Definition of Equity
Topeka Public Schools is committed to educational fairness and opportunity for all racial and ethnic groups and academic excellence and personal success for all students. Central to this commitment is educational equity. Educational equity means raising the achievement of all students while (1) eradicating the achievement gaps between the lowest and highest performing students and (2) eliminating the racial predictability or disproportionality of which student groups occupy the highest and lowest achievement categories.
About the Equity Council
The Topeka Public Schools (TPS) mission is to engage students in the highest quality learning, prepare students for responsible, productive citizenship, and inspire excellence for a lifetime. Our goal is to increase learning for every student. Racial equity is a critical component for the district for a basic and essential reason, to raise the achievement of all students.
We know that this work is complex and often uncomfortable, but TPS is committed to eradicating the achievement gaps between the lowest and highest performing students and eliminating the racial predictability or disproportionality of which student groups occupy the highest and lowest achievement categories.
Click here to read a recent article published in 2019 from our superintendent on the Promises of Brown v. Board.
Awards and Accomplishments
The Topeka Public Schools Equity Institute program has been recognized by the National School Boards Association by receiving first place for the 2018 Magna Award in the 5,000 to 20,000 student population category. This is the fourth Magna Award the district has received. Other winning district initiatives include the mobile speech van Tot SPOT (2017), Kanza Education and Science Park, (2015) and Pine Ridge Prep (2014). To view more information, click here.
In 2018, the overall four-year graduation rate for the district has increased to 81.7 percent. Click here to read an article from CJOnline.
For more information on awards and accomplishments, click here to access the magazine.
Brown vs. Board, 70 years later
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