Missouri’s scores in national math and reading assessments remained steady in 2017, while landing at or above the national averages in all four testing categories among students in the state scoring either basic, proficient, or advanced.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) assesses fourth- and eighth-grade students across the country in math and reading every two years. Missouri’s 2017 scores were not statistically different than those in 2015, as nearly 2,300 Missouri students were tested in each subject/grade.

The Normandy Schools Collaborative Joint Executive Governing Board (JEGB) will continue to operate with four members for the immediate future. Dr. Charles Pearson resigned as chairman of the JEGB in January to become Normandy’s interim superintendent.

The State Board of Education received an update from Calhoun R-VIII regarding its school improvement plan during Tuesday’s State Board meeting.

District superintendent Dr. Chris Small presented strategies, interventions and targets for academic performance as the district strives for full accreditation. Calhoun R-VIII,  located in Henry County, is provisionally accredited. Caruthersville 18 and Hayti R-II postponed their presentations to a later date due to inclement weather.

Based on compliance with the approval process, the State Board has authorized seven charter schools in Missouri to continue operations. The charter schools are located in St. Louis and Kansas City:

The Office of Educator Quality today updated the State Board on the 2014 Annual Performance Report (APR) for educator preparation programs (EPPs) in Missouri. The APR allows the programs to see how well they are meeting state expectations for preparing teachers and school administrators and to determine where improvement is needed. The performance report is one step in the process of raising standards for Missouri’s educators and providing effective educators in every classroom helping children succeed.

The ruling on Normandy's accreditation reinforces the importance of the General Assembly’s continued urgency on a legislative solution to student transfers this session. The current transfer law is unsustainable, and it leaves unaccredited districts without the resources needed to improve their performance and educate the majority of students who remain in their home district.

Schools from across the state were recognized recently for their commitment to professional learning.

Fourteen Missouri schools were honored recently as Professional Learning Communities Exemplary Schools for their outstanding performance in implementing the professional learning community process. These schools promote cultures focused on learning with collaborative teams and effectively using data to increase student achievement.

The 2014-15 Exemplary Schools Award Winners are:

The Missouri Senate has confirmed the appointment of Maynard Wallace, Thornfield, Mo., to the State Board of Education. With references to Wallace as “a man of great character” and having “great integrity and heart with a love for kids,” the appointment was confirmed on a 29-5 vote.

Wallace was appointed to the State Board in July 2014 to fill a seat that had been vacant since Jan. 2013. His term will end July 1, 2016.

Today the Missouri Auditor’s office released a report looking at state monitoring of payments for early childhood education programs. Before today’s recommendations were released, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) had already started implementing new monitoring procedures.

Deputy Commissioner Ron Lankford has been named one of Southwest Missouri’s PathFinders, 10 men and women who are recognized as leaders in their fields. In an article in the January/February issue of J Mag, a magazine published by The Joplin Globe, Dr. Lankford is called one of the most respected educators of Southwest Missouri.

“Ron Lankford serves as an outstanding example of an effective educator,” said Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven. “This recognition comes as no surprise to anyone who knows Ron and has worked with him.”