KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Public Schools will retain provisional accreditation status after its recent Annual Progress Report, the district said Tuesday.
According to a calculation from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, KCPS scored 65.4% this year, earning 85 points out of a possible 130. School districts must earn at least 70% to be accredited.
The district made gains in math, English, and science, which was a new category this year.
This year was the first the district scored any points in the science category since 2014.
“Where I got caught off guard, of course, is attendance," Superintendent Mark Bedell said. "We got zero points in attendance. I need for listeners to understand attendance impacts the school system on so many fronts."
Students have a high mobility rate. Many families move around due to evictions, an issue that directly affects attendance.
KCPS scored 82.9% in 2018. In order to receive full accreditation status, KCPS must post a score of 70% or higher for at least two consecutive years.
“We are still on track,” Bedell said in a news release. “We are adhering to our strategic plan with a level of sustainability through our district scorecard and accountability systems.”
DESE did not automatically provide APR scores in the five categories this year, so KCPS requested the agency to make the calculation.
State accreditation status is ultimately determined by a vote of the Missouri State Board of Education, which considers APR scores and DESE recommendations.
