The Learning Curve

The Learning Curve is a year-long initiative exploring innovative ideas in education, the challenges of their implementation, and the methods by which we evaluate what is and isn’t working in our schools.

Season 1 explores district innovations, early childhood education, the cost of higher education, and inequities in education in the Kansas City metro area. Season 2 looks at early childhood education in our metro: How does the health of a child affect their potential for learning? What role do communities play in supporting early learners? And how are school districts measuring success? From the 50th Anniversary of Head Start to the challenges schools continue to face when it comes to school readiness, KCPT will engage in a multimedia series that will discuss topics such as Kansas City Public School Kindergarten tax and innovations in literacy.

Season 1: District Innovations

KCPTErvin Early Learning Center | The Learning Curve

The Hickman Mills School District had a problem. Kindergartners were arriving without the basics they needed to start school on the right foot. Solution? Revamp a dilapidated middle school building and provide high-quality, full-day pre-K programming to every child in the district, free of charge.

Despite the approximately $10 million dollar price tag, the district's Superintendent...

The Learning Curve: Season 1

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Ervin Early Learning Center | The Learning Curve

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Kansas Innovative School District Coalition | The Learning

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Arts in the Classroom | The Learning Curve

KCPT

Paseo Academy | The Learning Curve

In 2014, 63% of all high school students in Missouri took at least one career education course or program.

In 2013, the PBS Newshour added Paseo Academy to its national roster of schools participating in the Student Reporting Labs project. Here, they take a look at how concussion clinics in their community are providing young athletes with the skills needed to avoid concussions:

According to U.S. employers, creativity is one of the top three personality traits most important to career success.

Every dollar spent on Pre-K returns on average $7 in later cost-savings and benefits.

Up to 10% of Kansas schools could be excused from some state regulations.

Season 2: Early Childhood Education

KCPTThe Learning Curve: Lead to Read

Lynn and Jean Rundle started Lead to Read because they saw too many Kansas City kids struggling with reading. So they recruited 30 friends to read with fourth-graders at Whittier Elementary once a week and realized the difference a caring and consistent reading buddy can make. Lead to Read now has about 300 volunteers working with students in five schools, and their goal is to reach 5,000...

The Learning Curve: Season 2

1 / 4 Videos

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The Learning Curve: Lead to Read

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Head Start 50th Anniversary | The Learning Curve

KCPT

Shawnee Mission School District Kindergarten | The

KCPT

45 years and still teaching | The Learning Curve

45 years and still teaching

American Graduate Champion Winnie Ayers has devoted her life to children, and she's not stopping anytime soon

August 28, 2015: This month Winnie Ayers started her 45th school year in Kansas City, Kansas.

A lot has changed since she began her career as a physical education teacher and coach in the 1970s. For one thing Sumner High School, an all black school, is now Sumner Academy and has been desegregated. But Ayers’ passion for and commitment to her students has remained the same for decades.

Beyond mentoring generations of students in Kansas City, Kansas, Ayers spent 38 years as the aquatics director at the Linwood YMCA, where she taught thousands of inner-city children how to swim.

Producer Lindsey Foat and videographer Dave Burkhardt caught up with Ayers to take a look at the impact Ayers has had and continues to make in our community.

Since its inception, Head Start has served more than 32 million children and their families.

Lead to Read students at Wendell Phillips Elementary School increased reading scores by an average of 24% from September 2011 to May 2012.

Starting this year, the Shawnee Mission school district has eliminated its $2,400 fee for full-day kindergarten.