KANSAS CITY, Mo.–The Kansas City School District is meeting with the head of Missouri’s Board of Education. The future of the school district and whether the state will take over when the district loses its accreditation in January are at stake.
Some say to save the district’s future, you have to look at the past. Two University of Kansas professors recently published a study focusing on the decline of the urban school district and the rise of suburban districts. A pattern they say is not unique to Kansas City.
They say in the 1940’s, cities were actually the place to be because city’s could afford the best schools and the best teachers. When city’s started bursting at the seams and schools became over crowded, people started moving to the suburbs.
African American families were moving to northern cities from the rural south seeking economic and educational opportunity. That also contributed to what is known as “White Flight.” By the 1980’s, suburban schools were outperforming the city schools and a lot of that was because of money.
For example, in the 1970’s, the Shawnee Mission School District tax levy was more than twice Kansas City’s. The KU professors say another huge problem is the revolving door of superintendents and school board. They say stability in leadership and a master plan for educational reform is critical.
“The school board in Kansas City has done a marvelous job of creating a stable perspective and long term outlook that’s a great first step but that has to be sustained,” said John Rury, Professor of Education.
The professors say they believe the best solution would be controversial and politically unpopular. Do away with school districts completely and create a state-wide or even national education system so kids everywhere have the same opportunities.
