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Education Collaboration Process

Board Principles for Education Collaboration

The Board of the Kansas City Public Schools believes the school district should play a defining role in building a more coordinated and organized public education system that meets the needs of all students. Toward that end, on January 24, 2018, the KCPS Board adopted the Board Principles for Education Collaboration, which describes the board’s core values and priorities for the exploration of collaboration opportunities with existing/prospective school operators and/or school model advocates. The Board Principles for Education Collaboration can be found here.

The following outlines Kansas City Public Schools’ (KCPS) administrative process for 1) exploring collaboration opportunities with existing/prospective school operators and/or school model advocates, and 2) evaluating whether proposed collaboration opportunities are aligned with the Board Principles for Education Collaboration.

KCPS Education Collaboration Process

  1. Conduct exploratory education collaboration discussions – In order for KCPS and prospective partner to better understand their respective interests and needs, the initial step of the process is to conduct exploratory collaboration discussions. Entities interested in collaborating with KCPS should contact Allyson Hile, Director of Education Collaboration, ahile@kcpublicschools.org to begin the process. Discussions are intended to help identify if there are common interests, needs, and opportunities for collaboration. Discussions should also help inform the development of the Letter of Interest (LOI) if a prospective partner chooses to move forward with the education collaboration process. For Tier 1 and Tier 2 collaborations, exploratory discussions should begin no less than 12 months before the desired beginning school year. For Tier 3 collaborations, exploratory discussions should begin no less than 24 months before the desired beginning school year.

    Tier 1

    –Shared best practices

    • Professional development
    • ELL & SPED
    • Classroom management
    • Assessment & testing
    • Parent involvement
    • Classroom management
    • Curriculum

    –Systemwide planning

    Tier 2

    –Contract for KCPS service & resources

    • Nutrition services
    • Maintenance & custodial services
    • Accounting & payroll
    • Core data reporting
    • Safety & security
    • IT
    • Fields/facilities

    –Shared services/purchasing (contractor/vendors)

    • Transportation
    • Professional development
    • Assessment & testing
    • Enrollment

    Tier 3

    –School model partnership

    • Contract “partnership” school
    • KCPS-sponsored charter
    • KCPS serves as charter LEA
    • Co-location
  2. Interested entity submits Letter of Interest (LOI) – The Letter of Interest (LOI) provides formal notice to KCPS regarding an interested entity’s proposed collaboration. All interested entities should refer to the LOI CRITERIA, which outlines what information needs to be included in the LOI. The information presented in the LOI is non-binding but will be used by KCPS to evaluate a potential collaboration opportunity and determine whether KCPS will pursue collaboration negotiations.
  3. KCPS conducts the evaluation of Letter of Interest (LOI) – The KCPS administration will evaluate the LOI submittal against the LOI Criteria and determine if the proposed collaboration proposal is aligned with the Board Principles for Education Collaboration (please note: the Board Principles for Education Collaboration provide the underlying framework for the LOI Criteria). The KCPS administration will provide a written response to the interested entity within 60 days of receipt of a completed LOI.
  4. Joint development of collaboration agreement – If the KCPS administration affirmatively responds to an LOI, KCPS and the prospective partner will begin the development of a collaboration agreement. For Tier 3 collaborations, KCPS and the prospective partner shall meet and confer with KCPS families and the community to garner input and feedback on the collaboration. In accordance with board policy 4.1.8 and 4.1.9, meetings must take place at least 45 days prior to a Board vote. If KCPS Administration and the prospective partner do not reach mutually agreeable collaboration terms at any point during the joint development process, the KCPS Administration will provide a written response to the applicant.
  5. Collaboration agreement approval/execution – If KCPS administration and the prospective partner reach mutually agreeable collaboration terms, the collaboration agreement terms will be documented through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)/contract/etc). The Superintendent will make a recommendation to the Board of Directors that outlines the terms of the agreement and how the collaboration aligns with the Board’s Guidelines for Education Collaboration. The Board of Directors has final approval authority for all collaboration agreements.
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