Department of Evaluation, Research, and Assessment (DERA)

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools uses assessments to measure student learning outcomes and make sure each student receives the support they need to succeed.  Assessments are also used by staff to inform their instructional decisions, helping teachers tailor their teaching methods to meet the needs of their students effectively.

DERA helps KCKPS work towards its strategic priority of High Expectations for Student Achievement  by building and maintaining a culture of data-informed decision-making. Our department operates on four principles:

1. All data is good data
2. No blame, no shame, no excuses
3. Side by side... we're in this together!
4. It's not easy being “green” (i.e. it takes hard work to achieve our goals)