new schedules or sharpened pencils. We witness students finding their path with the right guidance, teachers focusing on what matters most with innovative tools and assessments, and families and communities providing the foundation every learner needs to succeed.
Wed, 09/10/2025
How to Grow an IRIS Network
IRIS is more than technology—it’s a movement powered by partnerships. Across Kansas, Illinois, and other states, IRIS helps communities plant the seeds of collaboration, grow trust among partners, and harvest real results for families.
Fri, 08/29/2025
Center for Reimagining Education Director Bart Swartz featured in ABC News on how schools are embracing AI
Bart Swartz, Director of the Center for Reimagining Education within AAI, shared with ABC News how his team is helping Kansas schools explore new ways to use AI responsibly and creatively.
Fri, 08/15/2025
KU McNair Scholars present original research at summer symposium
Sixteen undergraduate students from the University of Kansas shared their original research at the McNair Scholars Summer Research Symposium. The event marked the culmination of months of dedicated scholarly work and mentorship. Hosted by the KU TRIO McNair Scholars Program, the symposium highlights student-driven inquiry and offers a preview of the next generation of researchers.
Thu, 08/14/2025
New report clears a path for Kansas’ response to substance use
Following 15 months of statewide research and community input, the United to Transform report, released by KU's Center for Public Partnerships and Research, delivers the most comprehensive analysis yet of the state’s substance use disorder system. Combining insights from more than 2,000 Kansans with analysis of over 70 datasets, the report recommends practical, person-centered strategies to expand access, strengthen collaboration and create a more sustainable system.
Tue, 08/12/2025
Prison to possibility: KU TRIO program helps incarcerated individuals rebuild through education
The TRIO Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) is working to make reentry to society easier through education, support and connections. Melody Lawrence, a TRIO EOC academic adviser, works with the Shawnee County Department of Corrections and Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex to create pathways to education for inmates seeking a fresh start.
Wed, 08/06/2025
A Million Moments, One Shared Mission: Preventing Maternal Death in Kansas
With support from CPPR and Kansas Connecting Communities, KDHE is convening the first Million Moments for Maternal Mortality Prevention Conference to spotlight the urgent need for collaboration, intervention, and system change to save mothers' lives across Kansas.
Wed, 08/06/2025
KU researchers publish guidelines to help responsibly implement AI in education from preschool through college
Researchers in the Center for Innovation, Design & Digital Learning at the University of Kansas have published a set of guidelines for responsible implementation of artificial intelligence in schools from preschool through higher education.
Tue, 08/05/2025
ATLAS research fellows advance innovative assessment approaches with AI and adaptive testing
ATLAS research fellows are exploring ways to make assessments more accessible for all learners. Their work includes AI-driven tools that adapt to student needs in real time, especially for English learners and students with significant cognitive disabilities, advancing equity through innovation.
Fri, 08/01/2025
Kansas educators explore the future of learning through AI
Kansas educators are exploring how artificial intelligence can transform teaching and learning. The Center for Reimagining Education (CRE) is partnering with districts to personalize education and prepare students for the future.
Wed, 07/30/2025
AAI Researcher Amber Rowland Creates Innovative AI Tools to Support Student Social Growth
Some children struggle with social skills. Amber Rowland, associate research professor at the KU Life Span Institute and Achievement & Assessment Institute, developed virtual reality and artificial intelligence software, called VOISS and iKNOW, to help educators teach students social skills in a virtual space before going on to use those skills in real settings.
Tue, 07/29/2025
When communities make sense of the data, needs are truly understood
Researchers at the Achievement & Assessment Institute's Center for Public Partnerships and Research (CPPR) use sensemaking, a mixed method research approach to data collection and storytelling, to help communities better understand their own needs and challenges.
Thu, 07/24/2025
KU centers team up to introduce local students to STEM fields in physical performance
A new partnership within the Achievement & Assessment Institute at the University of Kansas blends STEM education and physical performance training to offer middle school and high school students hands-on experience in sports medicine, exercise science, and strength and conditioning.
Tue, 07/22/2025
Insight from KU Center for Public Partnerships and Research helps Michigan reimagine anti-poverty strategies
A recent partnership between the Achievement & Assessment Institute’s Center for Public Partnerships and Research (CPPR) and the state of Michigan has led to new insights about how Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding is used — and how it might be refined to better serve families facing economic insecurity.
