The U.S. Department of Education (USED) chose the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to pilot an innovative statewide assessment program focused on improving existing assessments in English language arts and mathematics.

USED selected DESE to take part in the Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority (IADA) Program beginning in the 2025-26 school year. This positions Missouri as a national leader in designing modern, flexible, and student-centered assessment systems.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has awarded nearly $2 million to seven local education agencies (LEAs) under the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Limited Access Grant (LAG). Each selected LEA was eligible to receive up to $400,000 to expand CTE programming for the 2026-27 school year where access to high-quality learning opportunities has been limited.

Six Pioneers in Education will be in the spotlight on Monday, July 28, in recognition of their commitment and contributions to public education in Missouri. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will recognize the 2025 Pioneers during the 64th Annual Cooperative Conference for School Administrators. The ceremony will take place during a luncheon with more than 600 school leaders in attendance.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has announced the 34 Regional Teachers of the Year who have been selected to represent their regions in the 2026 Missouri Teacher of the Year Program. The Teacher of the Year program spotlights the positive impact excellent teachers have on their students.

The Regional Teachers of the Year includes educators from multiple grade levels and subject areas:

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is pleased to announce it has selected 80 early learning programs and public schools to receive funding and professional services through the U.S. Department of Education’s Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant.

Governor Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill 68 today, giving additional tools to local education agencies across the state. There are more than 30 provisions in Senate Bill 68, half of which focus on school safety. This wide-ranging education legislation addresses multiple aspects of elementary and secondary education, including the Governor’s priorities. The foundation of this bill will help provide a safe and undistracted learning environment for Missouri students. Highlights of Senate Bill 68 include:

Governor Mike Kehoe approved and signed the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) $8.6 billion Fiscal Year 2026 budget today, including these highlights:

In the 2025 legislative session, the Missouri General Assembly amended budget language to restructure the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Childhood (OOC) Home Visiting section. Pending Governor Kehoe’s signature of House Bill 2 (2025) and House Bill 5 (2025), effective July 1, 2025, the following changes will occur:

• The following programs will transition from DESE to the Children’s Trust Fund (CTF):

• Missouri Parenting Partnership Program (MOPPP)

Governor Mike Kehoe and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) kicked off the Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force this afternoon in Jefferson City. Per Governor Kehoe’s Executive Order 25-14, the Task Force is charged with reviewing and recommending changes to Missouri’s K-12 school funding model and providing a final report to the Governor by December 1, 2026.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has announced eight Missouri Gold Star Schools for 2025. The program, which aligns with the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, recognizes schools for outstanding academic achievement or for performing at high levels while serving a significant proportion of disadvantaged students.

Missouri’s 2025 Gold Star Schools include