Kansas City Schools Granted Provisional Accreditation

In a unanimous vote on Wednesday, Aug. 6, the Missouri State Board of Education granted provisional accreditation to Kansas City schools. The decision was wonderful news for those in our area. Kansas City schools lost accreditation in 2012. Since then, local educations, administrators and officials, myself included, have worked tirelessly to reverse the downward trend. The board’s vote yesterday validated those efforts.  

According the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Kansas City received around 61 percent of the possible accreditation points, an 8 percent increase from the year before. While there’s no doubt our schools must continue to improve, the newly granted accreditation status shows us that we are moving in the right direction, and demonstrates the complete dedication of our educators to ensure children in our area receive the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

The board’s decision also prevents Kansas City from facing the chaotic school transfer issues currently engulfing two districts in the St. Louis region. That law has caused mass confusion for parents and students. We tried to address the problem this session with a bi-partisan bill, but it was ultimately vetoed by the governor. Without a solid solution in law, I’m glad that Kansas City students and parents will be able to avoid the complications and struggles of having children in unaccredited districts. However, we still must find a way to deal with school transfers, and it remains a priority to me.