After months of contentious debate, the Missouri State Board of Education has finalized a plan to address the state’s unaccredited school districts. Squarely in its sights is the Kansas City, Missouri, School District, which has been operating without state accreditation since 2012.

Coupled with a school transfer law set to go into effect this summer, the impact on the beleaguered Kansas City School District could be immense. But just as enormous is the ripple effect these two events could have on neighboring districts throughout the metro.

Will families living in Waldo or Brookside now be able send their kids to Lee’s Summit schools at the Kansas City, Missouri, School District’s expense? Will charter schools take a hit as parents get the option to send their kids to another school district in a neighboring county?

Or even, according to the latest Missouri Senate bill, apply their public tuition toward a private school education?

The implications of these developments are explored by KCPT-TV‘s Nick Haines and a panel of experts for Make or Break: Decision Time for KCMO Schools.

Participants include Chris Nicastro, Missouri Education Commissioner, Senators David Pearce and Jason Holsman. Chair of Missouri Senate Education Committee, John Martin, Missouri State Board of Education, and Munro Richardson, education consultant.

This event was co-sponsored by KCPT and the Kansas City Public Library.