Missouri is preparing to implement a new A–F school report card designed to provide families, educators, and communities with clearer insight into how schools are performing. At BLAQUE Kansas City, we support systems that strengthen both transparency and accountability because our communities deserve accessible information about school quality.

As we prepare for our upcoming Defining the Future of Education convening on July 8, these reads help frame why accountability systems matter, what we can learn from other states, and what thoughtful implementation could mean for Kansas City students and families.

1

Why A–F School Report Cards Matter

Context: The PRiME Center at St. Louis University recently explored the purpose of A–F school grading systems, emphasizing how simplified accountability models can help families better understand school performance and drive meaningful improvement conversations.

Why this matters: School quality data often exists in formats that are difficult for families to interpret. A clear grading system can make performance more accessible and actionable.

• Makes school performance easier for families to understand

• Creates clearer public accountability for school outcomes

• Encourages schools and districts to focus on measurable improvement

What’s next: As Missouri moves toward implementation, conversations will increasingly focus on ensuring the system communicates school quality clearly while reflecting meaningful student outcomes—not just surface-level performance metrics.

2

Missouri Is Prioritizing Greater Transparency

Context: The Opportunity Trust highlights Missouri’s proposed school report card changes as a major step toward increasing transparency and giving families clearer insight into school performance across the state.

Why this matters: Transparency builds trust. When families understand how schools are performing, they are better equipped to advocate for students and engage in school improvement efforts.

• Gives parents clearer information for decision-making

• Creates shared accountability between schools and communities

• Supports more informed public dialogue around education quality

What’s next: Missouri’s rollout will likely prompt deeper statewide conversations around how accountability data should be interpreted, communicated, and used to support improvement.

3

Mississippi Shows Accountability Can Drive Academic Growth

Context: Mississippi continues to receive national attention for significant student achievement gains, particularly in literacy. Recent reporting points to accountability, instructional alignment, and sustained investment in academic systems as contributing factors.

Why this matters: Strong accountability systems can help create focus, urgency, and alignment around student outcomes when paired with meaningful support and resources.

• Clear performance expectations can drive improvement

• Data transparency can strengthen system-wide focus

• Accountability works best when paired with investment and support

What’s next: Missouri policymakers and education leaders will likely look to states like Mississippi to understand how accountability systems can help accelerate long-term student achievement.

4

Louisiana’s Accountability System Earns National Recognition

Context: Louisiana’s revised school grading system was recently recognized as a national standard for school accountability, reflecting years of refinement in how school performance is measured and communicated.

Why this matters: Accountability systems evolve. The strongest systems balance academic rigor, growth measures, and accessible communication for families.

• Strong accountability systems require continuous refinement

• School grades should reflect both achievement and growth

• Clear communication improves public trust and engagement

What’s next: As Missouri builds its system, lessons from Louisiana may help ensure accountability measures remain rigorous, fair, and family-centered.

Closing Thought

Kansas City families deserve transparent information about school quality. Full stop. Educators deserve systems that fairly measure performance and support continuous improvement. Communities deserve honest conversations about what is working and what must improve.

At BLAQUE Kansas City, we believe transparency and accountability are essential to strengthening our educational system and laying the foundation for better outcomes for students.

That is why we are convening education leaders and community partners on July 8 for Defining the Future of Education, where we will break down Missouri’s proposed A–F report card system and discuss what it could mean for Kansas City’s students, schools, and families.

We are committed to keeping our communities informed, engaged, and empowered to advocate for the high-quality education every student in our city deserves.

Show Me KC Schools advances the Blueprint’s commitment to Leadership & Future Access, which recognizes that access begins with clarity. Kansas City families must have the information, tools, and support needed to make informed decisions about their children’s education.

This week, we sat down with Show Me KC Schools Executive Director Leslie Kohlmeyer to discuss the future of the organization and explore the lasting impact this investment will have on the communities it serves. Read the conversation below.

BLAQUE Kansas City: Leslie, for readers who may not know you yet, can you please start by introducing yourself and sharing a bit about your background?

Leslie Kohlmeyer: My name is Leslie Kohlmeyer, I’m the Executive Director of Show Me KC Schools, and I was born and raised in Kansas City. I went away to college in North Carolina, spent some time living in Texas, but my heart always pulled me back here.

I returned to Kansas City in the late 1990s and have spent the last 25 years building deep roots in this community. I’ve lived in the Historic Northeast for much of that time, and I love both the diversity of my neighborhood and the opportunity to do this work here.

BLAQUE Kansas City: During our Igniting the Future of Education convening, Show Me KC Schools received a $250,000 investment to support your mission and impact. What did that moment mean to you personally as Executive Director?

Leslie Kohlmeyer: First of all, it was the first time we’ve ever received a truly large ceremonial check—so that alone was exciting.

But more importantly, this has been an incredibly difficult funding cycle. We’ve been around for 13 years, and as we enter new grant cycles, funders are asking deeper questions: What impact have you had? What systems have you changed? Is the work actually moving the needle for kids?

Those are important questions. While we don’t directly control student outcomes, I strongly believe that when families find schools where their children feel welcomed, supported, and set up to succeed, outcomes improve.

