The Department is in receipt of the Auditor’s letter regarding the procurement process used to award the contract for a study of options to address chronic under-performing schools. We appreciate the Auditor’s feedback.

We would also like to note several important points:

1. The letter is the result of a “limited review and analysis of the procurement process” by the Auditor’s office. Preliminary discussions determined that an official audit was unnecessary, resulting in a review process.

The Department and State Board of Education will have to evaluate and determine what options exist for the future of the children in Normandy. If student transfers continue as they did last year, it is clear that the Normandy Schools Collaborative will not have sufficient funds to finish the 2014-15 school year.

The State Board of Education heard an update during Tuesday’s State Board meeting regarding proposed criteria for districts to be classified as “Accredited with Distinction.”

Under the proposal, districts must earn at least 90 percent of the points possible on the current Annual Performance Report (APR), and APR status scores for all standards must be “On Track” or “2020 Target.” The classification will be made using each year’s APR from the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP 5) which includes the following standards:

Schools in the St. Louis area are starting this week and next. This should be a time of excitement and renewal, not tragedy and despair. Sadly, Michael Brown will never have the chance to pursue his dreams. We implore the wonderful people of North County to surround the children in the area with care and concern. This strong community has overcome racial divisions for many years. Now is the time to demonstrate how to live together with peace, justice and a shared commitment to a bright future for all.

Some gains made in high school end-of-course exams

According to results from the 2014 Missouri Assessment Program (MAP), the statewide average rate of proficiency has fallen in English language arts (ELA), mathematics and science. ELA and math grade-level assessments are given in grades 3 through 8. Despite an overall decline in average scores, more than 300 districts and charter schools in Missouri saw gains in either math or ELA.

The Missouri State Board of Education voted unanimously today to classify Kansas City Public Schools as provisionally accredited based on the district’s preliminary 2014 annual performance report. The district scored in the provisional range last year and again this year. The Department and the State Board of Education insisted on at least two years of performance reports before changing the district’s accreditation classification.

Winners of Missouri’s School Breakfast Challenge were announced during the Department’s School Administrators Conference Monday in Columbia.

More than 500 Missouri school leaders expected to attend

Governor Jay Nixon and two high-profile education experts will be the featured speakers at Missouri’s annual conference for school administrators July 27-29 in Columbia, Mo. The event is sponsored by the Department.

Four educators will be honored Monday as Pioneers in Education for their commitment and contributions to public education in Missouri.

The Department will formally recognize the 2014 Pioneers during the 53^rd Annual Cooperative Conference for School Administrators at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia. The ceremony will take place during a luncheon where more than 500 district leaders are expected to be in attendance.

The 2014 Pioneers in Education are:

Longtime educator and former legislator will fill vacant seat