Maria Benevento - The Kansas City Beacon

Workers set up scaffolding and chutes to remove damaged dry wall from Oak Street Hall, pictured Jan. 18 on the University of Missouri-Kansas City Volker Campus. A Jan. 3 flood caused by frozen pipes displaced about 150 students from 117 rooms.

Flood over winter break drives about 150 UMKC students into new housing

by Maria Benevento January 21, 2022December 2, 2022

Kansas City Public Schools Superintendent Mark Bedell chats with Lincoln Middle School students on the first day of school, Aug. 23. Bedell, who has led KCPS for about six years, celebrated the district becoming fully accredited Jan. 11.

Five things to know about KCPS getting full accreditation

by Maria Benevento January 12, 2022August 7, 2022

Longfellow Elementary School is pictured Jan. 2 on a snowy day in Kansas City before students returned from winter break. When bad weather forces school buildings to close, Kansas City Public Schools will teach students remotely if the district has enough notice to prepare.

Does remote learning cancel snow days? Not in Missouri and Kansas.

by Maria Benevento January 7, 2022August 7, 2022

Americans with federal loans have several more months before their student loan payment resumes.

Federal student loan repayments got pushed back — again. Here are 5 ways to make the most of the extra 90 days.

by Maria Benevento January 4, 2022August 7, 2022

Mark Coleman, left, holds a stack of books that his son, Drew, has chosen to check out from the Central Branch of the Kansas City Public Library over break. Drew has Down syndrome and receives special education services through his school.

Know your rights: How to make sure a child with disabilities can access education

by Maria Benevento December 22, 2021December 12, 2022

Mark Coleman, left, leaves the Central Branch of the Kansas City Public Library with his children Drew, center, and Will after checking out books for the holiday break. Coleman has learned he needs support to best advocate for Drew, who receives special education services at school.

‘You know what your child needs’: 4 tips on advocating during special education meetings

by Maria Benevento December 22, 2021May 17, 2023

Students lined up for breakfast Aug. 23, the first day of school at African-Centered College Preparatory Academy in Kansas City. Missouri legislators have filed more than 120 bills that could affect K-12 education in Missouri.

K-12 education topics dominate 2022 Missouri legislative agenda

by Maria Benevento December 20, 2021August 7, 2022

The Miller Nichols Library on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus. Missouri legislators are proposing dozens of bills that would affect UMKC and other public colleges and universities.

Scholarships, guns, teaching about racism: Higher education bills to watch

by Maria Benevento December 14, 2021August 7, 2022

Booths at an enrollment fair held by Kansas City Public Schools on July 28 at Manual Career and Technical Center were designed to help engage students and their families. Applications for the 2022-23 school year at KCPS opened Dec. 6.

Jackpot! Lotteries for KCPS signature schools and local charter schools are open now

by Maria Benevento December 9, 2021August 7, 2022

A sixth-grader and a student in the Institute for Urban Education number off to create teams at a Baseball Trivia event sponsored by the institute and Urban Youth Academy. The institute, part of the education school at UMKC, trains teachers to work in local urban districts.

‘A societal crisis’: Does this UMKC program have the solution to teacher retention?

by Maria Benevento December 7, 2021August 7, 2022