KCKPS launches new initiative promoting equity and inclusion

Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools has launched a new Office of Equity and Inclusion.

Dr. Jason Thompson will lead the efforts in promoting equity and inclusion.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.AND WHEN THEY STARTSCHOOL -- IT WILL BE ALLONLINE.ONLINE LEARNING IN THESPRING REVEALEDSIGNIFICANT BLINDSPOTSFOR SOME DISTRICTS.AS 41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER SARAH PLAKELEARNED -- K-C-K-P-S ISWORKING TO ADDRESSTHOSE ISSUES BEFORECLASSES START.For the Kansas City, Kansasschool district, COVID-19 andthe race discussions acrossour community are tightlyinterwoven into how thedistrict will address equitygoing into the school yearReally has us facing difficultconversations about how wedistribute our resources, whatwe prioritize as important forthe work we do.

So i'm reallylooking to work in solidaritywith people.Jason Thompson is thedirector of the brand newequity and inclusion office forthe district.You really can't do good forany student if you see them asa deficit, it you see them asbeing devoid, that theirfamilies don't care.The district is talking toparents about their specificneeds with virtual learning.Many parents work multiplejobs..

Many households don'thave internet.

Each child hasa take-home learning deviceand many need a hotspotconnection.

This is big for ESLstudents too.Using not just paper packetsbut still using the technologywith an enhancement, so airdropping, using thumb driveswith the content already pre-recorded for the students torecord and then send.

So thatwas one of the things we triedwith some success.KCK students represent about60 different languages,Spanish being a primary.About half of the district'sstudents are English languagelearners.There were opportunitiesabsolutely but we really areshifting toward looking at theassets our families arebringing rather than thedeficits they have.Goal is that no child really isgoing to be...that