K-12 education Archives

Number of high school graduates in the Midwest declines, enrollment at University of Missouri institutions likely to become more competitive

May 24, 2025 7:33 PM Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools celebrated day two of graduation ceremonies on Saturday, as hundreds of students crossed the stage at Mizzou Arena. The morning began with Rock Bridge High School, followed by Hickman High School in the evening. More than 64% of students from Columbia Public Schools pursue college or postsecondary programs, according

Christopher Schmitz named new principal at Shepherd Boulevard Elementary

May 23, 2025 5:16 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Christopher Schmitz will be the next principal at Shepherd Boulevard Elementary, according to a Friday press release from Columbia Public Schools. He will replace Jill Edwards, who will become an elementary instructional mentor, the release says. He has 15 years of experience in elementary education and has been the principal at Moreau

Reports: Former CPS superintendent Yearwood hired to lead Lousiville, Ky., schools

May 23, 2025 10:55 AM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) News reports from Louisville, Kentucky, and a state lawmaker say a former Columbia Public Schools superintendent who left before his contract expired will be hired to lead Jefferson County Public Schools. The district board of education voted 5-2 on Thursday to offer a contract to one of its two superintendent finalists. Yearwood,

Columbia Public Schools graduation ceremonies set for Friday, Saturday

May 22, 2025 5:22 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) More than 1,400 high school seniors in Columbia will graduate this weekend. Graduation ceremonies for Columbia Public Schools will be held Friday and Saturday. There will be 1,422 students receiving their diplomas. A press release from the school district says the class of 2025 collectively earned more than $14.5 million in scholarships

Columbia Public Schools students to end classes Friday

May 22, 2025 3:20 PM Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools will have its last day of classes on Friday. CPS wrote in an email to students’ families that state officials gave the district a waiver allowing classes to be out of session next Tuesday. The district had planned for a shortened day Tuesday — one day after Memorial Day

Supreme Court deadlock leaves in place ruling blocking nation’s first religious charter school

May 22, 2025 9:12 AM CNN Newsource

By John Fritze, CNN (CNN) — The Supreme Court split evenly Thursday in a high-profile challenge over the nation’s first religious charter school, leaving in place a ruling from Oklahoma’s top court that found the proposed Catholic school unconstitutional. The 4-4 split was made possible because conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused herself from the

Columbia youth summer lunch sites announced

May 20, 2025 8:54 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Summer Lunch Program in Columbia will run from June 2-Aug. 7, according to a Tuesday press release from the Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services. Meal sites will be open Monday through Friday for all youth ages 18 and younger, the release says. The program will not run on June

Board of Curators approves 5% tuition increase at University of Missouri schools

May 19, 2025 4:08 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The University of Missouri Board of Curators on Monday approved a 5% tuition increase for next school year, according to a press release from the university. The release says undergraduate tuition at all four UM universities will rise 5%, which equates to a roughly $20-$25 increase per credit hour depending on the

Rhonda Allen-Lewis named next principal of Belair Elementary in Jefferson City

May 15, 2025 2:22 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Rhonda Allen-Lewis will be the next principal of Belair Elementary School in Jefferson City, according to a Thursday press release from the Jefferson City School District. Allen-Lewis is currently an assistant principal at Lewis and Clark Middle School and will replace current Todd Shalz, who was recently named as the district’s new

Dixon Elementary School still not in session after building was damaged by storm

May 14, 2025 8:01 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Dixon Elementary School in Pulaski County will not be in session again on Thursday as the school district is still dealing with storm damage. The Dixon R-1 School District announced on its social media that class would not be in session again for elementary students. The middle and high schools will be

Columbia Board of Education approves new chief academic officer, Benton STEM Elementary principal

May 13, 2025 7:26 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The Columbia Board of Education on Monday night approved two people for leadership positions within the district, a Tuesday press release says. Adam Taylor was picked as Columbia Public Schools’ chief academic officer for the 2025-26 school year, while Allison Chostner was chosen as Benton STEM Elementary School’s next principal, the release

$50,000 donation made toward Columbia student lunch debt

May 9, 2025 3:40 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A $50,000 donation from the Columbia Public Schools Foundation was made Friday to reduce student lunch debt, according to a press release from CPSF. The donation was made to the Lunch For Learners Fund. A Thursday email from a CPS spokesperson stated that school lunch debt sat at $124,613. CPS spokeswoman Michelle

CPS adult English program at risk amid proposed federal cuts

May 7, 2025 11:43 AM Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Columbia Public Schools’ Adult English Language Learner program could face significant setbacks as the Trump administration’s proposed fiscal 2026 budget includes cuts to adult education state grants. The proposed budget includes a 24% cut to adult education funding, reducing it from $642 million to about $486 million. CPS’s program provides free online

Boy arrested after allegedly threatening to shoot CPS staff member at track meet

May 7, 2025 5:06 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Three boys were detained at a track meet on Tuesday night at Rock Bridge High School. One of the children was accused of threatening to shoot a Columbia Public Schools staff member, according to Columbia Police Department Assistant Chief Mark Fitzgerald. The other two boys were taken into custody for fighting. Police

Former CPS superintendent is a finalist for same role in Kentucky

May 6, 2025 9:54 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Former Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Brian Yearwood is again a finalist to assume the same role at another school district. The Jefferson County School District in Kentucky shared in a press release on its website on Tuesday that Yearwood is one of its two finalists to lead its district. Yearwood is referred

Fate of Missouri open enrollment bill uncertain as May 16 deadline looms

May 5, 2025 7:23 PM Mitchell Kaminski

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) With the May 16 legislative deadline fast approaching, the clock is ticking on a bill that would make Missouri an open-enrollment state. House Bill 711, sponsored by Rep. Brad Pollit (R-Sedalia), would allow K-12 public schools to decide whether to accept students from neighboring districts. It passed the state House in

Missouri Senate discusses open-enrollment education bill

April 30, 2025 4:59 PM Mitchell Kaminski

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) The Missouri Senate is discussing a bill that would make the Show Me State an open-enrollment state. On Wednesday, the Senate took up House Bill 711 for a third reading and final passage. The legislation would allow K-12 public schools to decide whether to accept students from neighboring districts. House Bill

Supreme Court’s conservative majority open to endorsing the use of state funds for a Catholic charter school

April 30, 2025 12:17 PM CNN Newsource

By John Fritze, CNN (CNN) — The Supreme Court’s conservative majority on Wednesday seemed open to backing the creation of a Catholic charter school in Oklahoma, a decision that would expand the availability of taxpayer money for religious education in school systems across the nation. During more than two hours of at times feisty arguments

$124K in unpaid school lunch debt prompts call for community help in Columbia

April 25, 2025 8:31 PM Mitchell Kaminski

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) With more than $124,000 in unpaid school meal debt currently in collections, former Columbia Board of Education candidate Ken Rice is calling on the community to help support families and find long-term solutions. “There’s a little more than $124,000 in unpaid lunch bills that are in collections,” Rice said. “That means that

CPS names Samantha Adams as new Locust Street Expressive Arts Elementary principal

April 25, 2025 5:05 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Samantha Adams will be the next principal at Locust Street Expressive Arts Elementary School, Columbia Public Schools announced in a Friday press release. The release says that Adams is currently the principal at Mill Creek Elementary School and will replace Julia Coggins, who is becoming the assistant principal at John Warner Middle