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
Local Action Drives Education Policy
Betsy DeVos has proven to be one of the most controversial players in President Trump’s new lineup, with her conservative ideology inflaming passions as she takes the helm of the Department of Education. But, are her critics taking their eyes…
School Funding: The Devil’s in the Details
School funding is a topic that regularly makes headlines but isn’t often understood. With so much at stake, Take Note breaks down the complex subject and finds the devil is in the details. Join us as we explore the complexities…
“The Bad Kids” Resonates with Students, Faculty at Kansas City Alternative High School
Before coming to DeLaSalle Education Center, NaKira, who is a high school senior in Kansas City, Missouri, says that she felt like she was a “bad kid.” “I felt like I had a real bad attitude problem; couldn’t nobody tell…
Perceptions Continue to Shape Districts
When Heidi Van moved to the West Plaza with her two young children, she joined a vanguard of families staying in Kansas City rather than chasing the idea of a better public education in the suburbs. She welcomed the diversity….
The Science of Believing
What is the single biggest factor related to student achievement? You’ll find it buried deep in a 50-year-old document. You’ll also see it on the faces of Kansas City youth who struggle to not let their past hold them back…
How We Got Here
It has taken us more than a century to get here. That’s the first thing we come to realize as we explore the current state of K-12 education systems across the Kansas City metro. A host of interesting characters, challenging times, and…
Take Note: Does ZIP Code Matter?
Should where a child rests his or her head at night impact the quality of the education they receive? KCPT and American Public Square examine the relationship between poverty, housing and education in our metro in this town hall conversation….
Ruckus: Newsmaker Mike McShane
In December, Ruckus host Mike Shanin interviewed Mike McShane, Director of Education Policy for the Show Me Institute, about Betsy DeVos, now secretary of education under the Trump administration. McShane also touched on the role of Federal education programs, as well as…
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