Education Reform Task Force unveils final report
The Education Reform Task Force, a 15-member group formed by the Kansas City, Missouri School District Board of Directors, has unveiled its final report. In the document, the Task Force regarding proposed changes that cover a wide range of topics including community interaction, school board composition and governance, heightening of expectations, and accountability. Through a mix of meetings and public hearings, the group heard testimony from KCMSD staff and patrons to help develop the plan.
The Task Force was made up of members representing a diverse cross-section of the community, including business professionals, educators and community members.
To see the report, please click here.
The Education Reform Task Force was created by a resolution of the Kansas City, Missouri School District Board of Directors on Feb. 13, 2008. The Task Force, a coalition of 15 appointed stakeholders in the community, is charged with developing a strategy to rebuild community confidence and support in the school district through greater academic achievement and more effective policy leadership. Beginning March 1, 2008, the Task Force has 90 days to compile a list of recommended reforms and submit a final report to the Board of Directors.
The Task Force is asked to identify the top three actions that the School District can take to advance progress in each of the five work areas outlined for the School District by the Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). To facilitate task force discussions, these five areas are grouped into two broad discussions focusing on academic achievement and policy leadership, as follows:
Academic Achievement
- Student performance
Develop and enhance quality educational/instructional programs to improve performance and enable students to meet their personal, academic, and career goals.
- Highly qualified staff
Recruit, attract, develop, and retain highly qualified staff to carry out the District mission, goals, and objectives.
- Facilities, support and instructional resources
Provide and maintain appropriate instructional resources, support services, and functional and safe facilities.
Policy Leadership
- Parent and community involvement
Promote, facilitate, and enhance parent, student, and community involvement in District educational programs.
- Governance
Govern the District in an efficient and effective manner providing leadership and representation to benefit the students, staff, and patrons of the district.
For each of these areas, the task force is asked to focus primarily on how parents and the broader community can advance progress. More specifically, we expect to address the following questions in each of the five areas:
- What are the plans and strategies in place or planned to advance progress?
- How can parents and the broader community engage in and support these plans and strategies?
- Are there other actions which must be taken to advance progress?
The report of the Task Force will provide a roadmap to guide the District and community toward common objectives and to build a shared sense of confidence in the future.
The Task Force facilitators are David Warm and John Windom. The co-chairpersons are the Rev. Wallace Hartsfield, pastor emeritus of Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, and Susan Stanton, interim executive director of the United Way of Greater Kansas City.