On Tuesday, the State Board of Education approved the Department’s updated Top 10 by 20 plan for fiscal year 2015.

The plan is updated annually with actions and targets that provide greater focus, consistency, integration and impact on the goals and strategies of the Top 10 by 20 initiative, a statewide improvement effort that aims for student achievement in Missouri to rank among the Top 10 performing states in education by 2020.

“Missouri continues its focus on ensuring that all students have access to high-quality education,” said Commissioner of Education Chris Nicastro. “To reach the Top 10 by 20, the Department will focus on building statewide capacity to implement supports and, when necessary, interventions designed to improve student achievement.”

The updated plan focuses on leadership, collaborative culture and climate, teaching/learning practices, assessments to inform teaching and learning, effective use of data, and parental/community engagement. There is also a greater alignment among the Department’s offices related to the supports, resources and assistance that is being provided to local education agencies, school and classroom teachers.

The Top 10 by 20 initiative was launched in 2009 and focuses on four main goals:

• All Missouri students will graduate college and career ready
• All Missouri children will enter kindergarten prepared to be successful in school
• Missouri will prepare, develop and support effective educators
• The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will improve departmental efficiency and operational effectiveness