Education

A Black mother with short hair and a white blouse crosses her arms around her 17-year old son who has autism. Michelle Mitchell worries about the small things in life, like sending Gerald to a bus stop. The bigger things, like career, are even more dizzying. (Dominick Williams | Flatland)

Confronting the ‘High School Cliff’: What Young Adults with Disabilities Need to Succeed

By Vicky Diaz-Camacho, Cody Boston, Graciela Becerra | April 20, 2023

Four years ago, a Kansas City mom created a program for young adults with disabilities like her son. Today, that program has become a resource for people facing the “high school cliff.”

A group of students at the University of Kansas demonstrate for civil rights in 1965. Image courtesy of Dole Archives at the University of Kansas.

Disability Rights History: A Self-Guided Tour

By Vicky Diaz-Camacho | April 19, 2023

Here’s a self-guided tour to help put disability rights and law history into context.

This double display case at the Country Club Plaza branch of the Kansas City Public Library holds books provided to the library by an interfaith group called Cultural Crossroads.

‘Canceled, Censored, Banned’ Sparks Questions About Government, Books and Public Libraries

By Vicky Diaz-Camacho | April 7, 2023

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s proposed rule addressing material at public libraries has sparked questions about book restrictions. Here are answers.

A crowd surrounds Kim Riley, parent and founder of the Transition Academy. For the past several years, her focus has been to build a network that better assists families whose children have developmental or intellectual disabilities find meaningful careers.

curiousKC | Submit Questions About Disability Resources in KC

By Vicky Diaz-Camacho | March 27, 2023

“Will my child with disabilities find a job they enjoy?” Submit questions like this on access to disability resources to our curiousKC reporting team.

The Mitchell family sits around their kitchen table. Michelle is seated next to 17-year-old son with autism, explaining what she faces juggling work and finding support for her son.

KU Disabilities Center Awarded $2.9M to Address Community Needs

By Vicky Diaz-Camacho | February 24, 2023

Researchers get funding boost to further community-centered research on disability supports for Kansas families.

Kansas state Rep. Kristey Williams, a Republican from Augusta.

Kansas Lawmakers Unveil Bill to Incentivize Private Education with Public Funds

By Rachel Mipro, Kansas Reflector | February 7, 2023

A new Kansas education bill would funnel money into unregulated, unaccredited private schools, with lawmakers saying the legislation would protect parental authority.

Another Symptom of Missouri Teacher Shortage: 4-day School Weeks

By Annelise Hanshaw, Missouri Independent | December 20, 2022

Independence School District became the largest in the state last week to switch to an abbreviated school week in an attempt to improve teacher retention.

Young girl sits at a laptop practicing her typing skills.

Missouri Offers ‘A Phenomenal Place to Homeschool’

By Cami Koons | December 13, 2022

The percentage of U.S. households that homeschool more than doubled during the COVID pandemic, and the trend may become permanent.

A tiger statue at Cowley College in Arkansas City, Kansas.

Kansas Community Colleges Reaching a Crossroads

By Barbara Shelly | December 8, 2022

Kansas’ 19 community colleges offer a pathway for 96,000 students to pursue postsecondary studies. But precipitous enrollment declines, aging campuses and funding struggles cloud the future of these institutions, which are often economic linchpins in small cities.