Missouri schools to be given yearly scorecards following Kehoe executive order
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri Department of Education has until June to create a plan to implement a new system for grading schools in the state, following Gov. Mike Kehoe's announcement of an executive order signed during his State of the State address.
"Missouri’s current accountability system places too much weight on administrative process rather than student success, and it does not give a straightforward picture of how schools are actually performing," Kehoe said during his speech. "The real test of Missouri’s education system should be whether students are learning."
According to the secretary of state's office, public schools and public charter schools will be graded on a lettered A through F scale based on a 0 to 100 point scale:
- A – producing excellent student outcomes
- B – producing more than satisfactory student outcomes
- C – producing satisfactory student outcomes
- D – producing less than satisfactory student outcomes
- F – failing to produce adequate student outcomes
Scores will be based on the annual Missouri Assessment Program, or MAP, results. High schools will also be graded on graduation rate.
Schools that fail to test at least 95% of students will drop a letter grade.
"The proposed framework shall ensure that accountability grade cards are provided in a standardized, clear, and easily accessible form, designed to be easily understood by parents, taxpayers, school personnel, legislators, and the media, consistent with all state and federal law," according to the secretary of state's website.
Schools will receive their score from DESE by Sept. 15 and will be required to publish it by Sept. 30 annually.
The point scale will also become stricter as school scores improve to promote growth. When 65% of schools earn an A or B, the minimum score required for each letter grade will go up by five points for the next year.
The Missouri National Education Association opposed the order as well as Kehoe's plan to eliminate the income tax.
"The Association opposes this type of grading scheme based primarily on state-mandated, standardized tests," the MNEA said in a statement Friday. "The Association is concerned that elimination of the $9 billion in individual income tax will not be offset by any possible sales tax increase meeting this description and will result in a massive collapse of state support for vital public services, including education."
Kehoe's address also encouraged the General Assembly to pass similar legislation, including House Bill 2539 by Speaker of the House Jon Patterson (R-Lees Summit) and Senate Bill 1194 by Senator Ben Brown (R-Washington).
Both bills mention the creation of the "Show Me Success Program" to give financial awards to high-performing schools. Public and Charter Schools in the top 5% student performance statewide will receive $100 per student. Schools in the top 10% but below the top 5% of student performance can receive $50 per student.
