Parents waiting for the first time with their kids to board the school bus is a time-honored tradition, but policies vary on who can ride the bus and what it costs. Here’s what you need to know about school transportation options. Who in Kansas gets a guaranteed school bus ride? Kansas state law provides free […]
Haysville USD 261
Posted inWichita
How to make sure your kid is eating a healthy lunch at school
Making sure your child has a nutritious meal at school is important for their academic success and health. If you don’t have the time or money to pack a lunch, school lunches are a healthy alternative. School meals as a whole promote a better diet among participants. And eating breakfast at school reduces student absences and […]
Posted inState Government
What vaccine requirements you need to follow before school resumes in Kansas
Kansas requires students to be vaccinated against certain diseases before attending any public or private school. Parents can request exemptions to these vaccine requirements for documented medical conditions or religious objections. Caregivers will need to provide proof that students have all required vaccines before starting school. State law requires school districts to help spread the […]
Posted inWichita
A parent’s guide to enrolling kids in Wichita-area schools
Micah Vannover spent Tuesday afternoon with her children touring Earhart Environmental Magnet School with confidence. “I do feel like this is going to be a really good school for my kids, just for the opportunities that it has compared to the others,” Vannover said. “Education is what gets kids going far in life. You can […]
Posted inEducation
Retaining early-career teachers key to addressing shortage in Wichita
Teacher shortages fueled by retirements and teacher burnout continue to plague school districts across the country. Wichita Public Schools began the 2022-23 school year on Aug. 15 short 100 teachers. That represents about 2.5% of all positions, better than the statewide vacancy rate of 4%. The causes of the shortage are baby-boomer retirement, increased stress […]
Posted inEducation
A KU Wichita Pediatrics pilot program brings health care into schools, and it’s keeping students in class
Editor’s note: We updated this story on Dec. 8 to clarify that Krista Weaver is an advanced practice registered nurse. On Dec. 9, the story was updated to clarify that KU Wichita Pediatrics operates the school-based clinics. There’s no telling who or what Krista Weaver will see every day in her classroom-turned-clinic in Haysville USD […]
Posted inEducation
There’s a Kansas substitute teacher shortage. Here’s how you can get a license.
Update: On Jan. 12, 2022, the Kansas State Board of Education declared a state of emergency and created a less restrictive path to becoming a substitute teacher. With that action, the board established a Temporary Emergency Authorized License (TEAL), which will generally allow anyone over the age of 18 with a high school diploma to […]
Posted inEducation
What’s the key to better classroom performance? Haysville thinks it could be more recess
One of the hardest decisions 6-year-old MacKenna Darling makes each morning is picking what she’ll do at each of the four recesses her class has every day at Freeman Elementary School. Some recesses, the first grader prefers going down the slide — fast most of the time, but sometimes slowly. Other times, a game of […]
Posted inDIY Democracy, Education
How to attend, watch or comment at Wichita-area school board meetings
School boards over the past year and a half have found themselves unexpectedly in the crosshairs of public attention amid divisive topics, including critical race theory, mask requirements, and quarantine and isolation policies. But speaking out at school board meetings does not have to be a confrontation, and many school boards in Kansas provide easy […]
Posted inEducation
Few Wichita students walk to school. Here’s why they should.
It’s not every day that fifth graders Terrance Brobst and Jackson Fasig get to walk to school together, but the days they do are some of their favorites. It’s one of the things they missed most when they were stuck at home during the pandemic’s remote learning stages. “We get to walk, talk with our […]