A recent Kansas law allows up to 10 per cent of the state’s school districts to be designated as “Innovative,” allowing them to opt out of certain state regulations they deem unproductive or restrictive.
Blue Valley and KCK, along with McPherson, Concordia and Hugoton, are the first five on board. Along with a waiver on some on standardized testing, they’ve been attracted by the opportunity to potentially incorporate more “real world” professionals into their programs. Teachers’ unions and others who fear that relaxation of licensure requirements will disrupt the educational process have expressed reservations about the plan. Producer Randy Mason and videographer Dave Burkhardt spent time with officials from three members of the Kansas Coalition for Innovative School Districts.
Explore innovations in education in our metro with KCPT’s The Learning Curve, a new, year-long initiative online and on television each Thursdays at 7:25pm right after Ruckus. Join us for a roundtable discussion with metro superintendents on a special Kansas City Week in Review, April 24 at 7:30pm.
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