The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released preliminary statewide 2022-23 Grade Level and End-of-Course (EOC) assessment data during the August 15 State Board of Education meeting. The results represent data from the required state assessments: English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics for grades 3-8; Science for grades 5 and 8; and English II, Algebra I, Biology, and Government EOCs. Results for optional EOC assessments (American History, Algebra I, English I, Geometry, and Physical Science) were released as well.

The State Board of Education’s (State Board’s) Teacher Recruitment and Retention Blue Ribbon Commission (Commission) presented its final recommendations to the State Board at its meeting on August 15. The Commission’s recommendations fall into four categories: immediate support for classroom management, evidence-based models for reorganizing schools, master teaching certificate, and school and district leadership improvements.

Governor Mike Parson approved an additional $50 million to expand the School Safety Reimbursement Grant Program in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget. The grant program, which supports school safety improvements in local education agencies (LEAs), aims to support physical security upgrades and associated technology (e.g., door locks, monitoring systems), bleeding control kits, epinephrine auto-injectors, and automatic external defibrillators. This new round of funding is now also available to nonpublic schools.

Five Pioneers in Education will be in the spotlight on Monday, July 31, in recognition of their commitment and contributions to public education in Missouri. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will recognize the 2023 Pioneers during the 62^nd Annual Cooperative Conference for School Administrators. The ceremony will take place during a luncheon with more than 600 school leaders in attendance.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Agricultural Education section, along with partners at the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA), developed a new Five-Year Strategic Plan to provide direction from 2024-2029 for agricultural education. The “Reinventing Agricultural Education for the Year 2020” strategic plan has served as a valuable resource to lead the industry for more than 20 years.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced that it is using $500,000 in remaining funds from the second round of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER II) dollars to pay the fee on educator certification tests in the coming months. Starting tomorrow, June 6, 2023, individuals may register for any Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA), Missouri General Education Assessment (MoGEA), or the Paraprofessional exam at no cost until the state funds are spent.

Three Missouri high school seniors were selected as members of the 59^th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars along with 161 students from across the country. The president recognized the outstanding students listed below for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields.

The Missouri General Assembly passed the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) $9.8 billion Fiscal Year 2024 budget today, including these highlights:

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has announced eight Missouri Gold Star Schools for 2023. The program, which aligns with the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, recognizes schools for outstanding academic achievement or for performing at high levels while serving a significant proportion of disadvantaged students.

Missouri’s 2023 Gold Star Schools include: