Our City. Our Schools. Our Future.
In the Kansas City region, the story of education has many chapters. In this series, we’ll ponder questions like, What does the classroom of the future look like? How will we protect our students in the school of the future? and How will we measure success? We hear an expert say, “There are big questions — huge questions.” Together, hopefully, we can start to craft some answers.
Season 2: The School of the Future
With the launch of season two of our Take Note project, Flatland picks up the story again.
Using a “school of the future” lens, we ask students, school leaders and parents what school should look like 10, 20 or 50 years from now, and what that means for future generations of students.
Season 2: The School of the Future
Money Issues Hamper Progress In Some School Districts
What’s the best way to ensure that future generations get the best education possible? For many people, the answer is simple: money. More specifically, these proponents argue that additional funding must go toward attracting and retaining quality teachers — arguably…
There Is A Way To Boost Achievement of Low-Income Students
The economic divide is a big driver of educational inequality around the country and here in the Kansas City area. But does that have to be a given? The hope is that the school of the future can narrow the…
School Shootings Pit Safety Vs. Pedagogy
In the aftermath of World War II, amidst Cold War tensions with the Soviets, U.S. students practiced “duck and cover” drills to prepare for nuclear attack. Fast forward more than half a century, and one of the most common safety…
Kansas City Public Schools Takes Big Step Toward Full Accreditation
The Kansas City Public Schools district is one of just a handful throughout Missouri that is not fully accredited by the state, but that could change based upon annual performance results released today by the Missouri Department of Elementary and…
The Death of Cursive
Heather Kincaid remembers learning to write cursive at Raymore Elementary School back in the ‘90s. The curlicue method of shorthand excited her — it was something grownups could do. Through the repetitive classroom exercises, complete with wide-ruled paper resembling newsprint…
Fueling the Body and Mind in the School of the Future
A healthy diet. Regular exercise. Unplugging from technology. Sound familiar? Those are all things that adults know they should do. The same goes for kids, but just like grownups, they can fall short — sometimes through no fault of their…
Southwest High was Once a Premier School. What Happened?
It boasts notable graduates, including acclaimed rapper Tech N9ne, the wealthy founders of H&R Block and celebrated journalist Calvin Trillin. Now Southwest High School is in decay and part of a heated debate about the future of public education in…
A Digital Downside: Cyberbullying
In the old days, the mean kid at school would rough up people on the playground or shove them out of the way at the water fountain. But the advent of technology has brought with it the person who harasses…
Grading the Soft Skills
It’s the time-honored question from students: when are we going to use this in real life? But as we have seen in this season of Take Note, schools are increasingly focused on the “soft” skills that are relevant for the…
Are School Buildings Obsolete?
A “school without walls” is typically a euphuism for a building that substitutes collaborative learning for the standard approach of stationing teachers in front of a classroom full of students. But the internet age has brought us to a point…
Season 1: The Way We Are
An in-depth look at education in the Kansas City metropolitan area, where we are, how we got here and where we need to go.
In the Kansas City region, the story of education has many chapters. Take Note uncovers where we are succeeding, asks how we can improve, and reports with an eye toward the future. From programs and policies that are shaping education across the nation to how they affect us here at home, we are committed to our city, our schools and our future. Together, we’ll tell the stories that matter, the stories that make an impact.
Season 1: The Way We Are
Failing To Succeed
Few industry leaders want to point out why their great ideas ultimately fell flat. Jobs, grants, money and pride could be at stake. But on Monday, national education leaders from across the ideological spectrum gathered at a Kansas City conference…
Common Grounds | Mental Health
On this episode of Common Grounds, the family and friends of Ryan Hill, an Olathe High School alumni who died by suicide shortly after graduation in 2013, discuss Ryan’s life, mental health and the implications of the new Netflix series…
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…
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…
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…
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:…
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…
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 –…
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…
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…
Presenting Sponsor
Community Sponsor
