With Kaffuman Foundation support, SuccessLink, a Missouri-based nonprofit organization, conducted a study of the laboratory facilities in the middle schools and high schools of 30 school districts in the Kansas City region during the 2006 - 2007 school year.
Auditors visited nearly 170 middle and high school laboratories in greater Kansas City to inventory equipment, compare and analyze curriculum, review examples of student’s laboratory assignments, and determine teacher experience, lab availability, and the amount of lab time available to teachers and students. The district level survey also considered district policies and resources support effective laboratory practices.
The SuccessLink audit produced recommendations for equipment needs and upgrades to enhance the teaching of science classes and provide local baseline data on the condition, capacity, and resources of the school laboratories. In the final report, SuccessLink analyzed how well the schools met the parameters set out by the National Research Council, including equipment availability, space capacity, teacher experience, student experiences, and lab availability. The report also provided recommendations for needs and upgrades.
The study of area science labs provided baseline indicators as the Kauffman Foundation seeks to develop and evaluate programs that strengthen math and science education in the Kansas City region.
Contact: Amy Youngblood, project director, 888-636-4395, amy@successlink.org.
Kansas City-area school districts that are part of the SuccessLink study: Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas; Blue Springs R-IV School District; Blue Valley Schools; Bonner Springs/Edwardsville School District; Center School District; DeSoto School District; Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph; Excelsior Springs School District; Fort Osage School District; Gardner Edgerton Unified School District; Grandview Consolidated School District; Grain Valley R-V School District; Hickman Mills C-1 School District; Independence Public School District; Kansas City Missouri School District; Kansas City Kansas Public Schools; Kearney School District; Lee's Summit R-VII School District; Liberty Public School District; Lone Jack School District; Missouri City School District; North Kansas City School District; North Platte Co. School District; Oak Grove School District; Olathe Unified School District; Park Hill School District; Raytown Quality Schools; Smithville School District; Spring Hill Unified School District; and West Platte Co. School District.
