Season 1: The Way We Are

Take Note Season 1: The Way We Are takes 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.

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 off the ball? Perhaps so, argued University of Missouri Political Science Professor Peverill Squire. “The…

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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 that make up school funding, and see how the past has influenced today’s funding. Follow Take…

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“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 me anything,” NaKira said. “I felt like nobody was there for me, no teachers were…

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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. As her daughter prepares to enter kindergarten, Van said she’s hardly strapped for high-quality public…

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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 from a more promising future. Follow Take Note: Our City. Our Schools. Our Future as together, we…

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