Nine years ago when we were looking at schools for my oldest, we toured three and found them all to be great. Looking back, we made the decision harder than it needed to be. We stressed about it and talked about it with many friends and neighbors. In the end, we chose a school where we knew no one. We became a part of that school community and we are better for it. One of the best ways to learn more about KC schools is to go inside and take a tour. It is worth it to get out of your comfort zone and tour schools where you know there will not be a lot of families that are like your own. Research done in Kansas City indicated that families using school choice options are more likely to narrow their search to schools they have visited. Our schools are very segregated, but they don’t have to be that way. You can use your choice to maintain the status quo or to disrupt it – without sacrificing anything. Do not exclude certain schools from your search just because there are other options, or because you don’t already know anyone there. You can open yourself to a new community when you join an integrating school. It’s easy to get caught up in what we hear about ‘good’ and ‘bad’ and ‘best’ schools, but know that this is often just noise. Noise that has been heard and repeated over and over. Noise that is based on our bias or those of others in our social circles. Noise that is based on info from years ago, or from people who may never have been inside these schools. Do not take for granted these assumptions that are made about our community’s schools. Tour them and see for yourself. Kansas City has so many schools and they are all over the city. Do not limit yourself. Be a part of changing the narrative around our schools, by taking the Integrated Schools Two Tour Pledge!

Register your pledge at https://integratedschools.org/two-tour-pledge/