Kansas officials have chosen seven school districts to participate in an effort to redesign public education.

The seven school districts participating in a pilot effort were announced Tuesday during a Kansas Board of Education meeting.

The seven districts selected by the department this month will each revamp an elementary school and a secondary school. The changes will emphasize new priorities pushed by the state as it tries to modernize efforts to develop and define successful high school graduates.

The Kansas City Star reports state officials say the rest of the state will eventually join the program.

School districts will be asked to find new ways to promote five principles – developing individual study plans, measuring social and economic growth, improving graduation rates and post-secondary completion and addressing kindergarten readiness.

The seven participating districts and their schools are:

• Coffeyville USD 445, Community Elementary School and Field Kindley Memorial High.
• Liberal USD 480, Meadowlark Elementary School and Liberal High School.
• McPherson USD 418, Eisenhower Elementary School and McPherson Middle School.
• Olathe USD 233, Westview Elementary School and Santa Fe Trail Middle School.
• Stockton USD 271, Stockton Grade School and Stockton High School.
• Twin Valley USD 240, Tescott Elementary School and Bennington Junior-Senior High School.
• Wellington USD 353, Kennedy Elementary School and Wellington High School.

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Associated Press information from: The Kansas City Star