By Samantha Hayes, Professional Practice Director
2023 Success Ready Student Network Innovation Waiver Update and 2024 Waiver Approved
Innovation Waivers for schools were established in the successful 2022 Senate Bill 681 (161.214, RSMo). This innovation waiver permits the State Board of Education to consider waiving “exemptions from specific requirements in education law or regulations for the following purposes: improving students' post-secondary readiness, increasing teacher compensation, and improving the recruitment, retention, training, preparation, or professional development of teachers” (DESE). These requested waivers must be based upon sound educational practices, must not endanger the health and safety of students or staff, and must not compromise equal opportunity for learning.
These waivers do not waive accountability or reporting requirements, specifically those required by the federal government, nor do they waive the federal requirement for state standardized assessments.
Last year in August of 2023, the State Board approved twenty (20) Missouri School Districts for an Innovation Waiver (161.214, RSMo) to focus on Competency-Based Education (CBE). The innovation team consists of members of the Success Ready Student Network (SRSN). This year, the same waivers were requested by an additional seventeen (17) school districts to focus on CBE.
The specific provisions of law that this 2024 SRSN Cohort is requesting an innovation waiver that is similar to the 2023 SRSN Cohort’s waiver:
- Replace the existing MSIP 6 APR with an alternative APR.
- Develop alternative measures of literacy and numeracy for students in grades 3-8.
- Develop alternative measures of literacy and numeracy for students in high school.
- Demonstrate student employability and postsecondary readiness through Market Value Assets (MVA).
- Implement MVAs leading students to attain career-readiness credentials.
- Use SRSN-designated assessment in state accountability systems instead of MAP Grade-Level and End-of-Course assessments (students will still have to take the MAP and EOCs in these districts; this request is for these SRSN Assessments to be calculated in the districts’ APR alternative score instead of the MAP and EOCs).
- Hold classification status for constant for these 20 LEAs; the Board still reserves the right to reconsider reclassification at any time for these LEAs.
2024 SRSN Cohort’s innovation waiver was approved. For more information on the SRSN, please visit their website.
“The Missouri NEA supports effective and fair school accountability systems. The Association believes that these systems must promote student excellence and growth that reflect meaningful, high-quality learning and ensure that the best teaching practices are supported and utilized” (A-4).
Further, “The Missouri NEA believes that changes in student instruction and assessment must be carefully implemented…that development of education initiatives must, at the outset, include all stakeholders…that the most important place where implementation occurs is in the classroom. Staff must have adequate time and training as well as appropriate and adequate resources to implement new initiatives…Assessments must measure what was actually taught and be in a form familiar to the student” (B-41).
Preliminary Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Report
DESE presented its preliminary fiscal year 2026 budget, which reflects not only the department’s priorities but the stipulations, requirements, and limits they must adhere to as well.
The preliminary budget was presented in a way that mirrors DESE’s most recent strategic plan.
The state is moving towards a new budgeting system, so their instructions are a little different than budgets in the past. For FY26, departments may request mandatory new decisions items, request high-priority new decision items, and may request mandatory supplemental decisions items, which includes essential items that cannot wait until the next fiscal year.
The areas that the department is requesting funding mirrors the strategic plan: Early Learning, Literacy, Success Ready Students & Workforce Development, Educator Recruitment & Retention, Safe and Healthy Schools, Needs-Based Funding, and Family and Community Engagement. Mandatory items include federal increases, federal programming, state/federal match programs, foundation formula, and special education increases mandated by statute or court case. There were many new decision items that stem from the recently passed Senate Bill 727; however, these new decision items from the recent legislation do not have secure funding sources, which may lead to the department having to prioritize items of 727 to fund.
Missouri NEA “believes that the State Board of Education and the Commissioner of Education have an obligation to propose an education budget that will meet the educational needs of Missouri’s students. The State Board and the Commissioner must request sufficient appropriations so as not to jeopardize the future of public education in Missouri” (A-14).
Preliminary 2023-2024 Statewide MAP and EOC Results
The preliminary statewide MAP and EOC results from the 2023-2024 school year indicate that Missouri has shown overall incremental improvements or sustained performance from the previous year. The full report of the scores can be seen in the presentation to the board (linked above). DESE clearly noted during the presentation that “this data is not intended to be used to inform instruction” and the MAP data is only to “get a picture of the overall health of instruction at the [Local Education Agency] (LEA) levels.”
Missouri NEA “The Missouri NEA believes that standardized tests and/or assessments should be used only to improve the quality of education and instruction for students. Assessments should be student-centered and support teaching, learning, and program improvement” (B-37).
CTE Report, Child Care Subsidy Program Update, and Notice of Rulemaking & Order of Rulemaking
There were various reports and updates of note.
The annual report on the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Council gave a presentation on the development, implementation, and administration of the state budget for CTE. This included CTE strategic plan; CTE opportunities, success, and challenges; and 2024-2025 recommendations.
There was an update on the Child Care Subsidy Program due to the challenges that the Office of Childhood faced with delayed payments to providers. DESE presented an actionable path forward that includes tougher assessments for all vendors to close the gaps in the program that were causing issues. The Office of Childhood predicts “45 working days” to resolve all backlogged issues once the full Subsidy Program team is hired and trained, which they will be working on finishing soon.
A variety of orders of Rulemaking in the Office of College and Career Readiness was approved and will move forth into official rule. One Notice of Rulemaking from the Office of Educator Quality “further specifies the types of documentation necessary for applicants who have criminal histories; and imposes reapplication time restrictions for certain applicants and certificate holders.”
MNEA believes that every student and educator deserves the best experience possible in schools. That is why we are the only educational organization consistently present at every meeting of DESE, the State Board of Education, and the Missouri Legislature. We are your eyes and ears, where decisions are being made about your schools when you cannot be.
The next meeting of the Missouri State Board of Education will be held on September 10, 2024, at DESE in Jefferson City, Missouri. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or Samantha.Hayes@mnea.org.
The Monthly State Board Report is also available in Podcast form at MNEA Connects. Listen on Amazon Music, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Podbean, or Spotify.