This investment came at exactly the right time. Dr. Hill-Woodard and BLAQUE Kansas City stepped in when we needed support most. Honestly, it felt like they saved me from the brink of exhaustion. This investment will allow us to do so many things we’ve talked about for years but simply didn’t have the capacity to pursue.

BLAQUE Kansas City: How do you hope this investment will strengthen Show Me KC Schools’ long-term impact and help reshape access and opportunity across Kansas City?

Leslie Kohlmeyer: We’re currently in a strategic planning phase, and this investment is helping fuel what feels like a rebirth for our organization.

A significant portion of these funds will support a major strategic planning effort focused on both sustainability and transformation. We’re asking big questions: What does growth look like? What could deeper partnerships with other organizations look like? How do we more effectively remove barriers to student success?

This investment gives us the opportunity to think bigger and build for the future.

BLAQUE Kansas City: Trust is foundational to meaningful partnership. Why do you trust BLAQUE Kansas City as a partner in this work?

Leslie Kohlmeyer: I’ve thought a lot about how to answer this, and I kept coming back to the same thing: Dr. Hill-Woodard gets things done.

That may not sound polished, but it’s the truth.

She is unapologetic about doing the work. She doesn’t bend or break just because someone pushes back. She remains grounded, focused, and committed—even when the conversations are hard.

That kind of leadership matters. Kansas City has a reputation for being “Kansas City nice,” and while kindness matters, hard truths still need to be spoken. Dr. Hill-Woodard knows how to do both. She is kind, but she’s also brave enough to say what needs to be said and push for the change our education system needs.

That’s why I trust her and BLAQUE Kansas City.

BLAQUE Kansas City: What first drew you to education and eventually led you to your role at Show Me KC Schools?

Leslie Kohlmeyer: I came into this work as a parent.

I have three children, and when my oldest started school about 15 years ago, Kansas City’s education landscape looked very different. Schools were provisionally accredited, and there was a strong narrative that you couldn’t raise children successfully in the city.

At the time, I was deeply committed to public education, but I quickly realized how difficult it was to navigate school options.

I had advantages: a college degree, time, a car, internet access, and organizational skills. And even with all of that, I struggled to understand the system.

That was the moment everything clicked for me. I thought: If I can’t navigate this system, how are immigrant families navigating it? How are families without reliable transportation, internet access, or English fluency doing this?

The system wasn’t built for the people it was meant to serve.

I met Tricia Johnson, the founder of Show Me KC Schools, during that time. She had started the organization from her dining room table with about $500 and a strong belief that families deserved better access to information.

I immediately knew I wanted to be part of that mission.

I joined because I believe every family deserves clarity, support, and real options when it comes to their child’s education.

BLAQUE Kansas City: If you could sit down with every parent in Kansas City for five minutes, what is one thing you would want them to know about their power and voice in their child’s education journey?

Leslie Kohlmeyer: Your voice matters.

I say that to anyone who will listen.

Systems are supposed to serve families, and families should be at the table helping shape those systems. Parents have more power than they realize. They have voting power. They can speak at board meetings. They can influence who serves on school boards. They can advocate for change.

Too often, we approach bureaucracy as something we simply have to navigate.

I disagree.

We can build it.

That’s the most important thing I want parents to understand: you deserve a seat at the table, and your voice should help shape the future of education in Kansas City.

BLAQUE Kansas City: For readers who want to support or get involved with Show Me KC Schools, how can they help?

Leslie Kohlmeyer: There are many ways to get involved.

You can visit our website, volunteer, or connect with us directly. One of our biggest upcoming events is the Citywide School Fair on November 14, and we’re always looking for volunteers and community partners.

If you’d like to support our work, we would love to hear from you.

To learn more about Show Me KC Schools or support their mission, visit their website and stay connected with BLAQUE Kansas City as we continue investing in community-driven solutions for education.

From summer learning and academic continuity to educator workforce sustainability and “grow your own” teacher pipelines, these stories highlight an important truth: strong schools require sustained investment in both students and the people who serve them.

As communities across the country prepare for summer break and plan for the upcoming school year, these reads offer insight into the opportunities—and challenges—ahead.

1

Summer Break Benefits More Than Just Students

Context: A recent article from ACP Minnesota highlights the often-overlooked benefits of summer break, emphasizing the importance of rest, exploration, creativity, and social-emotional development for students.

Why this matters: Summer is not simply time away from school—it’s also an opportunity for students to recharge, build independence, and engage in experiences that support healthy development.

• Supports student mental health and well-being

• Encourages creativity, exploration, and experiential learning

• Reinforces the importance of balance in student development

What’s next: Check out our Community Blueprint for KC Schools, which highlights the need for Kansas City schools to provide the emotional support and mental health care students need to learn and thrive.

2

New Research Continues to Examine Summer Learning Loss

Context: NWEA recently published updated research examining what we know—and are still learning—about summer learning loss, often referred to as the “summer slide.” The research finds that academic declines during summer months can vary significantly depending on subject area, grade level, and student access to resources.

