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 […]
Maize USD 266
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 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
Where to get school supplies in Wichita
Above all else, Zinab Chahine said, remember to stock up on school supplies early. Chahine came with her first-grade daughter to Earhart Environmental Magnet School on Tuesday for in-person enrollment ahead of Wichita Public Schools’ first day of class, Aug. 14. “Last year we were late to buy them, and that really bit us in […]
Posted inEducation
Attending a school outside your district is getting easier in Kansas. Not everyone’s happy
Imagine you’re a parent and your child goes to Northwest High School in Wichita. The Maize public school district sits nearby, a wealthier community where graduation rates and ACT scores run higher. If you’d wanted to enroll your children in Maize in fall 2023, the school district would have said no. Starting next fall, Maize’s […]
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, Local Government
Young people are some of the least likely to vote. These young Wichitans are working to change that.
Dione Ramos didn’t think her first time voting would be special. She certainly didn’t expect a live band, a DJ blaring Ariana Grande and Camila Cabello, free tacos and recognition of first-time voters. But that’s what Vote Mob provided on Oct. 26. The annual celebration of voting is organized by local youth-led civic engagement group […]
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 […]