public schools

Volunteers with the campaign argue that funding large-scale construction projects won't improve student learning.

USD 259 remains the largest school district in Kansas.

The semifinalists will continue in the contest for about 6,700 National Merit Scholarships that will be offered in the spring.

Sixth grader Lizzy Chobad is selling T-shirts as a fundraiser to combat school meal debt in the Valley Center school district.

Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson urged districts to cancel breaks or extend the school year to make up for snow days. He is also proposing half-day summer school for young students who are struggling in reading and math.

The Wichita school board's three conservative members — Kathy Bond, Hazel Stabler and Diane Albert — voiced concerns about the size and timing of a potential bond issue. District leaders say they can't refurbish schools without a bond.

The proposal calls for rebuilding several elementary schools and two middle schools and closing about a dozen buildings. Consultants say it would not require a tax increase.

Less than half of Wichita teachers support the school district’s new strategic plan. And a sampling of responses to a recent survey reveal educators who are frustrated by student behavior and a perceived lowering of standards.

Wichita isn’t the only community closing schools. Declining enrollments, aging buildings and the end of federal pandemic relief funds have led several districts across Kansas to close school buildings to balance their budgets.

A state law passed in 2022 goes into effect this year and lets Kansas students attend schools outside the districts where they live, as long as there is space available. Some districts have begun posting the number of slots they’ll have open for out-of-district students.