The legislature has yet to pass Erin’s Law, mandating child abuse prevention education, and other laws advocates say could strengthen protections for children.
Maria Benevento
Maria Benevento is The Beacon’s education reporter. She joined The Beacon as a Report for America corps member. In addition to her work at The Beacon, she’s reported for the National Catholic Reporter, Columbia Missourian and St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Her education reporting began in 2017, and she became a full-time Kansas City education reporter with The Beacon in mid-2021. She graduated from Creighton University in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in theology and American studies. In 2021, she graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a master's degree in journalism. She’s lived in Missouri most of her life and first moved to Kansas City in 2017.
Posted inEducation
Kansas state school board candidates disagree on whether parents need more influence
Republican Amy Cawvey and Democrat Jennifer Lloyd are competing for the District 1 seat on the Kansas State Board of Education.
Posted inEducation
Missouri has laws to stop abusers moving from one school to another. Are they enough?
Some parts of the law apply to educators no matter where they work, while others are specific to public schools.
Posted inEducation
Johnson County voters could flip seat on right-leaning Kansas Board of Education
In November, voters will choose between Democrat Amy Diediker and Republican Jim McMullen.
Either candidate would be new to the board.
Posted inEducation
Missouri’s ‘unprecedented’ budget vote leaves schools around Kansas City in the lurch
Missouri’s state education board voted not to ask the governor and lawmakers for full school funding.
Posted inEducation
Q&A: Meet the first active teacher appointed to Missouri’s State Board of Education
Mike McDonald is the first person appointed to a non-voting role on the board set aside for an active classroom teacher.
Posted inEducation
Classroom supply drive for Raytown teachers runs into unexpected hurdle
A message from the Raytown School District to teachers said they need permission for crowdfunding efforts and that any donations are the property of the district.
Posted inEducation
Divided Kansas City, Kansas, school board makes key property tax decision
Three members wanted to lower property tax rates enough to keep revenue flat, but they were overruled.
Posted inEducation
Simple or oversimplified? Missouri prepares to grade schools on an A-to-F scale
Supporters say the plan gives parents more information, but opponents say it could be a source of confusion and stigma.
Posted inEducation
Here are the winners of the Kansas State Board of Education Republican primaries
Voters in Johnson and Miami counties and much of northern, western and southeastern Kansas chose Republican candidates for the general election in November.