| Kansas City Schools have undergone many | | | | area, there is a real concern that education be |
| changes in the past five years. The resignation of | | | | equally represented to each individual. The district |
| the superintendent for embezzlement of funds in | | | | officials governing Kansas City Schools are |
| 2002 highlighted the district's need for change. | | | | increasingly concerned with how monetary funds |
| Since then, Kansas City Schools have experienced | | | | are designated for school improvement. After the |
| reforms and new initiatives that are credited with | | | | scandalous dismissal of the last superintendent, |
| giving the district some of the lowest dropout | | | | parents hesitate to put faith in the system. The |
| rates in the country. Kansas City Schools are still | | | | various initiatives of public schools since then |
| struggling and in a bit of turmoil, but they are | | | | exhibit caution and meticulous concern for student |
| making good progress in their efforts to get back | | | | funding. There have been studies probing the |
| into the game. Kansas City Schools have | | | | efficiency of reforms before money is invested in |
| composed their own list of reforms unique to the | | | | district wide approval of projects. A study |
| state of Missouri. One example is the Show-Me | | | | conducted to research the impact media center |
| Standard, a group of goals designed to make | | | | services would have on elementary educational |
| students more independent thinkers and workers. | | | | success found that school libraries significantly |
| Emphasis is put on the importance of community | | | | improve student grades. This resulted in a plan to |
| involvement and initiatives that promote a | | | | improve Kansas City Schools' library system. |
| practical approach to life after high school. The | | | | Significant academic improvement has also been |
| Show-Me Standard pushes Kansas City Schools to | | | | shown in students who received guidance |
| produce evidence of achievement in the areas of | | | | counseling services. In the study, Kansas City |
| concern. While depending on district officials to | | | | School counselors worked with teachers to |
| legislate pertinent initiatives, Kansas City Schools | | | | prepare lesson plans dealing with social issues. |
| also adhere to nation wide reforms, such as the | | | | Topics covered in the guidance lesson plans |
| No Child Left Behind Act. Written in an effort to | | | | included confrontational and peer pressure |
| bridge the gap between the advancement of all | | | | situations. More than anything, it is this preparation |
| students, the reform has affected Kansas City | | | | for real world situations and practical experience |
| Schools positively. There has been a marked | | | | that Kansas City Schools hope will propel their |
| change in the cohesiveness of lesson plans and | | | | reform movement ahead. |
| teaching methods in the Kansas City Schools. | | | | Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, |
| Teachers are more unified in the material that | | | | providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public |
| they present to their students. With a total of 69 | | | | and private K-12 schools. |
| elementary, middle and high schools in this large | | | | |