MNEA Top Takeaways
August 2023 State Board of Education
- MNEA Members Make a Difference
The state board approved an amendment to the administrative rule for Mental Health Awareness Training (5 CSR 20-200.275) based on MNEA Public Comments.
Because MNEA members across the state submitted comments on the administrative rule in June 2023, we ensured that school mental health trainings aligns with Missouri Learning Standards for CORE skills. DESE has also put together a model curriculum for this training that can be found on the DESE website.
MNEA approves the change and continues to advocate for high-quality professional development for teachers who deliver this training to students.
- Competency-Based Education on the Horizon
The state board approved a 3-year innovation waiver for 20 Missouri School Districts to focus on Competency-Based Education (CBE).
The districts are all members of the Success Ready Student Network (SRSN). The specific provisions of law that these districts are seeking waivers for are:
- Replace the existing MSIP 6 APR with an alternative APR
- Develop alternative measures of literacy and numeracy for students in grades 3-8 and 9-12
- Demonstrate student employability and postsecondary readiness through Market Value Assets (MVA)
- Implement MVAs leading students to attain career readiness credentials
- Use SRSN-designated assessment in state accountability systems instead of MAP Grade-Level and End-of-Course assessments (students will still have to take the MAP and EOCs in these districts; this request is for these SRSN Assessments to be calculated in the districts’ APR alternative score instead of the scores from the MAP and EOC assessments)
- Hold classification status for constant for these 20 districts (approved, but the Board still reserves the right to reconsider reclassification at any time for any of these 20 districts)
Although it was requested that these 20 districts waive school calendar requirements, It was not recommended by the department so it was not approved
- MNEA continues to push for improved culture and climate for all Missouri Teachers
The Missouri Teacher Recruitment and Retention Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) presented their recommendations from Phase II to the State Board of Education.
This second phase focused specifically on “Climate and Culture for Teachers”. MNEA submitted a response to the State Board and DESE. Overall, the recommendations from phase II of the 2023 Teacher Recruitment and Retention Blue Ribbon Commission held a mix of agreement, promise, cautions, and room for improvement. MNEA will continue to unwaveringly advocate for more teacher involvement in the implementation of these recommendations and looks forward to collaborating further on actions that follow this work.
MNEA supports state efforts to improve Culture, Climate, and Working Conditions for teachers.
- Missouri Learning Standards for CORE Skills
The state board approved the department to seek public feedback on the new Missouri Learning Standards that focus on CORE Skills.
MO CORE Skills will be standards that help Missouri students to be "better equipped to become successful students and productive contributors to a global society.” The CORE Skills framework focuses the standards in three areas: Me (a healthy sense of self), We (Relationship-Building skills), and Others (Prosocial skills). The workgroup for these standards are seeking feedback until September 15 on DESE's website. This feedback with help make adjustments to the standards before they are approved by the board for the official administrative rule process. These standards were created with a workgroup of practicing educators and licensed mental health professionals.
- Preliminary statewide Results for 2022-2023 MAP and EOC Scores
The board heard the preliminary, statewide results for the 2022-2023 MAP and EOC scores for English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science.
Statewide participation in the assessments is at 95% and overall performance has not reached pre-pandemic levels. Since the 2021-2022 assessments, there has been a slight increase in performance in ELA (except in grades 6 and 7), performance in Math and Science has increased or held steady in all grades and courses, and performance in Social Studies has declined. Districts have had detailed, student-level information assessment data since July. DESE’s focus efforts after seeing these preliminary scores are as follows: MO Read Lead Exceed, MO Mathematics Initiative, Competency-Based Education, Educators Workforce, Safe and Healthy Schools, and additional research.
MNEA believes that every student and educator deserves the best experience possible in schools. That is why we are the only educational organization that is consistently present at every meeting of DESE, the state board of education, and the Missouri Legislature. We are your eyes and ears where decisions are being made about your schools when you cannot be.
The next meeting of the Missouri State Board of Education will be held on September 12, 2023, at DESE in Jefferson City, Missouri. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org.
Monthly State Board Report also available in Podcast form at MNEA Connects. Listen on Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, Podbean, or Spotify!