education

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Students at Ruskin High School in south Kansas City have the newest Teacher of the Year in Missouri — and they’re not surprised. Hear from them about why their teacher came out on top. Plus: The number of people experiencing homelessness in Kansas fell this year, but President Donald Trump recently ended federal funding for programs that provide permanent housing with no strings attached.

Missouri legislators recently approved the use of millions in state funding for MOScholars, a K-12 school scholarship program that had previously been supported by tax-deductible donations. But an investigation found that nearly all of those state-funded vouchers were used for religious schools.

Kansas' 2026 Teacher of the Year is Rachel Marlow, a music teacher at an Olathe elementary school. Her students say she deserves the award because she goes above and beyond in her classes.

Millions of people with federal student loans are facing changes to their payment options. And some new borrowers will deal with caps that won’t cover the entire cost of their education. It’s the result of a complete overhaul of federal student loan policies under President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”

As education commissioner, Randy Watson urged Kansas schools to increase their graduation rates and raise the percentage of students pursuing a post-secondary degree or workplace credential.

This is the first time the Kansas assessment scale has changed in nearly a decade. The State Board of Education also approved new descriptors for test levels that highlight proficiency.

Frequent Kansas City visitor Taylor Swift is entering her engagement era to Chiefs tight end and fellow podcaster Travis Kelce. Plus: We'll hear about how the four-day school week is working in Missouri and other Midwest states, while some Kansas families are going back to the one-room schoolhouse.

Central High students were ready to learn — and serve style — with their first-day-of-school fits. The key to a perfect look? Students said it’s “being yourself.”

Dr. Jennifer Collier oversees the education of more than 14,000 kids in Kansas City. She spoke with KCUR's Up To Date as part of our series "5 Questions," and shared what's important to her outside of the school setting.

Missouri students won't be able to send texts or check social media during class after Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a law banning cellphones during school — although there are some important exceptions. School leaders tend to agree that phones are disruptive, but they worry about enforcement of the law.

Missouri recently became the 28th state to pass the CROWN Act, banning discrimination against Black students' hair. We'll head to a Kansas City salon to hear how local teens are reacting. Plus: Farmers worry that Trump's on-and-off tariffs could hurt America's reputation with one of their biggest buyers, China.