A state commission’s plan to close Genesis School over issues of performance will be tested in a public hearing Jan. 30 at 5:30 p.m. at the Bluford branch of the Kansas City Public Library, 3050 Prospect Ave.

Members of the Genesis School community will be given a chance to speak at the special hearing before the Missouri Charter Public School Commission (MCPSC).

Public hearing

Genesis School charter revocation

January 30 at 5:30 p.m.

at KC Public Library, Bluford Branch

3050 Prospect Avenue, Kansas City, Mo.

Genesis is one of Kansas City’s original public charter schools, established in 1999. Through the years, the school at 3800 E. 44th St. has pursued a mission to serve all Kansas City school children, including students who have struggled at other schools and fallen behind academically.

LINC has been a partner of Genesis, providing LINC Caring Communities services in support of the school’s children, families and neighbors.

Public charter schools like Genesis operate with public funding like school districts but have their own independent school boards, with oversight by a sponsor such as a university, public school district or the MCPSC.

Genesis had most recently been sponsored by the University of Missouri-Columbia, but the state school board forced the university to relinquish the sponsorship of Genesis and two other schools in December 2021, citing concerns with performance.

Genesis then came under the MCPSC’s oversight. A year later, the MCPSC has announced its intent to revoke Genesis’ charter, effective the end of the school year, June 30, which would likely force the school to close.

In a letter and information sheet sent to Genesis families, Genesis Executive Director Kevin Foster said the school is appealing the decision and would seek a public hearing now set for Jan. 30.

The agenda for the hearing allots the MCPSC 30 minutes to state its case for revoking the charter, then 45 minutes to Genesis to respond, followed by 20 minutes for public comment. Individual speakers during public comment will be allowed up to two minutes each.

Written comments can be sent to the MCPSC by email to info@mcpsc.mo.gov. Written comments must be sent by Feb. 1.

The MCPSC, Genesis debate

The MCPSC, a nine-member commission appointed by the governor, was established by statute in 2012. Its portfolio has grown as universities began reducing their number of sponsorships. MCPSC now sponsors 14 of the 20 charter schools in Kansas City.

Genesis originally was one of several schools sponsored by the University of Missouri-Kansas City. But UMKC withdrew from sponsoring charter schools in 2018. Genesis could pursue another sponsor, but any change would require approval by the MCPSC and the state school board.

Genesis is a neighborhood school with 70% of its some 230 students living within two miles, according to school records. As a charter school, its families chose Genesis over other school options. Foster said for half of the families, Genesis was their first school choice when filling out the area charter school’s application process.

In its statements, Genesis has emphasized the school’s role as a community hub of services that support a large proportion of students who come from difficult socio-economic situations and often start at Genesis far behind grade level.

Genesis cites state test data that shows the school has performed above the state average in the amount of growth students have achieved academically over the past seven years.

The MCPSC in its argument for revoking the charter states that the growth has not been enough to demonstrate that students can be expected to rise enough beyond low base scores on state tests.