More than 360 schools in Missouri are participating in a pilot program this spring to test a new assessment system based on the Common Core State Standards for English language arts and math.

The Smarter Balanced assessments, for students in grades 3-11, are currently being developed by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, a group of 24 states that includes Missouri. More than one million students across the country will take part in the pilot during April and May.

More than 400 school districts, businesses, individuals, and colleges and universities have stepped forward to endorse Missouri’s implementation of the Common Core State Standards for math and English language arts.

The State Board of Education adopted the Common Core State Standards for math and English as part of the Missouri Learning Standards in 2010. The new standards will be in use in all public school districts in the state by fall 2014.

Education leaders, business leaders and others from across the state gathered at the state Capitol today to voice their support for Missouri’s implementation of the Common Core State Standards, which the State Board of Education approved in 2010.

The standards are designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in college, other types of training and a career, education officials say.

A St. Louis area middle school principal has received national recognition for his work to increase technology in the classroom to boost student learning and professional development for educators.

Dr. Robert Dillon, principal at the Maplewood Richmond Heights Middle School, was selected by the National School Boards Association as one of "20 to Watch" for the 2012-2013 school year.

The number of students earning qualifying grades on Advanced Placement (AP) exams has more than doubled in Missouri in the past decade, but participation in the program continues to lag behind most other states.

Students generally are required to score a 3 or better on the exams to earn college credit.

Eleven Missouri schools were recognized last month as Professional Learning Communities Exemplary Schools by state education officials 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 2012-13 Exemplary Schools Award recipients are:

Missouri's top two youth volunteers of 2013 were named last week by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism.

The state's 2013 youth volunteer awardees are:

Collaboration focusing on preparing students for the work force

Preparing students in Missouri for the jobs of the future is the focus of a new partnership that is bringing together educators, policymakers and employers.

State leaders participating in the Pathways to Prosperity Network met February 7 in St. Louis to continue their work on developing a system of "career pathways" designed to help high-school students succeed in college, other types of training and the workplace.

Five public hearings on vocational rehabilitation services have been scheduled in February and March throughout the state. The hearings will be conducted by Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation (MVR) to gain feedback on ways to improve services for individuals with disabilities. Input regarding the goals and priorities for MVR’s upcoming revised state plan is welcome.

Public Hearing Schedule

A Lee's Summit educator has been honored as one of 15 top school district leaders in the nation in Education Week's first annual "Leader to Learn From" report.

Kyle Pace, an instructional technology specialist, was recognized for his work using social media to improve professional development for teachers in the Lee's Summit School District.