The debate over giving Missouri public schools an A–F report card is picking up at the Capitol, as lawmakers consider several proposals this week.
One of them, from Sen. Curtis Trent, R-Springfield, whose bill would require the State Board of Education to publish a single, standardized accountability report each year.
“The scorecard utilizes an A through F grading scale, which itself is based on a 0 to 100 score metric,” said Trent. “Failure to test at least 95% of students results in a letter grade demotion.”
Sen. Ben Brown, R-Washington, said states that have adopted similar systems are seeing results.
“In Mississippi, they went from 49th in 4th grade reading to 9th,” said Brown. “Tennessee went from almost dead last in 4th grade reading to top 15 in the nation. Louisiana went from around 31st nationally to now around 23rd.”
Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, warned tying funding bonuses to test‑based grades would give more money to districts already doing well.
“It costs more to educate a student who is in poverty,” said Nurrenbern. “Even if we look at our breakdown today and the schools that do best are our schools in the wealthiest area. So, these areas are going to receive more money, but our schools that are struggling and really need the additional support to bring up all students will not receive any incentives.”
Gov. Mike Kehoe signed an executive order in January directing the State Board of Education to have the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, (DESE) develop an annual A–F grading framework for every public school and district, and now the Senate Education Committee will decide whether to advance the bills that would put it into law.
Links to the bills.
https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1968704
https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=582
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