Strategic Plan

Unifying School-Based Communications with ParentSquare

In response to community feedback, the district has implemented the use of ParentSquare across all schools during this 2025-26 school year. This tool unifies all school-based communication in one place for parents, including families with multiple students in school.

Even without downloading the ParentSquare app, all school, grade level, and classroom information is still delivered to parents via email and/or text. Parents may also download the free ParentSquare app from the App Store or Google Play to see communications in the app, also.

Amplifying Elementary Science

The benefits of strong science learning in developing critical thinking, problem-solving, math and reading is well-documented in research. This year, LPS has enhanced high-interest, standards-aligned science instruction for all elementary students through a dedicated science enrichment class, taught by fully certified and highly enthusiastic science teachers. This program enhancement also allowed for the addition of a second professional planning period for elementary teachers. 

Completing Districtwide Implementation of AVID

Advancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID, is a curriculum and elective that uses research-based strategies to help develop academic skills in reading, writing, and critical thinking. AVID students overcome obstacles and succeed, graduating and attending college at higher rates. More importantly, they think critically, collaborate, and set high expectations to tackle future challenges.

From collaborative learning to real-world skills, see how AVID empowers students to think critically, work together, and take ownership of their future.From collaborative learning to real-world.

Starting as an elective for high school students, the AVID program has been gradually implemented in classrooms throughout our middle and elementary schools as well. Soon, students in all our schools will have the opportunity to benefit from AVID.

Expanding Preschool Offerings into Neighborhood Schools

Lawrence Public Schools is expanding early childhood educational opportunities with the vision of a ‘preschool seat for every child in Lawrence.’

At the start of the 2025-26 school year, new preschool classrooms have opened at two of our neighborhood schools in opposite geographic quadrants of the district—Sunflower and Woodlawn Elementary Schools. These neighborhood preschool classrooms expand on the excellent services already provided to families of young children at Kennedy Early Childhood Center and New York Montessori.

Additionally, two more preschool classrooms are coming to Prairie Park and Deerfield Elementary Schools for the 2026-27 school year. These two classrooms will bring the total number of LPS preschool locations to six schools and place the district at the 50% mark in offering preschool at all elementary schools across the district.

About Preschool Offerings

Strengthening Jayhawk Blueprint Partnership

The Jayhawk Blueprint program, offered only in Lawrence Public Schools, is a concurrent enrollment program between KU and Lawrence Public Schools. The program provides high school students with the opportunity to earn college credit. 

When KU and Lawrence Public Schools launched the Jayhawk Blueprint program in the 2017-18 school year, 89 high school students took at least one dual-credit course. By the 2023-24 school year, that number rose to 456 students, who earned a combined 2,732 college credits. 

Our district will continue strengthening this partnership throughout the 2025-26 school year—helping more students and families shrink the burden of college debt and earn college credit in high school.

Thanks to generous donations from LEAP partner Truity Credit Union, the Lawrence Schools Foundation is working with our school student services staff to offer scholarships.

Students can visit their school counselors about these scholarship opportunities.

Growing New York Montessori

The first public Montessori school of its kind in Kansas, New York Montessori will continue to expand to upper elementary grades, serving children from age 3 to fourth grade during the upcoming 2026-27 school year.

Advancing STEAM@LMCMS

Launched at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year, curricula at LMCMS was redesigned with a focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) concepts and innovative educational practices.  These five concepts are woven into every class, lesson, and assignment at the school through hands-on, inquiry-based learning projects.

The STEAM@LMCMS program enables all students in grades 6-8 to experience Project Lead the Way (PLTW) courses like design and modeling and automation and robotics, while also taking traditional core subjects like English language arts, math, science, and social studies. STEAM@LMCMS will continue adding new PLTW courses, with Computer Science for Innovators and App Creators ramping up.

Learn more about STEAM@LMCMS