By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Three county school districts are among 172 districts statewide to get Kansans Can Star awards from the state Department of Education.

Marion-Florence schools received a copper award for academic preparation for postsecondary education, a silver award for postsecondary success, and a commissioner award with honors.

Hillsboro schools received one of 54 commissioner awards, a second-level silver award for postsecondary success, and fourth-level copper awards for students being academically prepared for postsecondary and kindergarten readiness.

Goessel schools received a copper award for academic preparation for postsecondary education and a silver award for postsecondary success.

A commissioner award recognizes districts that outperform predicted postsecondary effectiveness.

Hillsboro Elementary principal Evan Yoder said a lot of community collaboration went into the school’s kindergarten readiness award.

The school works together with the Parents as Teachers program, the special education cooperative’s infant and toddler program, Head Start, and the Kansas Preschool Program.