Letter to Local Board Presidents
December 20, 2006
Dear Board President:
The State Board of Education met November 16, 2006, in Jefferson City. Here is a recap of that meeting, along with some information about other recent developments.
CONTINUING DISCUSSION OF HIGH SCHOOL ASSESSMENT
Some of you have been following our discussions during the past year of changes in high school graduation requirements and our consideration of possible changes in high school testing requirements. We have devoted a lot of time and energy to discussing the possible benefits and drawbacks of changing the current high school MAP testing policies.
Recently, a news story has circulated in Missouri that suggested to some that the State Board of Education had already made a decision regarding high school assessment. We also continue to hear the occasional rumor that we have decided to replace the MAP with the ACT as a requirement for all students. Neither of these rumors is true.
This is where we stand. The board directed staff of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to prepare an analysis of the pros and cons of three different approaches to high school assessment: the MAP tests in communication arts and mathematics; a college-entry exam such as the ACT; and end-of-course tests that would be developed by the state and required for selected classes. We want to look at how each of these methods satisfies specific needs and different stakeholders’ interests.
The State Board of Education will discuss this analysis at its January meeting. No decisions have been made about this critically important topic.
REPORT ON ST. LOUIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
If you follow the news, you are probably aware that the St. Louis Public Schools continue to be embroiled in controversy. The district has employed
six superintendents since 2003, and the board of education has been feuding publicly. The State Board of Education has been concerned for a long time about the seemingly constant state of turmoil in that district.
At the November board meeting, the new superintendent of the St. Louis Public Schools, Dr. Diana Bourisaw, gave a formal presentation to the State Board and answered questions about the district’s recent efforts to stabilize its financial position and to regain accreditation. Dr. Bourisaw has assumed the leadership of this school district during a difficult time, and she requested the opportunity to meet with the State Board of Education.
A special advisory committee, appointed by the Commissioner of Education to review the situation in the St. Louis School District, has just issued its findings and recommendations. This committee has recommended that the State Board of Education take steps to intervene in the governance and operation of the school district. Needless to say, this would be a controversial course of action.
The State Board of Education will discuss the status of the St. Louis Public Schools at our meeting on January 11-12, 2007, and we will review the recommendations of the special advisory committee. The board may or may not take action at that time.
OTHER ACTION
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The board heard a report in November about "financially stressed" school districts. The Department of Education is required, by law, to annually identify local districts that meet specific criteria to be classified as "financially stressed." This year, there are six such districts.
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The board received a report about summer school in 2006. The number of school districts offering summer school this year increased slightly to 486. The number of students taking advantage of summer school increased to nearly 315,500 – a jump of more than 10,000 over 2005.
NEW BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED
Governor Blunt has recently appointed two new members to the State Board of Education. Ms. Donayle Whitmore-Smith, St. Louis, was appointed in October. She was sworn in at the beginning of the November meeting. Ms. Whitmore-Smith replaces Vanetta Rogers, a member of the State Board since May of 2000, whose term expired.
Last week, Gov. Blunt appointed the Rev. Stanley Archie, Kansas City, to replace Tom Davis, whose term also expired. Rev. Archie is expected to join the State Board in January. Tom Davis is a past president of this board and a past president of the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE). He had been a member of the State Board for nearly 20 years.
Both Rev. Archie and Ms. Whitmore-Smith must be confirmed by the Missouri Senate once it is back in session.
Sincerely,
Peter Herschend, President