GOVERNANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND ADMINISTRATION
The Outstanding Schools Act will hold schools accountable to Missourians by requiring four types of reporting on the accomplishments of schools and students. First, each school must annually publish local performance reports that include assessment results, rates of attendance, parental involvement in school activities, and other important items. Second, the State Board of Education must annually publish a report on the accreditation status of all districts in the state. Third, the Coordinating Board for Higher Education must provide information on the performance of high school graduates on the basis of the students' performance during the initial year at college. Fourth, the State Board of Education must provide information on the job-related or post-secondary achievement of vocational-technical students.
In order to achieve our educational goals, Missouri teachers will need to participate in professional development to improve their ability to teach and assess students in new, more demanding ways. The Outstanding Schools Act provides funding for professional development for teachers both at the local level and statewide. Money is being used to address statewide areas of critical need for learning and development and to address needs identified in local professional development plans.