Why this matters: Summer learning remains an important equity issue, particularly for students with limited access to academic enrichment opportunities outside of school.

• Math learning loss continues to be more significant than reading declines

• Access to high-quality summer programming can help mitigate learning gaps

• Highlights the importance of year-round academic support systems

What’s next: Schools, nonprofits, and community organizations will likely continue investing in summer learning programs designed to keep students engaged academically while also supporting enrichment and wellness. Initiatives like BLAQUE Kansas City’s Freedom School underscore the important role summer learning can play in supporting academic engagement and long-term student success.

3

Missouri’s Teacher Workforce Is Experiencing a “Missing Middle”

Context: Aligned’s new Missouri Teacher Workforce Series examines major shifts in the state’s educator pipeline, including declining retention among mid-career teachers and increasing reliance on novice and retirement-eligible educators.

Why this matters: Mid-career teachers often serve as instructional leaders, mentors, and stabilizing forces within schools. Their decline creates challenges for long-term school quality and continuity.

• Missouri’s workforce is increasingly polarized between new and late-career educators

• Mid-career teacher retention continues to decline statewide

• Teacher stability directly impacts instructional quality and student outcomes

What’s next: Expect continued focus on educator recruitment and retention strategies—including compensation, mentorship, professional support, and workforce pipeline initiatives—to strengthen long-term sustainability. In Kansas City, Teach KC reflects a growing commitment to building stronger educator pipelines and supporting the long-term stability of the teaching workforce.

4

Texas District Builds “Grow Your Own” Teacher Pipeline

Context: A Texas school district recently celebrated the graduation of the first class from a San Antonio high school specifically designed to prepare future educators, creating intentional pathways for students to return and teach in their own communities.

Why this matters: “Grow your own” teacher pipeline models are gaining traction nationwide as districts look for sustainable solutions to educator shortages and workforce instability.

• Creates early pathways into the teaching profession

• Encourages students to reinvest in their own communities

• Builds a more sustainable and locally rooted educator workforce

What’s next: As teacher shortages persist nationally, more districts and organizations are expected to invest in early educator pathway programs that strengthen recruitment, representation, and retention over time. Through Teach KC, we are working to build sustainable, locally rooted teacher pipelines designed to support our students for generations to come.

Closing Thought

Strong schools require more than strong classrooms. They require strong systems that support students academically, emotionally, and socially, while also investing in the educators who make learning possible every day. At BLAQUE Kansas City, that is the work we remain committed to advancing.

This month’s reads remind us that educational quality is shaped both inside and outside the classroom. Whether through summer learning opportunities, educator retention strategies, or future teacher pipelines, the work of building stronger schools is long-term, interconnected, and deeply community-driven.

This investment further cements our promise to Kansas City—to strengthen our educational system to ensure every Black child attending public schools has access to a high-quality, equitable, and empowering education. More than anything, it is a bold call to action. Because igniting the future of education requires fuel. It requires all of us.

Responding to What the Data Shows

Our investment strategy was informed first and foremost by the realities of Kansas City’s educational landscape.

The data is clear and the moment is urgent—today, only 1 in 3 students in Kansas City is in a quality school. Grade 3 reading proficiency and Grade 8 math proficiency are key milestones on a student’s academic journey, but alarmingly, most Kansas City students are behind when compared to the Missouri average. 33% of KCPES students are below basic in reading, while 43% are below basic in math. These students demonstrate minimal mastery of grade-level knowledge and skills and, thus, require substantial academic support to be prepared for success at the next grade level.

When you disaggregate the data by race, the reality becomes even more sobering. Since 2019, achievement gaps for both Black and Hispanic students have widened in English Language Arts and Math, signaling that racial disparities in academic outcomes are becoming more pronounced over time. The data is undeniable—far too many students of color are still being denied equitable access to the opportunities and supports needed to thrive academically.

Grounded in 150+ Community Voices

Our investment was ultimately guided by the Community Blueprint for KC Schools, which features the voices of school leaders, parents, students, educators, and community members.

At BLAQUE KC, we view Kansas Citians as co-creators in this work. We build with—not for—Black parents, students, and leaders and help parents, families, and the community elevate their voices in joyful, culturally affirming spaces.

That’s why we relied so heavily on what the community has clearly articulated it wants from schools—mental health and emotional safety, community-rooted learning, flexible pathways with high standards, and leadership and future access.

Each of our investments is aligned with those priorities. We recognize DeLaSalle Education Center’s commitment to personalized learning structures and strong student supports. We honor Hope Leadership Academy’s promise to provide access to high-quality academic experiences paired with the support necessary to meet those expectations. We applaud The Legacy of Julia Lee Performing Arts Academy’s vision of creating an environment where students engage in rigorous learning while also developing creativity, confidence, and self-expression. We celebrate Show Me KC Schools’ critical role in ensuring families are not navigating the education landscape alone. Finally, we commend Teachers Like Me for its essential work strengthening the educator pipeline in our city.

Our Call to Action

For too long, systems have focused on incremental change. What we need, and what we promise to provide, is targeted, strategic investment in what works. BLAQUE KC has already built the governance infrastructure through our Charter School Board Draft. Today, we’re activating capital to strengthen schools and expand access to quality. This is the natural next step—and the right moment to do it.

