education

Learning doesn't need to stop when we leave school. Here are some "adult field trips" to get you out of the office or house, and see aspects of Kansas City through an entirely different lens, from tours of iconic buildings to hyper-specific workshops.

International students have traditionally been able to stay in the country for as long as they needed to finish their academic programs. The Trump administration is changing that policy, leaving Missouri and Kansas students and college officials worried about the future.

“Think And Drink” talks are hosted by experts who have covered everything from the Red Scare to the history of Santa Claus. The series is a collaboration between the popular Crossroads brewery and several other local partners, including Linda Hall Library and UMKC.

The Trump administration says eliminating more than 1,400 federal requirements could save billions of dollars and make Head Start available to more children from low-income homes. Missouri providers say some rules are burdensome, but question if deregulation can solve the state’s problems.

Independence's superintendent said the district still needs to hire two elementary teachers, while Kansas City Public Schools has around 13 vacancies in "core content areas." Improving literacy and math comprehension remain top priorities.

The Goodwill Excel Center graduated its first class of five adults in June 2026. This tuition-free program offers adults who didn't complete high school a credit-bearing diploma.

Only 2% of pilots and aviation engineers are Black, data shows. Red Tail Academy is enrolling Black young adults in an effort to grow that number and to take advantage of the benefits of careers in the aviation industry.

Bills to improve literacy and establish a new system for grading Missouri schools passed the House but failed to make their way through the Senate.

As Lee A. Tolbert Community Academy and the younger grades of Hogan College Preparatory face closure, other schools are expanding to keep their buildings open.

Kansas City hosts its FIFA World Cup games starting next month, and one Olathe teacher is making sure her students know what's happening — and who's coming to town. We'll hear how local students are becoming experts on the different countries who will play in Kansas City this summer.

School districts across the Kansas City metro are navigating financial challenges as they cope with fewer students and state funding shortfalls. Plus: Researchers believe that Gen Z may be reaching for a cigarette more often than members of older generations.

Other legislation that could be considered in the last week of the 2026 session includes a wide-reaching education bill and measures to limit vehicle inspections and raise the rural highway speed limit.