Kansas City Public School District regains full accreditation
The board voted to classify KCPS as fully accredited. DESE staff outlined the district’s growth in academics, leadership stability, and improved instructional, financial, and business processes in support of the recommendation. KCPS was unaccredited in September 2011 and was provisionally accredited in 2014.
Board approves clear statement that micro-credentials are an option for professional development
When the rules for teacher licensure came open for revisions last fall, Missouri NEA advocated for including a statement about micro-credentials. NEA offers over 150 micro-credentials which are free for members and $75 for non-members. Explore them at https://nea.certificationbank.com/. Missouri requires that educators complete 15 contact hours of professional development annually until they meet two of the following criteria: 10 years of experience, a master’s degree, or National Board Certification. Today the board approved the following rule about meeting ongoing professional development requirements:
5 CSR 20-400.260 Certificate of License to Teach Classifications
(4) For the purpose of this rule, contact hours are defined as follows:
- (A) Sixty (60) minutes of professional development are equal to one (1) contact hour;
- (B) One (1) hour college credit is equal to fifteen (15) contact hours of professional development; or
- (C) One (1) professional micro-credential is equal to fifteen (15) contact hours of professional development.
MOCAP enrollment increases in 2020-21
The Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program had modest student enrollment increases, but rates of student participation and course completion continue to be a concern. DESE staff reviewed the participation and achievement rates for all grade levels – math proficiency rates lagged behind ELA and Science. MOCAP offers both part-time and full-time courses through vendors and/or district teachers. In 2020-21, a total of 3,949 students participated in MOCAP with a 67% completion/passing rate. The complete annual report can be viewed here.
Board hears 19th Covid update and announces funding plans
The CDC updated its K-12 guidance on January 6. DESE is currently working to update state guidance. DESE has no rapid antigen tests for districts. A PCR test is available through Missouri DHSS but it requires 48 hours for results.
Increases in COVID cases have created severe staffing shortages, making in-person school difficult and placing increased demands on staff that are present. However, Gov. Parson has not renewed any of the emergency measures authorized last year. This year, schools can only use up to 36 hours of alternative methods of instruction toward minimum instructional time. If schools move to remote learning beyond 36 hours, the school will not receive state funding for the additional days and the time will not count toward required minimum instructional time. In most cases, the time will have
to be made up later in the school year.
Missouri received $3 billion dollars in federal funds to help schools. Funds from ESSER I and ESSER II have been distributed to schools, but the ESSER III funds cannot be distributed until the Missouri legislators appropriate the funds. ESSER law requires DESE to set aside 10% for state support. DESE plans to use the state ESSER funds to support four areas: learning acceleration, educator workforce, mental health, and the Missouri NEA Missouri State Board of Education Report Notes from January 11, 2022 meeting of the Missouri State Board of Education Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education digital divide. Projects that depend on pending appropriation by the legislature are noted as “planned”.
DESE presented this plan to the legislative budget hearing on Jan. 10.
A. Learning acceleration
a. Curriculum/learning resources
i. Missouri Read, Lead, Exceed
1. Language essentials for teachers of reading and spelling
a. Train 10,000 K-2 teachers on Level 1, Level 2 or trainer
b. $22.3 M planned for ESSER III
2. High quality literacy materials that support the science of reading
$12.7 M planned for ESSER III
ii. Missouri Mathematics Mastery: $17.7 M planned for ESSER III
1. Training on effective practices of mathematics instruction for 7,000 teachers (all levels)
2. Scholarships for 600 teachers to earn Elementary Math Specialist certificate
b. Assessment system redesign: $29.6 M
i. Transparent and actionable
ii. Priority Standard alignment
iii. Success-ready students
iv. Competency-based learning
v. Focus on individual student growth
c. Missouri Postsecondary Advising Initiative: $10.1 M
i. Support high school students and high school counselors with trained postsecondary advisors
ii. Training 35 schools this year, 100 next year, with priority on rural schools
d. Upgrade state longitudinal data system: $19.6 M
i. Near-real time data
ii. User-friendly data portal
iii. Research and data analysis including comprehensive analysis of student growth and
forecasting tools
e. Expanded summer and after school activitiesB. Educator workforce: Last year 11% of MO teaching jobs were not filled with a qualified
person.
a. Recruit an additional 2,000 new teachers each year: $7.2 M
i. Grants to colleges and universities
ii. $10,000 Grow Your Own grant for every LEA that applies
1. Need 2-4 new educators from each high school each year
2. Can include interested adults, paraprofessionals
b. Teacher Retention: $45.2 M - On average, educators leave after 13 years.
i. Retain additional 1,000 teachers each year
ii. Grants to LEAs to implement evidence-based strategies for retention
iii. Missouri Teacher Development System
iv. Equip teachers and leaders for the future in K-12 education: $3.4 M
1. Training on distance and hybrid learning
2. Support for school leaders, including enhanced mentoring
v. Elevate the profession: $2.1 M
1. #2 reason teachers leave is salary, #1 is lack of respect
2. TeachMO.org
3. Communication plan to promote the nobility of and respect for the teaching professionC. Mental health needs: $19 M planned
DESE is continuing grants and REACH training to support student and educator mental health.
a. Trauma-Informed Schools – training and resources through Alive and Well $1.5 M
b. Social Emotional Learning/Mental Health Grants
c. Local grant program for locally determined needs
d. Support implementation of responsive services
e. Partnership with Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services for Mental Health First
Aid trainingD. Digital divide
Grants are/will be available to address digital divide, provide student devices, and expand
internet access.
a. Student devices: About 1 in 5 students lack adequate access. $6 M in grants distributed.
b. Datacasting: $2 M planned - use excess broadcast service to broadcast to student homes
i. Connects students to their classroom through public broadcast system - LEAs participate by
providing reception equipment to students
c. Broadband Infrastructure: $45 M planned
i. Connect students through broadband buildout, will build on existing grant program in another
agency
ii. Subscriptions for internet service to households with students
iii. Includes fiber optic infrastructure costs
In other business the board:
- Adopted a resolution in honor of James Young, MO Teacher of the Year and Ferguson-Florissant NEA member.
- Updated, revised, and removed multiple rules impacting the Office of Childhood and requirements for daycare operations.
- Appointed the superintendents of Parkway, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, and University City to the redistricting committee for Special School District.
- Reauthorized the charter renewals of Guadalupe Center Schools, KIPP Endeavor Academy and the Academy for Integrated Arts after board members expressed concerns. Approved the charter application for St. Louis Voices Academy of Media Arts following extended discussion of concerns expressed by St. Louis community leaders as well as members of the state board.
- Received an update on the beginning of the legislative session. The top priority is getting ESSER III funds appropriated quickly so DESE can distribute money to school districts and issue contracts for work to be funded by the portion retained for state priorities. Read MNEA’s Legislative Update for up-to-date news.
The next meeting of the Missouri State Board of Education will be on February 8, 2022. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Rebeka McIntosh or Ann Jarrett at 800-392-0236. Details of state board agenda items can be found here.
Respectfully submitted,
Rebeka McIntosh, MNEA vice president (rebeka.mcintosh@mnea.org)
Ann Jarrett, MNEA teaching and learning director (ann.jarrett@mnea.org)