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

Man accused of exposing himself on MU’s campus

May 22, 2025 5:08 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The University of Missouri Police Department is looking for a man who allegedly exposed himself Wednesday afternoon near Stankowski Field. A press release from MUPD says witnesses saw the man expose himself before leaving. The release says he was last seen driving a white 2024 Volkswagen Jetta with a Minnesota license plate

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

Federal judge blocks Trump administration from ending legal status for foreign students attending US schools

May 22, 2025 2:11 PM CNN Newsource

By Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — A federal judge on Thursday blocked the Trump administration on nationwide from terminating the legal status that allows foreign students to study at colleges and universities in the US. The preliminary injunction issued by US District Judge Jeffrey White of the federal district court in San Francisco is the

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

Last day of school year is Tuesday for Columbia Public Schools

May 20, 2025 9:15 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Tuesday, May 27 will be the last day of class for students at Columbia Public Schools. The district sent an email to parents on Tuesday reminding them that May 27 will be the final day and an early release. On Feb. 17, Columbia Public Schools used the last of its allotted AMI

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

Traffic on road near Adkins Stadium to be closed for state track meet

May 20, 2025 2:11 PM Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Traffic on Stadium Boulevard near Adkins Stadium in Jefferson City will be closed for a portion of Friday and Saturday for the state track meet, according to a Tuesday press release from the Jefferson City Police Department. Traffic will be restricted from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. both days between Jackson Street and Mesa

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

MU graduates enter shifting job market

May 17, 2025 10:06 PM Euphenie Andre

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Saturday marked the second day of commencement ceremonies on the University of Missouri’s campus, celebrating the accomplishments of students in multiple fields. Roughly 6,000 students are expected to graduate from the university this weekend. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate held steady at 4.2% in April. While

University of Missouri celebrates three honorary degree recipients as spring commencement continues

May 17, 2025 4:49 AM Marie Moyer

Three honorary degree recipients received Doctorates of Science from the University of Missouri this spring.

This year’s recipients are Harriet Haynes, James Nave, and Stuart Wesbury.

University of Missouri spring commencement ceremonies to begin Friday

May 16, 2025 5:39 AM Jazsmin Halliburton

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) The University of Missouri will begin the first day of commencement ceremonies on Friday, celebrating the class of 2025. There will be commencement ceremonies throughout the weekend for 5,954 graduates, leaving the chance for heavy traffic around downtown Columbia. Free parking will be available on campus for commencement guests from Friday, May

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

Columbia police officers make two dozen arrests during MU’s ‘Reading Day’

May 12, 2025 10:46 PM Katie Greathouse

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Police arrested two dozen people on Friday during parties celebrating the University of Missouri’s Reading Day. Officers responded to 45 incidents in the East Campus neighborhood, according to the Columbia Police Department.Officers arrested 24 people and issued 25 summonses. Police said the arrests were for charges including minor in possession of alcohol,

Kehoe appoints 16-member task force to modernize school funding in Missouri

May 12, 2025 6:48 PM Mitchell Kaminski

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Less than two decades after its last major revision, Missouri’s public school funding formula is headed for a rewrite. A newly created 16-member Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force appointed by Gov. Mike Kehoe is set to begin the process of modernizing the state’s K-12 foundation formula, which has drawn criticism