Our call to action is simple: lean in. For leaders—align your resources and influence to support what’s working. For families—stay engaged and continue to advocate for your children. For investors—be bold and strategic in how you fund solutions. This is a moment where we can move from conversation to action. Everyone has a role to play in building a system that delivers for all students.

We know that education is directly tied to economic mobility and the strength of our workforce. If we want a thriving city, we must invest in the conditions that produce successful students—strong schools, strong leaders, and strong teachers. This is both a moral and economic imperative. And the time to act is now.

I built a strong model.

I studied high-performing schools. I designed schedules, instructional systems, and expectations rooted in research and urgency. I believed deeply—and sincerely—that I was building something students deserved.

And in many ways, I was.

But there was one thing I did not do early enough.

I did not start with families.

It wasn’t intentional neglect.

It was a familiar pattern in education: move fast, design well, and engage the community once the vision is clear.

The assumption is simple: if the model is strong enough, trust will follow.

But that’s not what happened. Instead, I learned something humbling.

Families experienced the school differently than I imagined:

• Some structures that made perfect sense on paper felt misaligned with daily realities at home

• Some expectations needed context

• Some systems needed flexibility

• Some priorities needed reframing

I didn’t abandon the model, but I had to adjust it.

And those adjustments only happened once I began intentionally bringing families into the conversation—not as recipients of the vision, but as co-designers of it.

That experience has stayed with me.

Because it revealed a truth that doesn’t get said enough in education reform: You can build a technically strong school and still miss the community it serves.

What BLAQUE KC Is Doing Differently

At BLAQUE KC, we are applying that lesson from the start.

Instead of beginning with a model, we are beginning with listening.

Over the past several months, we have facilitated structured community engagement across Kansas City—creating spaces where students, families, educators, and community members could define what school should look like based on lived experience.

More than one hundred community members helped shape what is now the Community Blueprint for KC Schools.

From Personal Lesson to Organizational Practice

What I learned through experience, BLAQUE KC is now operationalizing.

We are making a clear shift:

• Community voice is not a step in the process—it is the starting point

• It is not a communications strategy—it is a design strategy

We are not building first and adjusting later.

We are designing with the community from the beginning.

Introducing the Community Blueprint for KC Schools

The Community Blueprint for KC Schools is how BLAQUE KC puts community voice into practice.

It is not a prescribed model.

It is a decision-making guide grounded in Kansas City community voice—used to determine:

• What to build

• What to prioritize

• How success is defined

Through this process, four priorities consistently emerged:

• Schools must prioritize mental health and emotional safety

• Learning must feel relevant and rooted in community context

• Students need flexible pathways paired with high expectations

• Schools must intentionally build leadership and future access

These aren’t abstract ideas.

They reflect what 100+ Kansas City families and students repeatedly said matters most.

Aligning Investment to What Community Said Matters

We are not stopping at listening. We are aligning our investment strategy to the Blueprint.

Moving forward, BLAQUE KC will prioritize funding for:

• Schools strengthening alignment with families and community priorities

• Leaders who demonstrate authentic community partnership from the outset

This is a seismic shift. From funding ideas alone to funding aligned, community-informed design. Because long-term success requires both.

Why This Matters Now

Kansas City doesn’t need more disconnected innovation. It needs alignment between what schools build and what families actually need.

When community shapes design from the beginning:

• Trust builds faster

• Implementation is stronger

• Innovation reflects local context

• Students experience schools that affirm both identity and possibility

This approach isn’t about slowing innovation. It’s about making it last.

Listening Before Design

I learned that listening after launch can repair a model. At BLAQUE KC, we are choosing something better:

Listening before design—so fewer repairs are needed later.

The Community Blueprint for KC Schools reflects the voices of Kansas City students, families, and community members. And those voices are now shaping how schools are designed, supported, and funded. Education transformation doesn’t begin with a model. It begins with alignment.

And alignment begins with listening.

***

The Community Blueprint for KC Schools is available to read here.

***

About the Author:

Charles Stanley Jr. is the Vice President of School Quality and Growth at BLAQUE KC, where he works to expand access to high-quality schools and strengthen outcomes for students across Kansas City. An experienced educator and strategist, Charles has led school and instructional systems, coached leaders, and supported school communities in driving measurable improvement. He is driven by the belief that every student deserves access to a high-quality school—and that strong leadership and community voice make that possible.

As we prepare for our Igniting the Future of Education Luncheon on May 8, 2026, where BLAQUE KC will announce a major investment, this month’s What We Read highlights how others are doing the same—at scale.

1

$3.7M Head Start Grant Expands Early Childhood Access in Kansas

Context: Two Kansas counties were recently awarded a $3.7 million federal grant to expand Head Start programming, strengthening early childhood education access for low-income families.

Why this matters: Early childhood education is one of the most proven levers for long-term student success. Investments like this ensure that more students enter kindergarten ready to learn—particularly those who have historically had the least access to high-quality early education.

