Two and a half years after losing accreditation because of falling student achievement and chaos in its leadership ranks, the Kansas City, Mo., school system is back on firmer footing for the 2014-15 school year now that state education officials have granted it “provisional” accreditation.
While overall academic performance in the 13,000-student district remains low, growth on state mathematics and English/language arts tests from last spring helped propel the embattled district out of its unaccredited status, which had subjected the school system to costly student transfers to neighboring, higher-performing districts.
According to district officials, it was the third straight year of academic gains as measured by state tests, end-of-course exams, attendance, and graduation rates.
