Take Note
Research Says ‘Voucher’ Programs Can Help Students
The drawings depict rainbows, hearts, flowers and crosses — thank-you’s to the Catholic Education Foundation in Kansas City, Kansas, from pupils attending parochial school on need-based scholarships. The money is coming from the Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program, a 3-year-old Kansas initiative where businesses provide funding through tax-deductible contributions. Since its inception,…
Leading With Heart
At Take Note we like to say, “This is Our City. Our Schools. Our Future.” but, as we’ve been noting, the word “our” is used differently by different people. If you haven’t heard Mark Bedell’s story, it’s well worth your time. The Kansas City Public Schools superintendent is the first to admit he leads with…
Focus On: School Choice
Here at Take Note, we’re asking: How do you create school choice through (blank)? For people in the Kansas City metropolitan area, school choice can be both a blessing and a curse. It provides an array of education options, but the system can also be confusing, or perhaps even detrimental to existing school districts. From…
Excuse Me, Do You Have a Moment To Talk About Education In Kansas City?
What do you know about education in Kansas City? Whether you’re a parent, educator, or just a Kansas Citian, education matters. This is our city, these are our schools and this is our future, so take note. Follow Take Note: Our City. Our Schools. Our Future as together, we tell the stories that matter, the…
Mental Health Resources for Area Families
A child’s mental health affects success in school. Mental health disorders can result in poor school performance and attendance, according to The Journal of School Nursing. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that in the United States, approximately one out of five adolescents have a mental disorder. With May as Mental Health Awareness Month,…
Weighing The Choice Of Charters
Charter schools have traditionally filled a hole left by underperforming districts in Missouri. But what if that structure was radically changed? What if charter schools were allowed by states at the earliest sign of trouble – one lagging school – instead of waiting for an entire school district to slip? Would it help or hurt…
However You Say It, Kansas City is Home
Whether they speak Nepali. Spanish, French, Bermese or another language, these Gladstone Elementary students call Kansas City home. The Kansas City Public School District is home to more than 55 languages, and some children speak more than two. Hear them introduce themselves in their native langauge, followed by a phrase in English. — Follow “Take…
All Smiles
It’s not the most academically rigorous benchmark, but Linda Hinkley, a longtime teacher in the Hickman Mills School District, remembers her students for how they looked when they were happy. That is, perhaps, an apt metaphor for the south Kansas City district, as it looks to a brighter future. Its new superintendent, Yolanda Cargile, is…
Common Grounds | Immigration
The Take Note team convenes education stakeholders for a conversation over coffee to discuss immigration, entrepreneurship and barriers to learning in a series we call Common Grounds. From language and culture to community engagement to school resources, this lively discussion at Thou Mayest covers it all. Follow Take Note: Our City. Our Schools. Our Future as…
School Tours | A Simplified Guide to Investing in Our Schools
Choosing which school to send your child to can be a complicated process. Depending on where you live, your options may include private, charter or public schools, but many parents in Kansas City aren’t aware of the options available to them or how to find helpful information to make the best decision for their child….