The U.S. Department of Education has awarded $7.5 million in grant money to Missouri’s lowest- achieving schools. This is the fifth consecutive year the grants have been awarded to Missouri, one of seven states receiving a total of more than $43 million in 2013.

The funds from this continuation award will go to schools identified by the Department as priority schools:

In the St. Louis Public School District –

In light of the Supreme Court decision yesterday, the Department wants to emphasize the critical importance of developing a comprehensive plan for the future of education in districts that are struggling, especially those that are unaccredited. While we have no control over the transfer law itself, we believe that the challenges it creates underline the necessity for developing a system of quality public school options that do not require children to leave their communities for education.

New test takes effect Jan. 2

Individuals interested in obtaining their Missouri high school equivalency certificate are reminded about a number of upcoming modifications to the process.

The new features coincide with the implementation of the new high school equivalency test called HiSET®, developed by Educational Testing Service. The HiSET® will replace the GED® test beginning Jan. 2, 2014.

“It is crucial that test takers are aware of the differences,” said Tom Robbins, director of adult education and high school equivalency testing at the Department.

State Board of Education President Peter Herschend issued the following statement in response to the Kansas City Star's article on the selection of CEE-Trust:

The President of the State Board of Education, Peter Herschend, has issued the following statement in response to claims that the Commissioner assisted an education reform organization with a ballot initiative. The Commissioner and her staff routinely respond to requests for review of legislative proposals. In this case the primary focus was on alignment with the Department's work on a state model for educator evaluation.

Close to 200 people attended a public hearing Monday night regarding the future of the Normandy School District in north St. Louis.

The hearing was an opportunity for students, parents, teachers and community members to share their thoughts with state education officials and school administrators. Feedback given at the meeting will help inform a long-range plan for the future of the unaccredited district.

Test scores in math and reading for Missouri fourth-grade and eighth-grade students are virtually unchanged from two years ago, according to the latest report from the National Center for Educational Statistics.

“We still have work to do to reach our Top 10 By 20 goals,” said Chris Nicastro, Commissioner of Education. “It’s our job to help all Missouri students achieve their potential and graduate ready for college and career.”

Most of Missouri’s school districts have started the process of implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), a recent survey conducted by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shows.

The survey, which was completed by approximately 6,000 teachers and administrators from across the state, reveals 70 percent of respondents have or are currently in the process of implementing the CCSS.

State education officials will hold hearings Nov. 20 and Dec. 16 to discuss the accreditation status and options for the future regarding the Riverview Gardens School District.

The hearings will be open to the public and will take place from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Riverview Gardens School District Family Community Resource Center, 1160 St. Cyr Road, St. Louis.

State education officials met with officials from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) concerning findings at Hope Academy, a charter school sponsored by UMKC. The university was notified Nov. 1 of the state’s concerns including: