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Legislative Priorities and Education Advocacy Opportunities

As a resilient community that supports neighborhood public schools, it is essential that even as we celebrate the great things happening in our educational settings, we also remain vigilant and engaged with ongoing public education governing decisions. Today, more than ever, it is imperative that we continue to inform each other about critical statewide education funding legislation to ensure consistent and committed public education advocacy. This will continue to move us toward the best future for our students.

We encourage you to start your public-school advocacy journey by getting acquainted with your Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS/USD 500) district. Some helpful data points are provided below. The district 2022-2023 Annual Report will give you a fuller picture of our strategic priorities and how KCKPS lives them out. Following that, please review the KCKPS Legislative Platform below. This will provide a snapshot of the most pressing public education issues for which the district advocates at the Kansas Statehouse.

During each Kansas State legislative session, updates are made to this page, including information regarding the latest legislative discussions in Topeka that align with the USD 500 platform positions. This webpage will provide  succinct talking points you can use as you have conversations with members of the Wyandotte County legislative delegation about your public education funding concerns. Contact information for your respective legislators is available on this page as well.

Thank you for your interest in learning more about issues facing the Kansas City, Kansas Public School district during the legislative session and for doing your part to advocate for your school district and public education.

Who We Are

 

USD 500 Serves Approximately 20,000 Students 

KCKPS is 81%
Free and Reduced Lunch

 

KCKPS is: 58% Hispanic, 22% Black, 9% White, 7% Asian 

USD 500 Has: 10 Preschools, 28 Elementary Schools, 7 Middle Schools, 5 High Schools,
5 Alternative Schools 

 

USD 500 Is the Largest District in Wyandotte County

In 2023, 61% of the Students Graduated With a Diploma + Giving Our Students What They Need to Succeed in Today's World  

KCKPS/USD 500 Legislative Platform

KCKPS Advocacy at the Kansas Statehouse

Since the start of the 2023 legislative session, Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools has been present in the Kansas Statehouse for House and Senate floor proceedings, education committee sessions, and strategy sessions with advocacy partners. KCKPS lobbyist-of-record Bill Brady of Capitol Strategies and KCKPS Community Engagement Educator and Government Liaison Francisco Litardo have been working closely to strengthen relationships with all legislators. Particular focus has been placed on establishing deeper connections with the Wyandotte Country legislative delegation. To date, two testimonies around critical legislation have been introduced.
 

HIGH-DENSITY AT-RISK WEIGHTING FUNDING
 


On February 20, 2023, Dr. Anna Stubblefield, KCKPS Superintendent of Schools, provides testimony in favor of House Bill 2223 (HB 2223) in front of the Kansas Legislature House Education Committee. HB 2223 proposes the repeal of the existing sunset on high-density at-risk weighting provision. The June 30, 2024, expiration of this provision will reduce funding to qualifying districts by about $71 million. For Kansas City, Kansas Public School (KCKPS/USD500), this means a funding reduction of $7.5 million. 

Wyandotte County Legislators

SENATE

District 4

Senator David Haley
936 Cleveland Ave.
Kansas City, KS 66101
913-321-3210

District 5

Senator Jeff Pittman
1108 S. Broadway St.
Leavenworth, KS 66048
913-912-3459

District 6

Senator Pat Pettey
5316 Lakewood St.
Kansas City, KS 66106
913-579-3741

District 10

Senator Mike Thompson
4923 Constance St.
Shawnee, KS 66216
913-229-4932

HOUSE

District 31

Representative Louis Ruiz
2914 W. 46th Ave.
Kansas City, KS 66103
913-262-1634

District 32

Representative Pam Curtis
322 N. 16th St.
Kansas City, KS 66103
913-626-0404

District 33

Representative Mike Thompsom
642 N. Nettleton Ave.
Bonnor Springs, KS 66012
913-745-8098

District 34

Representative Valdenia Winn
PO Box 12327
Kansas City, KS 66112
913-321-2620

District 35

Representative Marvin Robinson
713 Lafayette
Kansas City, KS 66101
785-296-8763

District 36

Representative Lynn Melton
4028 Independence Blvd.
Kansas City, KS 66109
785-296-0424

District 37

Representative Melissa Oropeza
PO Box 6014
Kansas City, KS 66106
785-296-7300

District 38

Representative Timothy Johnson
14235 Mitchell Court, #A
Basehor, KS 66007
913-728-2024

A complete list of legislators for the state of Kansas is available at www.kslegislature.org.