• Expands access to early learning for underserved families

• Strengthens the long-term academic pipeline

• Signals continued federal prioritization of early childhood infrastructure

What’s next: We expect more investments aimed at closing access gaps—especially in communities where affordability remains a barrier.

2

New Brookside Charter School to Nearly Double Capacity by 2027

Context: A new charter primary school is set to open in Brookside in 2027, nearly doubling student capacity in the area.

Why this matters: Kansas City families continue to demand more high-quality school options—and operators are responding by expanding access where it’s needed most.

• Adds significant new seats in a high-demand area

• Reflects sustained enrollment pressure across the city

• Demonstrates confidence in the charter model as a scalable solution

What’s next: As more families seek out high-performing schools, expect continued growth in charter expansion efforts.

3

Charter Operator to Open 3 Campuses, Creating 2,700 New Seats

Context: A charter network announced plans to open three new campuses, creating capacity for 2,700 additional students.

Why this matters: This is expansion at scale. Across the country, high-performing operators are growing to meet demand—bringing proven models to more students and communities.

• Rapid seat expansion signals strong demand for quality options

• Replication of successful models accelerates impact

• Reinforces charters as a key part of the public education ecosystem

What’s next: As replication strategies continue, the focus will increasingly shift to maintaining quality while scaling—ensuring outcomes keep pace with growth.

4

Frontier Schools Approved to Bring STEM-Focused Option to Columbia

Context: Frontier Schools received approval to open a new STEM-focused public charter school in Columbia, Missouri.

Why this matters: Specialized academic models—particularly in STEM—are becoming an increasingly important part of the public school landscape, offering students pathways aligned with workforce demand.

• Expands access to high-demand STEM education

• Introduces new public school choice for families in Columbia

• Aligns education offerings with long-term economic mobility

What’s next: As workforce needs evolve, expect more schools to adopt specialized models that connect classroom learning to real-world opportunity—particularly in STEM, technology, and career pathways.

Closing Thought

Across every level—local, state, and national—the trend is clear: Investment drives access. Access drives outcomes.

Whether it’s early childhood funding, new school openings, or large-scale expansion, these efforts reflect a growing recognition that students need quality options.

On May 8, 2026, BLAQUE KC will build on this momentum with a targeted investment working to strengthen school quality, expand educator pipelines, and improve school navigation.

The future isn’t theoretical—it’s already being funded, built, and scaled.

I have been a teacher. I have owned and operated a preschool. I have worked in a nonprofit teacher pipeline program, and once had a brief stint in advertising. And from 2021 to 2025, I served on the Kansas City Public Schools Board, a role that changed how I understand education, governance, and what it actually means to be responsible for a school system. Today, I serve as Senior Manager of Governance and Leadership Programs at BLAQUE KC, where I get to build the infrastructure I wished existed when I was sitting in that board seat.

Coming to BLAQUE KC feels full circle. When I ran for the KCPS board, BLAQUE KC endorsed my campaign and helped develop me as a candidate. Now, I have the opportunity to do that same work for others—and take it even further. That’s what the BLAQUE KC Board Collective is all about.

Why this work is needed right now

Since 2022, BLAQUE KC has placed nearly 50 school board members through the Charter School Board Draft—a model that recruits, trains, and places diverse community leaders onto charter school boards. The Draft has built something real: a network of people who came through the same process, share the same mission, and care deeply about our children in Kansas City.

But placing someone in a seat is only the beginning. Research is clear that school board members, particularly members of color, need ongoing peer support, governance skill development, and sustained investment in their wellbeing to stay effective and stay in their seats. Without that, we risk losing the very people we worked so hard to recruit.

The Board Collective is BLAQUE KC’s answer to that gap. It’s a two-year peer leadership program for charter school board members, built around three pillars: Representation—building cross-district relationships and amplifying the perspectives that have historically been missing from governance; Governance—developing real, practical competencies in policy, data, and board accountability; and Stewardship—providing community, recognition, and support that makes long-term service sustainable.

What I wish I’d had

Board service can be lonely in a way that’s hard to explain to people who haven’t done it. You are steering a massive ship from behind the scenes—responsible for decisions that shape the lives of hundreds of children. Most people in your life have no idea what that actually involves. The weight of it is real.

What I needed, and didn’t have, was a network of peers who understood that weight. Because here’s what I learned sitting on that board: the schools and districts across our city are often grappling with the exact same challenges. Some boards have already found answers to problems that others are still struggling with. But we work in silos. We don’t have structured spaces to share what we know, ask what we don’t, or simply remind each other that this work is worth it.

The BLAQUE KC Board Collective creates that space. Two years of peer development, a capstone learning journey to New Orleans during National School Board Member Appreciation Month, and a connection to a national network of 500+ education leaders. Members are inducted into a community that treats their service with the dignity it deserves.

Why BLAQUE KC is the right organization to lead this

We’re not coming to this work from the outside. BLAQUE KC has been embedded in Kansas City’s charter school governance ecosystem for years. We know these board members because we recruited them, trained them, and placed them. We’ve earned the trust that makes a community like this possible. Most importantly, we understand, from lived experience, what they need to thrive once they’re in the room.