Wed, 06/18/2025
AAI’s CPPR Brings Early Childhood Wellness Events Across Kansas
The Center for Public Partnerships and Research (CPPR) at KU’s Achievement & Assessment Institute is bringing early childhood mental health support to Kansas communities through the Kansas Care and Wellness Conferences. These free events connect families, providers, and experts to share resources, explore solutions, and strengthen local support systems for children from birth to age five.
Fri, 06/06/2025
Teachers explore AI’s role in education at KU summer conference
More than 100 Kansas educators gathered at the University of Kansas Edwards Campus last week to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can reshape education.
The annual Strategies for Educational Improvement Summer Conference, hosted by the KU School of Education and Human Sciences in partnership with the Kansas State Department of Education, focused for the second year on AI in education and featured presenters from the Achievement & Assessment Institute.
Thu, 05/29/2025
Podcast from AAI's FLITE Center helps teachers navigate classroom AI tools
AAI researchers Lisa Dieker and Maggie Mosher have launched AI Advocates, a short-form podcast that helps teachers navigate classroom AI tools in five minutes or less. Each episode breaks down one tool’s uses, benefits, and considerations, focusing on free and accessible options. The podcast aims to save teachers time, reduce burnout, and support inclusive education for all students.
Wed, 05/21/2025
Committed to Impact: AAI Staff Recognized for Years of Service to KU and Communities
Nearly 50 Achievement & Assessment Institute (AAI) employees are celebrating significant years of service milestones at KU this year—a testament to the dedication, passion, and staying power of the people who make AAI what it is. Behind every project, service, and innovation at AAI are individuals committed to improving lives and strengthening communities.
Tue, 05/20/2025
KU TRIO McNair Scholars Tour Washington D.C., Connect with Leaders and Alumni
KU TRIO McNair Scholars traveled to Washington D.C. earlier this spring for an educational five-day trip where students engaged in the civic process, explored career opportunities and graduate schools, and learned about the history of the United States.
Thu, 05/08/2025
Expanded Kite® Suite Mini Tests from ATS Boost Kansas Classrooms
Assessment and Technology Solutions (ATS), a center within the Achievement and Assessment Institute (AAI), is supporting Kansas educators with an expanded series of instructional mini tests.
Wed, 04/23/2025
Turning Data into Action: Interactive Pathway to Advance Child and Family Well-Being in Kansas
Center for Public Partnerships & Research, on behalf of the Kansas Children’s Cabinet, is developing an interactive Child and Family Well-Being Pathway for Kansas. The tool will include a statewide dashboard and action-oriented toolkit to help communities assess needs, track progress, and improve outcomes for kids and families. Co-designed with community input, it’s set to launch in late 2025.
Fri, 04/18/2025
Paperback release expands reach of Montessori handbook co-edited by CLARA Director Angela Murray
A paperback edition of the Bloomsbury Handbook of Montessori Education, an accessible guide to Montessori education edited by Angela Murray, director of the Achievement & Assessment Institute’s Center for Learner Agency Research and Action (CLARA), and colleagues is now available for purchase.
Wed, 04/02/2025
AAI’s Center for Evaluation & Educational Leadership Expands School Support through Business Partnerships
The goal of the Center for Evaluation & Educational Leadership (CEEL), a center within the Achievement & Assessment Institute (AAI) at the University of Kansas, is to help school district leaders navigate challenges to foster effective, well-balanced learning environments for students. One of the primary ways Director Bart Swartz accomplishes this is through a network of business partners that can help districts with their needs.
Tue, 03/18/2025
KU faculty awarded AAI Arts & Humanities Grant to expand art-based aging project
The Achievement & Assessment Institute (AAI) at the University of Kansas has awarded the 2024 AAI Art & Humanities Grant to Sarah Jen, associate professor in the School of Social Welfare, and Liz Langdon, a lecturer in the Department of Visual Art, for their project, “Untold Stories of Aging in Action – Revealed and Traveled.” The project’s aim is to create and document the influence of an art-based intervention among communities of older adults and intergenerational audiences.