Kansas City Public Schools

Under the legislation, Jackson County seniors whose homes are valued less than $550,000 can start applying for relief next year.

Kansas City last passed an overarching development policy in 2014. Officials say priorities — and the city's needs — have changed since then.

Even though federal law mandates that schools offer interpreters and other services to overcome language gaps — both for schoolkids and their parents — Kansas City families report they regularly come across barriers. That leaves them more vulnerable to bullying, and it complicates issues of discipline and special education.

Under the incentive deal, the developer would avoid paying about $28.9 million in taxes over the next two decades.

A new school year brings new challenges to Kansas City-area districts. Ongoing problems, like staffing shortages and school safety, continue to weigh on administration while heat waves make learning hazardous.

Kansas City Public Schools, which does not have central air conditioning in many of its secondary schools, will release all students early for the rest of the week because of safety concerns. Other districts in the area are canceling outdoor sports, moving recess indoors or encouraging staff to wear shorts.

A number of racist incidents at schools have made news in the Kansas City area over the last few years. Experts say reporting these incidents is key to ensuring students are free from discrimination in public school — a right they’re guaranteed by federal law.

No debería depender de su hijo para la traducción de conversaciones. En cambio, una escuela debe proporcionar interpretación y traducción efectiva.

Schools are bound by federal civil rights guidelines and education laws to provide free and effective translation to families where English is not the primary language. Revolución Educativa wants families to know they're entitled to a trained interpreter who is proficient in both English and the first language spoken in the home.

A State Tax Commission hearing officer ruled the county overvalued 20 properties on the Plaza in 2019 by almost $113 million. If the ruling is upheld on appeal, taxing districts in Jackson County might have to refund millions of dollars. The shopping district is also planning to appeal its 2023 reassessment.

Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, one of the highest-ranking schools in Missouri, has a storied history in Kansas City. When a group of parents and alumni noticed that current students were constantly coming up short on resources, they founded the district's first booster club to raise funds for sports programs and after-school clubs.

Robert Sagastume, a senior student advisor with the Hispanic Development Fund, and Spark Bookhart, a convener with the Parent Power Lab, are seeking the subdistrict 3 spot on the Kansas City Public Schools board.