The vision is to grow the BLAQUE KC Board Collective into a model that other cities can replicate—a proof point that when you invest in the people governing schools, not just the schools themselves, you change outcomes for children at a systems level. Kansas City will become the example. Our board members become the evidence. I believe in this work because I lived the gap it fills. And I am grateful every day to be in a position to close it.

***

About the Author:

Kandace Buckner is a Senior Manager of Governance and Leadership Programs at BLAQUE KC. In her role, she leads the execution and operationalization of initiatives designed to strengthen school boards, empower school leaders, and build civic leadership pipelines across Kansas City. Beyond her professional impact, Kandace enjoys diving into documentaries and hosting gatherings that bring people together—because community building isn’t just her work, it’s who she is.

1

“We are Drafting a New Generation of Leaders”: Charter School Board Draft 4/11

Context: Every spring, millions tune in as NFL teams draft their next superstars at the NFL Draft. And since 2022, we have brought the same excitement and energy to educational leadership in Kansas City.

Why this matters: The 2026 Charter Board Draft takes place on April 11, 2026, at Arrowhead Stadium. Charter schools are free, public, and open to every student, and the boards that govern them hold real power over policy, budget, and system-level decision-making.

As we wrote on our Substack this month,

“For too long, school boards have not reflected the richness of the communities they serve. Decisions were being made about kids and families without enough voices from those kids and families.

As part of the Draft process, every candidate goes through a rigorous three-month development program. Then, we bring together the candidates, nearly 20 charter organizations across Kansas City, and the broader community—on a giant stage with a countdown clock—as schools draft their new board members.

What’s next: You can nominate a candidate and learn more about the Draft here.

In preparation for this year’s draft, this month’s edition of What We Read focuses on charter school news we read this month.

2

“A Miraculous Turnaround”: How an NC Charter Made a Comeback

Context: Schools across the country have struggled with the impact of the pandemic and remote learning. In 2022, North Carolina’s Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy faced closure due to its poor academic outcomes. Barely 1 in 6 students were proficient in math, and the charter board had just hired its third superintendent in under a decade, Jason Wray.

Why this matters: Heidi Perez-Moreno of Border Belt Independent highlights the changes Wray made to make the military charter school a success:

• Updated academics: The school used academic data to chart a new course, establishing additional foundational math closes and aligning instruction with the curriculum.

• Avoid suspensions: In response to national studies around Black students’ increased likelihood of facing harsher disciplinary actions, Wray implemented in-school consequences. While these non-traditional consequences, including lunges or marches, might be out of place at many schools, they fit the culture of this military academy and ensured students kept learning.

• Student support: Wray recognized that his students, especially those from low-income neighborhoods, needed more support, so he got them all take-home laptops for extra academic support, ramped up bus transportation, and increased the student nutrition program.

What’s next: This year, the state board decided to renew the school’s charter for 10 years, the longest possible. Read about the school’s plans for the next decade here.

3

Families, Business Leaders Fight for Charters Nationwide

Context: Too often, district and state leaders treat charter schools as opponents of the school system rather than successful parts of the system.

Why this matters: This month, communities across the country showed up for charter schools for increased funding and against school closures:

• In Rochester, Business Leaders Call for Equal Funding: Dozens of business leaders in Rochester, New York, called on state leaders in Albany to provide increased funding for students at charter schools in Rochester, who receive less funding than students in other upstate New York cities.

  • Private-sector leaders are calling on the state Department of Education to reevaluate the funding formula.

• In Houston, Parents Save a School from Closure: The Legacy School of Sport Sciences in Spring, Texas, opened just one year before the pandemic began with the goal of bridging the gap between sports and academics.

  • After receiving low school accountability scores, students, staff, and parents filmed personal videos and wrote letters to the states, asking them to reconsider.

  • Texas granted the school renewal through the 2026-27 school year, providing it meets academic, operational, and financial benchmarks.

• In New York City, a Call for Pre-K Funding: Charter leaders say they’re being frozen out of the state’s big new universal childcare expansion. Negotiations are continuing with Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul.

What’s next: These fights over charter school closures and funding will continue as more parents demand high-quality options.

4

Declining Enrollment Across Nation Makes for Difficult Decisions

Context: Enrollment in urban public school systems is declining nationwide, due to falling birth rates, fewer immigrants, and demographic shifts.

Why this matters: This month, several charter schools faced changing governance due to enrollment issues. In D.C., a new charter school was forced to close because it could not recruit enough students, making its financial model unsustainable. In Indianapolis, Rooted School Indianapolis switched authorizers to access more school services while more than doubling student enrollment in the last five years.

Lastly, a group of Georgia parents is fighting for a new charter school focusing on STEM and the arts at the state level. The schools would not receive local tax funding, as the school district faces financial troubles.

What’s next: All public schools, including charter schools, will see sharper enrollment declines over the next few years, and they will need to reallocate resources to serve students better.

5

KC Education Roundup

In local news:

• Bell-to-bell phone ban in Kansas: Echoing dozens of states around the country, Kansas Governor Kelly signed a statewide bell-to-bell cell phone ban for all students, including class, lunch, recess, and in between periods.

