By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
September 3, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The Kansas City, Mo., Public Schools have taken one step closer to achieving full accreditation.

On Friday, KCPS Board of Directors Chair Jon Hile and Superintendent R. Stephen Green announced the results of the 2014 Missouri School Improvement Program 5 (MSIP5) during a press conference. The MSIP5 is the state’s school accountability system for reviewing and accrediting public school districts in Missouri. MSIP began in 1990 and entered its fifth version in 2013.

The KCPS announced it earned a 92.5 out of a possible 140 points on the 2014 results. The result was a slight jump of eight points from 2013. However, in two years, the KCPS jumped 54.5 points since the district’s results in 2012, a 143 percent increase. Statistically, significant growth was noted in English language arts, math, college and career readiness and attendance. Other improvements include English language arts results increasing at 28 of the 31 schools and math achievement improving at 22 schools.

“I can tell you that no other urban school district anywhere in the United States has done what we’re doing as fast as we’re doing it,” Green said. “For a district that’s been as low as we were two years ago and to have risen to this level as fast as we have, even against what many believed to be insurmountable odds, is unprecedented.”

Green continued to say that this achievement means more to the district because of the challenges its students face. Almost 41 percent of students have moved from one district to another, 91 percent of the KCPS scholars are on free or reduced meal plans and 24 percent of students are English language learners. Green said that’s the highest percentage in the state.

“Also, about a thousand of our scholars are homeless,” Green said. “We see these challenges, as an administration and as a board and we run at the challenges, not away from them.”

The credit, Green said, goes to everyone involved, from the teachers and students to the school board and the parents. He added the KCPS was able to achieve this goal because conflicts were buried and politics were pushed aside so everyone could work together.

The finish line hasn’t been crossed yet either, Green said. Along with the goal of full accreditation by 2015, Green discussed a strategic game plan the KCPS has going forward. The press conference was held in Central Middle School, one of two new middle schools along with Northeast Middle School, to have opened this school year. Green also would like to provide a laptop to every student in the KCPS, triple enrollment in the KCPS Early College Academy and upgrade safety and security throughout its schools. Green also mentioned the Richardson Early Learning Center, a new early learning center to open soon.

“Over 400 three and four year olds will be receiving early childhood education and those students will come to kindergarten prepared,” Green said.

Before closing the press conference, Green noted that the plan for every school is different. Northeast High School will have different test results than Lincoln College Prep. He said he’ll soon meet with leadership at every school, to discuss each schools individualize education plan.

“We’ll say this is where you are, let’s take the first step and take a step in the right direction,” Green said. “We’ll go one step at a time with each school. Northeast and Lincoln and East will all contribute their part and we’ll give them a goal that will allow them to contribute to the overall goal we’re trying to achieve.”