July 9, 2010
"Local corporations, foundations and individuals who donate to Teach for America see it as an investment in the community..."
Get to Know Operation Breakthrough
Operation Breakthrough is a nationally accredited, not-for-profit corporation that began in 1971 in response to requests from parents in the central city for quality child care for children of the working poor. With funding from the Model Cities Program and a grant from the Hall Family Foundation, the program launched at its original location, 31st and Paseo Streets, with 50 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. In 1976 the center expanded to include before- and after-school care before moving to its current location at 31st and Troost in 1981.
Over the last three decades, Operation Breakthrough has added a broad range of social services to meet the needs of the children and families it serves. In 2006, the organization completed an expansion and renovation project that doubled the size of the facility and increased its licensed capacity from 353 children to over 500.
Operation Breakthrough relies on the generosity of this community to continue its work. Current funding is provided by a federal Head Start grant, the State of Missouri, the city of Kansas City, private donations, and several foundations.
As funding for early childhood education continues to decrease, the services provided by Operation Breakthrough ensure that children in Kansas City receive a solid foundation and continue with a strong support system.
Region Timeline
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Kansas City experiences a boom in growth. In response, much of the affluent, largely white population flees to the suburbs, leaving a deeply divided metropolitan area and a segregated school system.
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On behalf of its students, the Kansas City Missouri School District sues the state of Missouri, federal agencies, and surrounding suburban districts.
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A federal district judge orders the state of Missouri and the Kansas City Missouri School District to spend $2 billion creating programs, facilities, and advertising to attract suburban students over the following 12 years.
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An audit finds that the district’s budget has been misused, mismanaged, and misappropriated, with 54% of the funds never making it into the classrooms.
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The United States Supreme Court rules that the district court had no authority to force the state to pay for a plan aimed at attracting suburban students.
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By the mid-1990s it is abundantly clear that the overall goal of integrating schools has had the reverse effect: the district’s population of students of color has increased to 90% from 73% when the desegregation plan began.
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Missouri becomes the 27th state to pass a charter law.
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The Missouri Public Charter School Association is founded.
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Dr. John Covington, superintendent of Kansas City Public Schools, names Teach For America – Kansas City (established in 2008) among the key collaborators in building the human capital pipeline for the district.
Overheard
The corps experience is commonly described as "the hardest thing you will ever do." The caveat to this statement is that while this experience is incredibly challenging, you are not left to face these challenges alone. The Teach For America community is supportive, understanding, and most importantly, inspiring.
Kansas City Corps 2008
