But administrators hope a long term plan will help KCPS emerge more efficient, more equitable and more competitive with charter schools and suburban districts.
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.
Educators, advocates worry Independence district’s pronoun policy harms LGBTQ students
In the Independence School District, teachers need parental consent to use students’ preferred pronouns in the classroom.
Can you live on retirement benefits as a Kansas or Missouri teacher? It depends.
A teachers union representative and the director of Missouri’s retirement program argued the state’s system is strong where it counts — rewarding long-term service.
Black students at UMKC called for change. The university is listening
Since TAASU put out a list of demands on Instagram in June 2020, the university has worked with students to make changes.
Students with disabilities need extra support. Some schools call the police instead
In many districts around the Kansas City metro area — and throughout the nation — students with disabilities are more likely to be referred to law enforcement by their schools, according to a recent analysis of federal education data by the Center for Public Integrity.
Burned out: UMKC student says advocacy for sexual assault survivors didn’t lead to change
Boschen has felt unsupported as a survivor navigating life at college, and her frustrations continue. She says she’s burned out.
‘A 60,000-square-foot welcome mat’: New KCPS center helps immigrant, refugee students
The Welcome Center is designed to help students gain the language and cultural and educational skills they need to succeed.
Kansas offers free community college for students in high-demand fields
Thirty-three higher education institutions in Kansas are included in the program — 19 community colleges, seven technical colleges and seven private, nonprofit postsecondary institutions.
What parents worried about pandemic learning loss can do
Schools are working to assess students and meet them where they are, focusing on core standards that serve as a foundation for more advanced skills. Parents and guardians can work with them to promote learning.
What to tell your child about COVID-19 safety at school
We’ve talked to experts and found resources to answer your questions about how to encourage children to stay safe at school.