School Improvement
In order to achieve educational equity and excellence for students of all races and backgrounds, the Lawrence Board of Education and Superintendent will establish a learning climate of high expectations, set annual equity and achievement goals, and charge district- and school-level teams with responsibilities for developing strategies to eliminate achievement disparities while improving achievement for all students.
USD 497 has aligned the Kansas State Department of Education's (KSDE) Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) with our district's strategic plan goals to create an annual school improvement process that supports the mission and vision of the Lawrence Public Schools.
Building Goals, Needs Assessment, State Assessment Review
Each USD board of education in Kansas must complete a needs assessment of each attendance center within the USD. The documents below include important questions to monitor the data and progress of the building, evaluate curriculum, staffing and facility needs as well as other important items to consider for the continued growth of the school. Per K.S.A. 72-1163, the needs assessment should also track the progress of the attendance center to meet the goal set forth in K.S.A. 72-3218(c) (State Board of Education’s Outcomes and Educational Capacities aka Rose Capacities).
The Needs Assessment for each school must be used by the USD board of education when approving the annual Budget and must be available at the USD administrative offices and posted to the USD website. These documents are below.
Each building meets as a leadership team to review data and establish goals aligned to the district strategic plan annually. Those goals are included each buildings summary report below. Principals and team members meet three times a year with the district Teaching and Learning Team for building goal check-ins to review progress on established goals. Goals and progress are also shared with building site councils.
USD 497 DISTRICT NEEDS ASSESSMENT (Includes all schools and district summary.)
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS @ PINCKNEY
KENNEDY EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
LANGSTON HUGHES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
LAWRENCE COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER
LAWRENCE FREE STATE HIGH SCHOOL
LIBERTY MEMORIAL CENTRAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
PRAIRIE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL