Notes from the Dec. 13, 2022 meeting of the Missouri State Board of Education, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Agenda, Minutes, and Recordings from December 13, 2022, of the Missouri State Board of Education Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Update on MSIP
DESE: December 2022 Update on the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) 6 >
The Board approved the MSIP 6 Standards and Indicators in February 2020 and the MSIP 6 Comprehensive Guide was just finalized at the end of November (11/28/2022).
The Association is concerned that the definition of “Plan Time” in this finalized Comprehensive Guide could lead to misinterpretation that goes against best-practice. The definition in the guide is currently: “Adequate self-directed planning time, at least 250 minutes per week, is provided to certificated and licensed educators who provide instruction to students on a full-time basis (prorated as appropriate). Plan time is based on local context and is aligned to best practice guidelines.” MNEA is monitoring the direction of this definition and advocating for a return to the “Plan Time” definition from MSIP 5. If you would like to express concern regarding this definition, please contact MNEA Teaching and Learning Director, Samantha Hayes, to discuss actionable items regarding Plan Time in MSIP 6.
During this gradual implementation of MSIP 6, DESE and the MSIP Advisory Committee have been working to develop the measurements and tools that will be used to make classification recommendations to the Board. Recent updates to measurements and tools used for classification include:
- Attendance: scoring is on a continuum and only when attendance is 80% and above will points be given. There was concern about this piece due to the lasting impacts of the pandemic. To calculate attendance, the student-level attendance and district-level attendance work together: all students attending for 80% of time is divided by the total enrollments from the district.
- Achievement Growth: points are awarded for growth on a continuous basis using the Missouri Growth Model. Multiple factors are included to create a predicted score for each student including a student’s prior performance and their mobility; a student’s actual score either exceeds or does not meet predicted score, which is how the Growth Score is calculated. Growth for MSIP 6 is based on this Missouri Growth Model, which is unchanged except for scoring, which includes scoring for independent standards (includes ELA and mathematics starting in grade 4), weighted equally in final score with Achievement Status, and scored on a continuous scale.
- Annual Performance Report (APR) Release: DESE will be pushing for the APR shortly after the start of the year. Since DESE has made some adjustments to scoring, the earliest date it will be available this year is early February. A public version along with a more detailed version of the report will be available for districts and individual buildings. All versions of the data will be available in Tableau. For a quick breakdown of how APR is calculated, see this one-pager from the Senate Committee hearing in July 2022.
While the APR will be released in the coming months, the official APR that will determine classification will not be available until the 2023-2024 school year. The classification timeline is as follows:
The Association continues to monitor these decisions regarding the implementation of MSIP 6.
NAEP Data
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2022 Data Release >
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is typically given every two years nationwide. This assessment and the achievement levels differ from the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) and results are not given for individual students. NAEP assesses Math and Reading in grades 4 and 8; fifty students per grade level are assessed from randomly selected schools.
Highlights from the data include:
- No state in the nation had a statistically significant increase and all state scores were either down or flat post-pandemic.
- Declines were historic, which matched other studies.
- The lowest-achieving students saw the sharpest decline in scores.
- Grade 8 Math had larger negative impacts.
- Missouri scores remain statistically the same as the National Public scores in all 4 categories (Math and Reading, Grade 4 and 8).
The full report of the scores can be viewed here.
Report on Missouri Literacy Initiatives
Dr. Tracy Hinds gave an update on Missouri Read, Lead, Exceed programs that are currently occurring around the state of Missouri. Most of the updates on Literacy Initiatives stem from the recently signed Senate Bill 681.
The recently-released Literacy-Based Quick Reference Guide was a major focus of discussion as it is a document “to inform stakeholders about the literacy-related components of SB 681.” DESE created this document to help educators understand what is required from SB 681.
Another piece of SB 681 was for the Commissioner to establish a Literacy Advisory Council. This council meets at least twice per year “to review best practices in literacy instruction and related policy provisions.” The initial meeting was held on November 29, 2022, and they plan to meet again in early Spring 2023 to report back to the state board shortly after.
Dr. Hinds also gave literacy updates for Steps to Success Literacy Plan, Reading Success Plans, Educator Preparation, Evidence-Based Reading Instruction Program Fund, and the Comprehensive Literacy State Development Program.
For Missouri Literacy Initiatives analysis and accountability, DESE and the State Board will monitor various benchmarks and data from the programs including: beginning and end-of-year assessment data, implement second-grade end-of-year reading assessment, analyze Lexile levels statewide, monitor completion of teacher professional learning, and have LEAs report specific intensive reading interventions and supports while also including reading proficiency in Comprehensive School Improvement Plans (CSIP).
Consideration for Legislative Priorities
The State Board discussed and approved the following Legislative Priorities ahead of the 2023 Legislative Session.
#1: Educator Recruitment and Retention
- Recommends amending §163.172, RSMo to raise the minimum starting teacher salary to $38,000.
- Recommends that the legislature establish sustainable state funding to support Grow Your Own programs.
- Recommends establishing a state fund to assist LEAs in increasing the minimum starting salary and more competitive salaries.
- Extend the work of the Blue Ribbon Commission to focus on Culture and Climate to ensure that teachers have access to a positive school climate, experience job satisfaction, and for the best student learning.
