| Kansas City Schools have undergone many | | | | they present to their students. With a total of 69 |
| changes in the past five years. The resignation of | | | | elementary, middle and high schools in this large |
| the superintendent for embezzlement of funds in | | | | area, there is a real concern that education be |
| 2002 highlighted the district's need for change. | | | | equally represented to each individual. |
| Since then, Kansas City Schools have experienced | | | | The district officials governing Kansas City Schools |
| reforms and new initiatives that are credited with | | | | are increasingly concerned with how monetary |
| giving the district some of the lowest dropout | | | | funds are designated for school improvement. |
| rates in the country. Kansas City Schools are still | | | | After the scandalous dismissal of the last |
| struggling and in a bit of turmoil, but they are | | | | superintendent, parents hesitate to put faith in the |
| making good progress in their efforts to get back | | | | system. The various initiatives of public schools |
| into the game. | | | | since then exhibit caution and meticulous concern |
| Kansas City Schools have composed their own list | | | | for student funding. There have been studies |
| of reforms unique to the state of Missouri. One | | | | probing the efficiency of reforms before money |
| example is the Show-Me Standard, a group of | | | | is invested in district wide approval of projects. |
| goals designed to make students more | | | | A study conducted to research the impact media |
| independent thinkers and workers. Emphasis is put | | | | center services would have on elementary |
| on the importance of community involvement and | | | | educational success found that school libraries |
| initiatives that promote a practical approach to life | | | | significantly improve student grades. This resulted |
| after high school. The Show-Me Standard pushes | | | | in a plan to improve Kansas City Schools' library |
| Kansas City Schools to produce evidence of | | | | system. Significant academic improvement has |
| achievement in the areas of concern. | | | | also been shown in students who received |
| While depending on district officials to legislate | | | | guidance counseling services. In the study, Kansas |
| pertinent initiatives, Kansas City Schools also | | | | City School counselors worked with teachers to |
| adhere to nation wide reforms, such as the No | | | | prepare lesson plans dealing with social issues. |
| Child Left Behind Act. Written in an effort to | | | | Topics covered in the guidance lesson plans |
| bridge the gap between the advancement of all | | | | included confrontational and peer pressure |
| students, the reform has affected Kansas City | | | | situations. More than anything, it is this preparation |
| Schools positively. There has been a marked | | | | for real world situations and practical experience |
| change in the cohesiveness of lesson plans and | | | | that Kansas City Schools hope will propel their |
| teaching methods in the Kansas City Schools. | | | | reform movement ahead. |
| Teachers are more unified in the material that | | | | |