public schools

Bills proposed by Republican legislators in Missouri include posting the 10 Commandments in classrooms, history lessons that frame religion in a positive light and allowing students to leave school for religious education.

Federal law requires schools to verify free and reduced lunch eligibility for a random sample of recipients, but a new bill would require it for every student who receives a free lunch. One school official says the change would turn two months of work into a year-round responsibility.

Under the new ownership of Dallas-based Gillon Property Group, a plan to revitalize Kansas City's Country Club Plaza is underway. Now, city officials and community leaders are facing a massive tax incentive request that they worry could hurt Kansas City Public Schools and other government services.

The Missouri State Board of Education appears to support legislation creating public-school open enrollment, but members are split on what the policy means. Open enrollment proposals have stalled in the Missouri legislature for the past five years.

Missouri Speaker of the House Jon Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, who was in St. Louis at an event for DraftKings, said much of the tax revenue from legal sports betting in the state is expected to go to public schools. But it's unclear how much money they'll actually get.

A Missouri educators group is seeking to stop the state from distributing more tax dollars to private schools, saying the $50 million appropriation of general revenue to the MOScholars program is illegal.

The charter school would target older students struggling in a traditional school setting and help them get their high school equivalency and vocational training.

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.

State tax dollars have already started flowing out of the Missouri Treasurer’s Office to fund private-school scholarships. Missouri teachers are suing to stop the payments, calling it an unauthorized use of taxpayer dollars.

Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said the investigation his office started in March into the Hickman Mills School District prompted a full audit. The investigation began after a whistleblower complaint about the potential misuse of school funds.

Missouri law previously allowed school districts to choose if they wanted to allow homeschooled students to participate in school teams or other activities. Under a new law signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe, districts must allow athletes to try out without taking classes.

The Missouri National Education Association is suing to stop the state from using general revenue to fund private school scholarships. A new lawsuit says the Missouri legislature "far overstepped its authority" in appropriating general funds to MOScholars.