• School choice on docket in Missouri: Missouri lawmakers introduced bills proposing increased school choice for families, including allowing students to attend a district they don’t live in, expanding charter schools, or subsidizing private school scholarships.

Bonds on the ballot: Several local districts and counties, including Hickman Mills and Independence School District, have school bonds on the April 7th ballot.

For too long, school boards have not reflected the richness of the communities they serve. Decisions were being made about kids and families without enough voices from those kids and families. We knew that had to change.

So we started the Charter School Board Draft—not as another meeting, not as another sterile process, but as a movement. A pipeline where everyday leaders are trained, equipped, and called into service. A night where schools meet candidates who carry both the lived experience and the vision to shape policy with integrity, courage, and care.

Because when we draft leaders who reflect our city, we don’t just fill seats. We build schools worthy of our children’s brilliance. We draft the future.

The Spark

When it was announced in 2019 that Kansas City would host the NFL Draft in 2023, the energy was electric. And Dr. Cokethea Hill-Woodard asked, “What if we brought that same excitement to education leadership?”

The answer became the Charter School Board Draft, first held in 2022 at Arrowhead Stadium—complete with lights, a big stage, countdown clocks, and more than 300 Kansas City leaders in attendance.

Why Boards Matter

Charter schools are free, public, and open to every student—and the boards that govern them hold real power over policy, budget, and system-level decision-making.

The data across Missouri tells a familiar story—Black students remain the least well-served by the systems designed to educate them. Boards set policy. Policy drives outcomes. Getting representation right isn’t just a gesture toward equity, it is a prerequisite for results.

Three Months Before the Spotlight

Draft Night gets the headlines. But the real work happens in the months before.

Every candidate goes through a rigorous three-month development program. They learn how to read a budget. They study fiduciary responsibility. They dig into the history of education from 1867 to today. They gain a ground-level understanding of the Kansas City educational landscape—the data, the decisions, the stakes.

Then comes Candidate Speed Dating, where schools and candidates meet face to face—eight minutes each to ask hard questions and make real impressions. Then we host a governance retreat to bring it all together before the big night.

For the Schools. For the Candidates. For the City.

There are roughly 20 charter organizations in Kansas City. Schools opt into the Charter Board Draft when they’re seeking board members. What they get is a vetted, trained, diverse pool of candidates who’ve already met them, already understand their mission, and are ready to serve from day one.

For candidates—many of whom are alumni of the very schools that draft them—the night is something different. Governance work is often invisible and undervalued. The Draft makes it visible. It makes it an honor. It transforms commitment to children into a seat at the table where consequential decisions get made.

36 Champions and Counting

Since 2022, BLAQUE KC has placed 36 community champions on charter school boards across Kansas City. Among them:

• Judge Ardie Bland.

• Melesa Johnson, the first Black person elected as Jackson County Prosecutor.

• Nicole Smith, who was placed on the KC Girls Prep Academy board in 2022 and now serves as its CEO.

• Kandace Buckner, who now leads Governance and Leadership Programs at BLAQUE KC.

The ultimate success of this program looks like its own obsolescence. One day, we won’t need a pipeline because the pipeline will already exist—embedded in how Kansas City thinks about leadership, governance, and who gets to shape the future of its schools.

Until then, we’ll be at Arrowhead Stadium. On the clock. Drafting the future for Kansas City.

The 2026 Charter Board Draft takes place April 11, 2026, at Arrowhead Stadium. Stay tuned for more information.

1

KC Education Updates

Context: Child care and early childhood education remain a major issue for families across Kansas City.

Why this matters: This month, several developments in early childhood education show the major needs in Kansas City and Missouri:

• A new study shows that more students entering preschool last year knew how to operate screens than how to physically turn the pages of a book. Education Week looks at the implications for preschool.

• Nearly 32,000 infant and toddler child care slots, and 6,000 Pre-K slots, are needed in the Kansas City region, according to the new Kids Win Missouri report. KCUR talked to a series of parents about their challenges finding child care.

• A recent KCPS Board meeting showed that student retention from Pre-K to Kindergarten has increased from 71% to 80% over the last three years, although kindergarten readiness has fallen below the district’s 90% benchmark.

KCPS will launch a redesigned website in March aimed at improving navigation and accessibility for families.

What’s next: The declines in kindergarten readiness may be a consequence of the pandemic, as current kindergartners experienced the pandemic’s most severe impacts in their first years. Nationally, educators are just beginning to understand the lessons these children offer.

Articles:

• Kids Are Entering Preschool More Comfortable With Screens Than Books. What Now?

• Retention up, readiness down: KCPS weighs progress and challenges - Beacon: Kansas City

• Kansas City parents say child care made all the difference in their life. Finding it was not easy | KCUR

• Babies Born During COVID Are Now in Kindergarten. Here’s What Educators Are Learning – The 74

2

Tech Amidst Immigration Raids and AI Changes

Context: Many states have shifted policies over the last half-decade against the use of technology in schools, in part as a response to learning loss during the pandemic.

