The Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) is the mechanism used by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for making recommendations for accrediting public school districts in Missouri. The process of accrediting school districts is mandated by state law and by State Board of Education regulation.
Recommendations regarding accreditation status are presented to the State Board of Education for its approval.
Staff members (including the eleven Area Supervisors) provide technical assistance on the MSIP process to district personnel individually and through training sessions.
The latest iteration of the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP 6) is focused on continuous improvement for all schools, the preparation of each student for life beyond high school and promoting practices that lead to healthy school systems. MSIP 6 will take a closer look at what districts are doing to implement effective practices and sustain improvements, while increasing the focus on individual student growth.
The Department believes high expectations, a clear vision and a few very focused, high impact goals will be critical to drive the improvement efforts necessary to bring about positive results.
APRs demonstrate the progress that local education agencies (LEAs) and individual schools are making towards meeting the MSIP 6 Standards and Indicators. For a variety of reasons — including changes in legislation and assessments, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic — the last time LEAs received an APR score was 2018, under the MSIP 5 system. The MSIP 6 APR has been redesigned to better distinguish the performance of LEAs and buildings along a continuum and reflect the performance of each.
Stakeholders should keep in mind these key considerations when reviewing the 2022 APR:
APR data can be viewed in two ways:
Administrative Memo - MSIP 6 Update - Individual Career and Academic Plans (ICAP) - February 10, 2023
Administrative Memo - 2022 Annual Performance Report - February 2, 2023
The Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) Annual Performance Report (APR) provides local education agency (LEA) and building-level data for stakeholders and serves as the primary basis for the classification of school districts. In accordance with Section 161.855.4, RSMo, the first year under MSIP 6 is considered a pilot year; therefore, the 2022 APR may not be used to lower a district’s classification. The APR is also used by charter sponsors to inform renewal decisions.
For questions about the APR timeline, email Jocelyn Strand, Improvement and Accountability Administrator, at jocelyn.strand@dese.mo.gov, or Konnie Koenigsfeld, Accountability Data Manager, at konnie.koenigsfeld@dese.mo.gov.
Administrative Memo - Implementation of the Missouri School Improvement Program(MSIP) 6 - March 28, 2022
Comprehensive Guide Public Meeting
July 19, 2023
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM (Room opens at 1:30 PM)
Missouri Research and Education Network (MOREnet)
221 North Stadium Blvd, Columbia, MO 65203
Virtual Q&A Meeting for School Leaders
February 16, 2023
Time: 1:30-2:30 p.m.
On February 15, DESE Communications will email a link and necessary login credentials for the virtual meeting to school leaders (superintendents and charter school executives) and school communications officials. The meeting will be recorded and made available to school leaders upon request (email Communications@dese.mo.gov). Please note that any information specific to local education agencies (LEAs) shared in the meeting is embargoed until March 7. This meeting is for the appropriate district/school personnel; the meeting link, login credentials, and/or recording should not be shared.
Public Meeting – Comprehensive Guide to Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP 6) Scoring Guide
March 2, 2023
Location: Missouri Research and Education Network (MOREnet)
221 North Stadium, Suite 201
Columbia, MO 65201
Time: 1:30 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is holding a public meeting as required by Section 161.092, RSMo related to the scoring guide used for MSIP 6.
District Assurance Checklist
Districts may use the PDF version of the checklist for reference.
As part of the MSIP 6 process, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, in collaboration with the Institute for Public Policy (IPP), has developed a climate and culture survey for use by local education agencies (LEAs). The surveys are provided for LEAs to review the survey content to determine whether to use the survey or to purchase a survey for use.
The Missouri School Improvement Program has the responsibility of reviewing and accrediting the public school districts in Missouri. The process of accrediting school districts is mandated by state law and by State Board of Education regulation.
The Department reviews each district’s accreditation status and the APR supporting data to identify trends and status in performance outcomes. Other considerations include Comprehensive School Improvement Plans, previous Department MSIP findings, financial status, compliance with regulations and statutes, and superintendent certification. A district’s accreditation classification remains intact until the State Board of Education rules otherwise.
Recommendations regarding accreditation status are presented to the State Board of Education for approval.
The Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) used survey data from students, parents, and staff in previous cycles to help evaluate educational processes in districts. Although these surveys are no longer used as part of the MSIP review process, a district may contact the Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis (OSEDA) at (573) 882-5428 if they desire to utilize surveys to evaluate educational processes in their respective districts.
Students in Missouri schools may be provided the opportunity to earn both high school and college credit through dual credit or dual enrollment. Dual Credit classes are taught by high school teachers that have been approved by a college or university to be adjunct professors and are usually taught at the high school or in the district. Dual enrollment classes are taught by college or university professors, and the school district has arranged to award high school credit for the classes. Dual enrollment classes are often taught at the college/university site.
| Dual Credit | Dual Enrollment | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Instructor: | A high school teacher must be approved to be an adjunct professor by the appropriate college or university. The teacher must meet DESE certification requirements and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education’s Requirements. | Instructor: | College/University professor. The teacher is qualified under Higher Education guidelines, but may not be under DESE certification requirements. |
| Agreement: | A written agreement must be in place between the college/university and school district. | Agreement: | A written agreement must be in place between the college/university and the school district. |
| Course Fees: | Course fees are determined by the agreement between the school district and the college/university. |
Course Fees: |
Course fees are determined by the agreement between the school district and the college/university. |
| Curriculum: | Set by the college/university. | Curriculum: | Set by the college/university. |
| Textbooks: | Determined by the college/university. | Textbooks: | Determined by the college/university. |
| Equating Credit: |
Typical conversion as noted in the Graduation Requirements for Students in MO Public Schools is: one unit of high school credit for a five hour college class; ½ unit of high school credit for a three hour college class; ¼ unit of credit for a two hour college class. |
Equating Credit: |
Typical conversion as noted in the Graduation Requirements for Students in MO Public Schools is: one unit of high school credit for a five hour college class; ½ unit of high school credit for a three hour college class; ¼ unit of credit for a two hour college class. |
| Attendance: | Students enrolled in dual credit courses may be counted in attendance at the high school for state aid purposes via MOSIS/Core Data as long as the 1.0 ADA is not exceeded. | Attendance: | Attendance for students participating in dual enrollment classes for state aid purposes will be dependent on the agreement between the school district and the college/university. The district must follow all state attendance reporting guidelines and must not exceed the 1.0 ADA (Please refer to the guidelines for dual enrollment for state aid purposes listed in the Graduation Requirements for Students in Missouri Public Schools). |
| MSIP5 APR Inclusion: |
Yes – See Comprehensive Guide to the Missouri School Improvement Program for the details. |
MSIP5 APR Inclusion: | Yes – See Comprehensive Guide to the Missouri School Improvement Program for the details. |
| Core Data/MOSIS Reporting: | List the dual credit site as district since the instructor is your employee. Remember that the Course Assignment File must have a match in the Educator School File. | Core Data/MOSIS Reporting: |
List the dual credit site as the college since the instructor is not your employee. This is the only record that will not have a match in the Educator School File. |
Embedded credit is an alternative method for granting credit in which a school district chooses to embed competencies from one subject into another class and award credit to students for both the embedded content and the other subject. The embedded credit content must be closely aligned to the Missouri Learning Standards and a plan for determining competency for both subjects must be in place. The instructor must have appropriate certification in both content areas.
For additional information, please contact School Improvement at 573-751-4426.
The School Flex Program (Section 160.539 RSMo) affords schools the opportunity to offer an alternative delivery system for students in grades 11 and 12, who have been identified by their high school principal, parents, or guardians, as potentially benefiting from an alternative delivery system in order to pursue a timely graduation. Participants in this program must attend school for at least two instructional hours per day and be earning credit in classes needed for graduation, maintain a 95% attendance rate, and avoid suspension or expulsion. In addition, there must be evidence that participants are enrolled and attending college or career technical programs and/or proof of employment. All components of the plan must align to the student’s Individual Career Academic Plan (formerly known as a Personal Plan of Study), which has been developed by the school district with the student.
This program does not require the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to approve prior to implementation. Eligible students participating in the School Flex Program shall be considered full-time students of the school district or charter LEA and shall be counted in the school’s average daily attendance for state aid purposes.
For additional questions or information, please contact School Improvement, 573-751-4426.
Staff members (including the Area Supervisors) provide technical assistance on the MSIP process to district personnel individually and through training sessions.
