schools

Schools in the U.S. serve almost 30 million lunches every day. But rising food costs, regulations and cuts to food assistance mean school kitchens have to do more with less.

The legislature has yet to pass Erin’s Law, mandating child abuse prevention education, and other laws advocates say could strengthen protections for children.

Since a 9-year-old girl was struck and killed by a car while riding her bike to school in Kansas City one year ago, city leaders, local organizations, and families have been trying to improve traffic infrastructure and car culture to make streets safer.

Some kids with mobility challenges are missing out on playing with peers and siblings. Thanks to a partnership between Variety KC and The Barstow School’s robotics team, seven Kansas City toddlers received modified ride-on cars to give them more independence and a new chance to play with others.

In one of the state’s few competitive Senate races, the candidates draw contrasts over public schools, taxes and abortion.

Kansas State Board of Education District 1 covers all or part of a dozen counties in northeast Kansas, including northwest Wyandotte County and northern Leavenworth County in the Kansas City area. Republican Amy Cawvey and Democrat Jennifer Lloyd are both running for the seat on Nov. 3.

Citing declining enrollment and chronic underfunding by the state, the Olathe school board voted 7-0 to close five elementary schools and Indian Trail Middle at the end of the 2026-27 school year.

The Kansas City Council approved new traffic restrictions to keep children safer on the roads after a driver hit and killed a child last fall. KCUR wants to hear from families about whether their kids walk or bike to school, and whether they feel like the recent safety measures are working.

Missouri legislators passed a law in 2022 making it a crime for school employees to provide students with what was defined as explicit sexual material. Last year, a judge ruled the law unconstitutional.

After federal immigration enforcement action in western Kansas, a meatpacking plant delayed some shifts Wednesday and a school district warned that students may have had family members detained.

Public school funding continues to fall across the U.S., with Missouri facing its own tight budget. Schools are facing tough decisions like collecting more in taxes, reducing staff members and programs, closing buildings — or all of the above.

The Lee’s Summit School District will decide later this month whether to collect more in taxes or consider cutting staff members and programs. The budget shortfall is partly a result of less-than-expected state funding from Missouri — and it's far from the only district facing tough choices now.