Report of the Missouri State Board of Education Meeting (May 16, 2023)

MNEA CONNECTS

Agenda, Minutes, and Recordings from May 16, 2023, of the Missouri State Board of Education Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Monthly State Board Report also available in Podcast form at MNEA Connects.
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Update on Developing K-12 Learning Standards for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

The Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Missouri Learning Standards (MLS) workgroup co-chairs, Dr. Christi Bergin and Dr. Jennifer Foster, along with representatives from the SEL work group, delivered draft standards for SEL to the State Board. The 15 draft standards listed below, were drafted by a 28-person workgroup on an expedited timeline. This initial workgroup was approved by the State Board in December 2022 and they met face-to-face and virtually throughout the 2023 Spring semester to propose draft standards by May 16. The standards were well received by the State Board and the Association supports the development and effective implementation of the standards for Missouri schools, students, and educators. The workgroup requested a minimum of two additional meetings with the workgroup in June to finalize the 15 standards and to define and agree upon indicators, resources, and definitions for the standards. The finalized standards will be presented for approval to the State Board in August 2023. 

Update on Missouri's Literacy Initiatives

DESE Deputy Commissioner, Tracy Hinds, and DESE Director of Literacy, Heather Knight, gave a status update on Literacy initiatives in Missouri. The updates reviewed the following: Why the Science of Reading, What is the Science of Reading, where DESE is now, and where DESE is going. They also gave a Literacy data dashboard demonstration. 

To date, DESE has:

Next steps for DESE Literacy Initiatives include establishing an Office of Literacy, publish Reading Success Plan guidance, release instructional materials list and criteria, provide ongoing LETRS training, collect and analyze baseline K-3 beginning- and end-of-year data for reading assessments. The data from the approved K-3 reading assessments will be compiled and put in a literacy dashboard for public, LEA, and educator viewing. The State Board received a demonstration of the Literacy data dashboard; it was not mentioned when this dashboard would be available to the public. 

The Association supports the increased focus on high-quality, evidence-based reading instruction for students, intentional professional development for educators delivering reading instruction, and continued support for educators through literacy coaches. 

 

Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Report

The State Board received an update on the budget that the legislature approved and sent to the governor’s desk at the end of the session. Kari Monsees, Deputy Commissioner, gave specific updates on various aspects of the budget based on what the House and Senate approved. 

The updates highlighted in the meeting include:

  • Approval of career ladder (line 5)
  • Pre-K funding (line 6)
  • Baseline salary grant funded at 100% (line 10)
  • New additions of Cannabis and Patriotic education programs (line 22-23)
  • Prop C Increase (Line 41)
  • Safety Grants and Training Center (Line 43-47)
  • Federal Grants and Foundation implementation (Line 57)
  • New funding for community efforts and Career Center investments (Line 67-71)
  • Registered Youth Apprenticeships; hiring a half-time position for this nationally recognized program (Line 75)
  • Federal Grant Programs that include SEL; was removed but put back in the approved budget (Lines 77, 92, & 99)
  • Imagination Library funded at $11 Million (Line 115)
  • Childcare Subsidy (Lines 122-126)
  • Residential facilities funded for students not in their home district (Line 132)
  • $55.8 Million Expansion of Pre-K Grant Program (Line 9 of DESE sections from HB 19 & 20)

All items of the budget for education can be viewed at the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Report. 

 

Blue Ribbon Commission 
Blue Ribbon Commission focused on Teacher Recruitment and Retention is in Phase II looking specifically at Culture and Climate in schools. The first meeting was held virtually, and the second meeting will be in-person, and is scheduled on Friday May 19, at the Governor’s Office Building in Jefferson City. These meetings are open to the public for viewing. They are listed on the BRC Webpage and below. MNEA will be present at each of these meetings. 

 

Commission Meeting Dates

Post-meeting reports/summaries will be available approximately two weeks after each session. Virtual meetings will be livestreamed at https://dese.mo.gov/BRC-livestream. Doors will remain open at in-person meetings for observers.

  • COMPLETED: Tuesday, April 4, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. —  Agenda | Recorded Livestream | Key Takeaways
  • COMPLETED: Friday, May 19, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. — Governor's Office Building, Room 450 
  • Thursday, June 15, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. — Virtual Meeting
  • Friday, July 14, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. — Governor's Office Building, Room 450

The Commission will then deliver their Phase 2 report to the State Board of Education at their meeting on August 15, 2023. 

 

Commission Phase 2 Members are listed here with their bios. 

Consideration of Adopting a Resolution in Honor of Vanessa Thomson, Missouri’s 2023 Milken Educator

Vanessa Thomson, North Kansas City MNEA Member, was honored at the State Board meeting for her recent award and designation as the Milken Educator for Missouri. In her remarks to the board, she stated how she has “always wanted to be a teacher and it is beyond a dream come true [to receive this recognition]. Winning it means that someone sees me, and someone validates that I am doing the right thing.” MNEA congratulates Vanessa, her family, her school, and her students on such a high honor!

Additional News:

  • The following rules regarding literacy competencies in certification areas were approved by the State Board. There were only three key comments from the public regarding these rules: concern over field experience requirements, concern over vague language regarding diversity, and the compliance processes were unclear. Each of these concerns were adjusted to be made more concise and clear based on comments.
  • The US Department of Education sent edits to Missouri for their Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) state plan. The adjustments were focused on language adjustments to align with federal regulations and do not change practice and how students qualify for services. The proposed rule was approved.
  • Revisions were made to DESE’s ESEA administrative manual to reflect new paraprofessional qualifications and to update live links to materials on the DESE website. This rule was approved. 
  • The Governmental Affairs update from DESE was skipped in the State Board meeting due to time constraints. To receive daily updates during the session from MNEA, subscribe for updates from Legislative Director, Otto Fajen, here. 

The next meeting of the Missouri State Board of Education will be held on June 6, 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. Details of state board agenda items can be found here.