District Equity Strategic Framework

Strategies to promote social and emotional learning (SEL), school climate, and student voice have been connected with improvements in student academic achievement, well-being, and college and career readiness. Focus on data-driven decisions making processes for monitoring the  progress of all students, and proactively intervene when students show early signs of attendance, behavior, and academic problems.

5-Year Goal:  By 2027-2028, USD 500 students will demonstrate measurable growth in their social and emotional skills and well-being demonstrating positive outcomes, both academically and personally, as a result of increased professional development, data monitoring, and implementation of the Multi-Tiered System of Support with fidelity across our campuses.

Children who are exposed to intentional instruction and learning around social-emotional, executive function, mathematics, and literacy skills in preschool, are likely to be better prepared for the higher expectations and more formal curriculum in elementary school.

5-Year Goal:  80% of P4 district preschool students will be ready for Kindergarten.

Focus on data-driven decisions making processes for monitoring the  progress of all students, and proactively intervene when students show early signs of attendance, behavior, and academic problems.

5-Year Goal: Kansas City Kansas Public School’s graduation rate will meet or exceed 90 percent (KCKPS 2031 Goal).

A developed and aligned Individual plan of study can support students engagement and persistence in school.

5-Year Goal:  100% of middle and high school students will have an Individual Plan of Study.

Offer courses and curricula that prepare students for college-level work, and ensure that students understand what constitutes a college-ready curriculum by 9th grade.

5-Year Goal: By 2031 100% of students who graduate will graduate with a Diploma+ endorsement with the graduation rate meeting or exceeding the state average

Objectives

1. Establish a cohesive district-wide system of social and emotional supports that ensures everyone has access to the resources and interventions they need to thrive.
2. Create standards to for social-emotional learning practices in schools and classrooms.
3. Increase mental health and social-emotional supports for teachers and staff.

Strategic Focus

• Multi-tiered systems of support
• Trauma sensitive and resilient school teams
• SEL teaching and learning through GVC
• Restorative practices in the classroom
• Assess program effectiveness

Objectives

1. Broaden diverse college and career readiness experiences at the elementary level.
2. Strengthen opportunities for secondary students to explore careers and prepare for college (i.e. HBCUs, HSIs vocational).

Strategic Focus

• Career and Technical Career Pathway experiences
• Diploma+ experiences in grades K-5 that align with Kansas Curricular Standards for School Counseling
• Opportunities for advanced classes in student individual plans of study
• Kansas Counseling Career Development Standards for developing district wide activities

Objectives

1. Enhance two-way communication through collaborative partnerships.
2. Align district and community resources into a centralized, accessible location.

Strategic Focus

• Develop a district family engagement plan that supports programming around academic needs and parent empowerment
• Establish an engagement scorecard (benchmarks, measures, and metrics)
• Establish a platform that includes space for parent voice (success stories, support, parent led programming, leadership opportunities)
• Develop family centered resource space that is inclusive of family and community partners
• Strengthen building level and district level recognition programs

Objectives

1. Expand recruiting and hiring endeavors and commitments of diverse staff.
2. Increase opportunities for development of all KCKPS employees.

Strategic Focus

• Marketing and outreach efforts to attract and hire candidates who reflect the diversity of Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools
• Effective diverse and inclusive hiring practices
• Intentional diverse pipeline programs-pathways for career advancement
• Multiple levels with effective approaches for professional growth and development

Objectives

1. Ensure long-term financial viability.
2. Implement a comprehensive maintenance plan to preserve the condition and functionality of facilities

Strategic Focus

• Maintain a balanced budget, generating sufficient revenue, and managing expenses equitably
• Develop and maintain a facilities master plan that optimizes accessibility and usage