A comparison of eighth-grade student test scores from the U. S. and international educational systems shows Missouri students ranking above average in math and science, according to the results of a new study by the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES). Results from the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) were used as a basis for the study.

State education officials will hold hearings November 11 and December 11 to discuss the accreditation status and options for the future regarding the Normandy School District.

The hearings will be open to the public and will take place from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Viking Hall Auditorium, Normandy High School, 6701 St. Charles Rock Road, St. Louis.

On Monday, the State Board of Education received an update from CEE-Trust (Cities for Education Entrepreneurship Trust) about their process of creating a comprehensive plan to address the needs of children in the unaccredited Kansas City school district.

CEE-Trust Executive Director Ethan Gray made the presentation to the board, along with Bryan Hassel, co-director of Public Impact, a consulting group that works with education leaders and policymakers.

After reviewing the district's years of struggling academic performance, today the State Board of Education took no action on a request from the Kansas City school district for provisional accreditation. This means that the district will remain unaccredited. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education notified the district earlier this month that it would not recommend a change in accreditation to the State Board of Education at its October meeting.

Jamie Manker, Missouri's 2012-2013 Teacher of the Year, and the six finalists for the award will be honored by state education officials at a banquet Monday in Jefferson City.

Manker is a social studies teacher and department chair at Rockwood Summit High School in Fenton.

The awards will be presented by Mike Jones, vice president of the State Board of Education, and Missouri Commissioner of Education Chris L. Nicastro.

Tobin Schultz, a social studies teacher and varsity football defensive coordinator at Joplin High School, was surprised today with a Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award and an unrestricted cash prize of $25,000.

Schultz received the award at a school assembly. Dr. Ron Lankford, deputy commissioner of education, was there to take part in the surprise presentation.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has chosen CTB/McGraw-Hill for a new statewide assessment contract beginning with the 2014-15 school year. The Department’s current contracts with CTB/McGraw-Hill for the administration of the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) expire with the spring 2014 test administrations. The new contract includes all required assessments in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The scope of the work addresses item development, test administration, scoring, security and reporting.

In an effort to better communicate about education standards in Missouri, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Missouri Department of Higher Education have launched a new website focused on the Missouri Learning Standards at www.MissouriLearningStandards.com. The site launched this week and features new resources, videos and information on the standards directed at parents, teachers, community members and school administrators.

Two Missouri teens are among 108 students nationwide to receive the College Board State AP Scholar Award for outstanding performance on 2013 Advanced Placement (AP) exams.

Missouri's award recipients are:

Citing concern for many students still struggling in Kansas City, today the Commissioner of Education, Chris L. Nicastro, notified the Superintendent of Kansas City Schools, Dr. Steve Green, that the Department would not recommend changing the district’s accreditation.