Why this matters: In response to increased immigration raids, some schools are offering virtual options to help families with lower attendance. Some schools in Minnesota have seen drops of 40% or more in response to the raids earlier this year.

Meanwhile, the nature of technology use in school is changing, and states vary in their efforts to help high school students keep up. A new XQ Institute report shows that states are doing an uneven job of encouraging schools to prepare students for the rise of AI and other technology.

What’s next: Here in Kansas City, students at Winnetonka High School in the North Kansas City School District are learning about critical thinking, financial literacy, and career education by running an actual credit union at their high school.

Annalisa Jacobo, a junior at Winnetonka High School, checks her coworker’s bag as part of the credit union’s required quarterly surprise cash counts.

Articles:

• ‘Band-Aid Virtual Learning’: How Some Schools Respond When ICE Comes to Town

• ‘Stage Is Shifting Rapidly’ for High Schools: Are States Helping Them Keep Up? – The 74

• Pandemic Learning Loss and COVID-19: Education Impacts - The Annie E. Casey Foundation

• These Kansas City students run a credit union from inside their high school. Yes, with real money | KCUR

3

Public Charter School Roundup

Context: Public charter schools in Kansas City enroll nearly 13,000 students, yet too often coverage excludes stories of children and families at the schools.

Why this matters: This month, several new pieces highlighted public charter schools:

• “If we are not sharing our story, then we are allowing others to tell it for us”: Charter Superintendent Mary Cox, of CORE Butte Charter School in California, wrote about how charter schools need advocates for their families.

• “More bang for your buck”: A new study finds that public charter schools in New York receive less per-pupil funding than district schools yet produce stronger outcomes

• 68% approval: A new poll from 50CAN shows that over two out of three voters favor public charter schools.

BLAQUE will continue to monitor stores about public charters, especially in KC.

Articles:

• Mary Cox— “If we are not sharing our story, then we are allowing others to tell it for us.”

• Charter Schools Are More Bang for Your Buck - WSJ

• The State of Educational Opportunity in America - 50CAN National

• MCPSA Research: Enrollment Trends in Missouri Charter Schools. A 2019 – 2025 Analysis

4

From the Academy: School Discipline Since Brown v. Board of Education

Since the Supreme Court’s landmark case ending school segregation, there has been widespread disproportionate suspension and expulsion of Black students, according to Karhryn E. Wiley’s new article in AERA on antiblackness in K-12 school discipline. White schools and educators have made changes to conduct codes to target Black students culturally, and used discretion to enact disparate discipline by race, helping prolong the “afterlife” of school segregation even after Brown v. Board.

Read the entire piece, including recommendations for ending anti-Black discipline, here.

According to Missouri state data, only 23 percent of third-grade students in Kansas City’s district and charter schools can read at grade level. This isn’t just a Kansas City problem—it’s part of a national literacy crisis. But here’s what too often gets lost in these conversations: the gap between acknowledging the crisis and actually doing something about it.

There’s no shortage of conversation about education in Kansas City. But we believe something’s missing: a consistent voice that bridges the gap between education policy and the lived experiences of Black and Brown families. A voice that asks which schools are actually working for our kids, what community-driven accountability really looks like, and who gets to decide what “quality” means for Kansas City students.

That’s the conversation we’re here to have.

Since our founding in May 2020, BLAQUE KC has been building the infrastructure to back up our analysis with action. Our third biennial Charter School Board Draft is training community leaders to serve on charter school boards. Since its inception, we’ve placed 36 leaders on boards across Kansas City, strengthening governance and ensuring our community has representation where critical decisions are made. In 2025, we contributed $30,000 to the KCPS and charter school bond campaign because voters asked for investment in facilities, and we showed up. Last year, we also hosted listening sessions with students, parents, and teachers to develop a community-driven blueprint that outlines what schools must offer when they open in Kansas City—because “community engagement” shouldn’t be a box to check.

This work gives us a particular vantage point. We see what happens when families are promised high-quality options that don’t materialize. We see when accountability systems catch real problems and when they miss the point entirely. We see the gap between education policy as it’s written and education policy as it’s experienced by Black and Brown families in Kansas City.

This Substack exists to close that gap.

Regularly, Dr. Cokethea Hill-Woodard and the BLAQUE KC team will tackle the questions that matter most to Kansas City families and students: What do new charter school openings and closures mean for your neighborhood? How should school boards balance community input with student outcomes? What does potential federal education policy upheaval mean for Kansas City specifically? How are Career & Technical Education programs actually preparing students for careers that exist in 2026 and beyond?

But we’re not here to just report on these issues—we’re here to interpret them through the lens of what actually works for Black and Brown students. We’ll call out what’s working, challenge what isn’t, and center the voices of families and educators who are living this work every day. Working with and not doing to the Kansas City community isn’t just a tagline for us—it’s how we approach every analysis, every recommendation, every tough question we ask.

You’ll get data interpretation in real time, thoughtful analysis that connects local issues to bigger trends, and accountability—for schools, for systems, and yes, for ourselves. This is how we extend our work into the public conversation about education in Kansas City.

Subscribe and join us. We’ve got a lot to talk about.

Subscribe now