Kayla Huynh, The Cap Times Journalist Profile

Articles

Madison schools budget proposal lower than expected, easing tax hike

2 weeks ago | captimes.com | Kayla Huynh

Average homeowners would see a more than $833 increase in property taxes under the Madison school district’s proposed budget for next school year — down from previous forecasts. Last year, during the Madison Metropolitan School District’s campaign for two referendums, the district estimated property taxes would increase by about $1,000 for the average homeowner.
How vouchers enabled a Madison private school to thrive

3 weeks ago | captimes.com | Kayla Huynh

On Madison’s west side, 4-year-old kindergarten through eighth grade students at Lighthouse Christian School welcome guests with greetings unique to each class. In the Eagles class, named after Edgewood College, seventh graders eagerly stand atop their seats to recite a mantra. “Welcome to the home of the Edgewood Eagles, where we soar to new academic heights, and we grow in maturity and responsibility, and we rely on the joy of the Lord to be our strength,” the students chant in unison.
Federal AmeriCorps cuts hit Dane County after-school, summer programs

1 month ago | captimes.com | Kayla Huynh

A longtime after-school program that served thousands of children across Dane County is ending after the federal government abruptly pulled funding for AmeriCorps initiatives nationwide. Since 2006, at least 1,000 AmeriCorps workers have organized after-school and summer programs at neighborhood centers through the county’s Partners for After School Success, also known as PASS.
Trash and repair problems? Madison schools eye hiring service workers

1 month ago | captimes.com | Kayla Huynh

The Madison school district is seeking to hire more custodial staff and fill a shortage of trades workers, according to a proposal shared with the School Board. Schools have needed the additional staff to maintain buildings after expanding the district’s comprehensive high schools and constructing the new south side elementary school, said Bob Soldner, the district’s financial leader.
More 4K classrooms coming to Madison school district next year

1 month ago | captimes.com | Kayla Huynh

The Madison school district will add several new classrooms to its full-day 4-year-old kindergarten program next year, according to a plan shared with School Board members. The plan calls for adding six all-day 4K classes at Stephens Elementary School on the west side, Lincoln Elementary School on the south side and Elvehjem Elementary School on the east side.
Madison teens march for immigrant rights at the state Capitol

1 month ago | captimes.com | Kayla Huynh

Over two hundred Madison high school students walked out of classes Thursday morning and marched to the state Capitol building in support of immigrant rights and in protest of a range of actions under the Trump administration. Students chanted in Spanish and English en route to the Capitol, calling attention to government efforts to revoke international students’ visas and carry out mass immigration raids.
Madison schools may change how student GPAs are calculated

1 month ago | captimes.com | Kayla Huynh

West High School senior Megan Finando was taken aback when the Madison school district began circulating a survey this spring seeking students’ feedback on weighted grading. The Madison Metropolitan School District has long calculated high schoolers’ GPAs on a 4.0 scale. A weighted system would take into consideration the difficulty of coursework, assigning higher value to grade points for Advanced Placement or honors classes.
What Trump’s Department of Education plans mean for Madison schools

1 month ago | captimes.com | Kayla Huynh |Becky Jacobs

If President Donald Trump achieves his goal of dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, students and educators in Madison are likely to feel the effects. Families filling out financial aid forms could find it harder to get help. The dozens of schools scattered across Madison could lose millions in federal funding, leading to larger classroom sizes and fewer supports for students in need.
East High School parents revive booster club 5 years after pandemic

1 month ago | captimes.com | Kayla Huynh

When Becca Schwei volunteered to help organize a volleyball tournament for East High School last fall, she was surprised to learn the school lacked a booster club. The club had disbanded after the COVID-19 pandemic put organized sports on pause, leaving East High as the only Madison high school without an active booster. Without the support, East High gym teacher Erin Walker and her family even began running concessions at games, a responsibility typically delegated to booster club members.
UW-Madison, Edgewood need better teacher prep in math, council says

1 month ago | captimes.com | Kayla Huynh

Most of Wisconsin’s teacher preparation programs fail to spend enough time training prospective educators how to teach elementary school math, according to a recent report. The assessment contains findings similar to an earlier report that showed teachers who graduate from Wisconsin colleges are ill-prepared to teach reading.