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Private consultants recommend non-profit groups oversee KCMO unaccredited schools

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — As Kansas City Public Schools try to regain accreditation, a private consulting firm says the district isn’t working and recommends new organizations are needed to take control.

The Cities for Education Entrepreneurship Trust says a “Community Schools Office” needs to oversee Kansas City Public Schools.

That office would select a variety of non-profit organizations to run the schools. The non-profits would have to meet certain school performance standards. According to the report recommendations, a few successful schools could operate on their own, without a non-profit in charge.

The approach would mean spending less on administrative costs and more on the schools directly, according to the report.

Free pre-school for all students would also be included.

Implementation would take five years at a minimum because the central district would have to be dismantled and resources divided up among the Community Schools Office and the non-profits.

The Missouri Education Commissioner says the report is only a recommendation, which will be given to the Missouri Board of Education and other proposals will be considered.