#2: Safe and Healthy Schools
- Support policies focused on intrapersonal and interpersonal skills for students that build resilience and employability skills.
- Support legislation that would mandate yearly local board of education hearings to allow district residents the opportunity to provide input on school district curriculum.
#3: SRS and Workforce Development
- Supports requiring the use of an integrated advising system that connects career advising with academic support.
#4: Early Learning and Early Literacy
- Supports access to voluntary, high-quality early learning opportunities for all Missouri children. The State Board supports phasing in a plan to allow LEAs to count 100 percent of 4–5-year-olds in early learning programs in their calculation of Average Daily Attendance in the Foundation Formula.
#5: Providing Access to Opportunity
- Supports continued full funding of the Foundation Formula, the school transportation formula, and an adjustment to the state adequacy target to ensure continued growth in the Foundation Formula.
- Recommends the legislature modify and fully fund the Urban Flight and Rural Needs Scholarship Program Fund established in § 173.232, RSMo.
- Suggests that the Department work with stakeholders to examine best practices for voluntary open enrollment, allowing students to attend the public school of their choice regardless of attendance boundary.
The biggest point of discussion from the State Board was the third part of Legislative Priority #5 regarding input on school district curriculum due to the concerns that this point would appear to favor open enrollment and vouchers. It was motioned and approved for the adjustment to point 3 of Priority #5 to read: “The State Board of Education suggests that DESE work with stakeholders to examine best practices for voluntary public school open enrollment.”
All other legislative priorities were accepted by the board.
Consideration of the Climate and Culter of Missouri Public Schools
Bart Washer, Interim Assistant Commissioner, and Chrissy Bashore, Coordinator of School counseling and Student Wellness, presented on the climate and culture of Missouri Public Schools. The presenters referenced the Climate and Culture work group that was contracted in 2022 that curated 11 Social-Emotional Learning Standards for secondary students with the recommendation “to evaluate if these standards be incorporated into MSIP 6 and evaluate if it is possible to provide extra points for districts to incorporate these standards into their CSIP.”
Currently, Missouri has preschool SEL stand-alone standards and embedded SEL efforts in Health/Physical Education, and school counseling SEL grade-level expectations. The steps to fully adopt the 11 stand-alone standards recommended by the Climate and Culture Work Group from 2022 must follow the HB 1490 Learning Standard Development Process, which includes creating a work group, developing draft learning standards, and presenting learning standards for SEL to the State Board by May 2023. The goal for this process is to enter the rulemaking process to secure the standards as Missouri Learning Standards during the July 2023 - March 2024 timeframe.
The recommendation from this presentation was to begin the process to create these SEL Standards, which were approved by the board. The Association is monitoring the creation of the workgroup that would develop these standards to ensure adequate representation that follows statute and reflects the educators in the state of Missouri.
The Board approved the following changes to rules:
Eligibility and Authorization for Child Care Subsidy
This rule updated the eligibility and criteria for the Child Care Subsidy program.
Missouri Career Development and Teacher Excellence Plan (Career Ladder Program)
The Missouri Legislature discontinued funding the Career Ladder statute in 2010. The 2023 fiscal budget includes $37.4 million dollars to fund the program, providing additional compensation to teachers for additional duties/certifications. The state will provide 60% of the program cost. Teachers are eligible after completing two years of service and the stipends are spread over three years. This rule establishes program guidance and an application process which can be found here.
Public comments are being accepted regarding proposed changes to the following rules:
School Board Member Orientation Training
This rule establishes the criteria for local board of education training as required by the Outstanding Schools Act of 1993. The proposed revisions clarify the language to comply with state law, modifies the training requirements, and moves the rule to the Office of Quality Schools. New requirements (18½ hours) include training that addresses relationships with parents/guardians, budget development, MO’s Open Meetings and Records law, preventing abuse of children, emergency preparedness, and state/federal school law. Board members will be required to complete an annual refresher course.
Pupil Transportation in Vehicles other than School Buses
This rule revision modifies the definition of a school bus and adjusts licensing requirements. Drivers - of both district-owned or private vehicles - transporting fewer than ten passengers must have a valid Missouri operator’s license.
MO State Plan for Part B, Regulations Implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Regulations found in Part B of Missouri’s IDEA implementation plan guide services for students ages 3 to 21. Proposed changes to sections I, IV, V, and VIII will be posted for public review and DESE will host two public webinars to review the revisions. Proposed changes include:
- Defining ‘private schools’ as ‘nonprofit private elementary or secondary schools’
- Clarification for host school districts responsible for services for full-time MOCAP students
- Providing parents copies of the Parents’ Bill of Rights per state statute
- Adding several certification agencies for personnel
- Clarification of Early Childhood Special Education funding definitions
The next meeting of the Missouri State Board of Education will be held on January 10, 2023. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes or Rebeka McIntosh at 800-392-0236 or email: Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org or Rebeka.McIntosh@mnea.org. Details of state board agenda items can be found here.
Respectfully submitted,
Rebeka McIntosh, MNEA vice president
Samantha Hayes, MNEA teaching and learning director
Find past reports at mnea.org/stateboard.