Update (April 14, 2025)
New Board Members Appointed by Kehoe
Governor Kehoe made four new appointments to the State Board of Education. These appointees will replace Board President Charlie Shields, Board Vice President Carol Hallquist, and fill the vacant seat that was left behind by the interim appointment of Dr. Tawni Farrarini. The vacancy in Mary Schrag’s position still remains. The new appointments are Michael Matousek (Kansas City), Kenneth "Brooks" Miller Jr. (Sunrise Beach), Jon Otto (Kansas City), and Dr. Thomas Prater (Springfield).
The legislative body that confirms nominations to the State Board of Education is the Missouri Senate. If they do not confirm the appointments within 30 days, the individuals are banned, for life, from serving on their appointed board.
- State Board: School Funding Modernization Task Force and Urban Education Commission
On January 28, 2025, Governor Kehoe signed an Executive Order establishing the Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force. By December 1, 2026, the task force is required to provide a final report to the governor “detailing recommendations for potential state funding models for K-12 public and charter schools. The report should include up to three alternative recommendations or components of the recommended model, as well as a summary of feedback garnered through the work of the Task Force from stakeholders. State Board members Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge and Kerry Casey will serve on this Task Force for the State Board of Education.
“The Missouri NEA believes that equitable and adequate funding is critical to the future of public education in Missouri. The total wealth of the state should be distributed as equitably as possible for the public education of each child in Missouri” (A-11).
Further, the State Board of Education has charged Dr. Eslinger and DESE to create a commission on Urban Education in the state of Missouri. At the meeting, there was little detail shared about this upcoming commission but it will explore the challenges that Urban Education has in the state and how to alleviate challenges for Urban schools. The department said that information would be forthcoming.
- State Board: Fiscal Year 26 Budget Update
Dr. Kerri Monsees, Deputy Commissioner, and Pam Victor, Chief Budget Officer, gave a report on the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget that has now been passed by the House of Representatives. The Governor recommended roughly 9 billion in the budget and the House budget was $809 million short of that recommendation; the biggest changes have to do with federal funding changes and the House deciding to pause the childcare subsidy funding due to uncertainty at the federal level.
The budget now moves to the Senate; the legislature must pass a budget by May 9, 2025.
As stated above, “The Missouri NEA believes that equitable and adequate funding is critical to the future of public education in Missouri” (A-11).
- Rule Approval on Repeat
The following rules were approved by the State Board of Education.
- Consideration of an Order of Rulemaking to Adopt 5 CSR 25-200.095, Child Care Hearings
- Consideration of an Order of Rulemaking to Amend 5 CSR 20-400.500 Application for Certificate of License to Teach
- Consideration of an Order of Rulemaking to Amend 5 CSR 20-400.530 Certification Requirements for a Teacher of Middle School Education (Grades 5-9)
- Consideration of an Order of Rulemaking to Amend 55 CSR 20-400.540 Certification Requirements for Teacher of Secondary Education (Grades 9–12)
- Consideration of an Order of Rulemaking to Amend 5 CSR 20-400.550, Certification Requirements for Teacher of K-12 Education
These changes include changing the content GPA for all teaching certificate areas from 3.0 to 2.5 (except Special Education, which remains at a content GPA of 3.0), bringing back the general science certification for 9-12 sciences, and requiring the Elementary Reading Praxis Test for all Elementary certifications. Without context, the reduction in Content GPA requirement from 3.0 to 2.5 can appear to reduce the standards that are held for those who are entering the teaching profession. However, what the department is trying to do in lowering the content GPA actually is in line with the same GPA requirements for other fields that require similar content courses. Further, the pedagogical GPA (i.e. methods course, student teaching, etc.) is not lowered and remains at a 3.0 GPA. Missouri NEA recognizes the intent behind the change and will closely track the impacts this change has on the teaching workforce in Missouri.
“The Missouri NEA believes in rigorous state standards for entry into the teaching profession. These standards, as established by a state standards board, should include above-average college grades, field training experience that includes successful completion of student teaching, and passage of appropriate pedagogical and subject matter tests…No certificate/license should be issued unless an individual possesses the entry-level knowledge and skills required for teaching. [Further], the Missouri NEA believes that a broad range of multiple criteria should be used to determine who should study for and be certified/licensed in the teaching profession. Rigorous and relevant evaluation in selecting and preparing teachers is essential to assure quality professionals. Teacher educators and local teachers must be fully involved in certification/licensing” (G-3 & G-4).
- Governmental Affairs Update
Perry Gorrell, Chief of Government Relations, brought forth the most active education legislation at the current Missouri Legislative Session. The primary focus of the update was HB 607, SB 68 (since getting to the House, it has turned into an omnibus bill), HB 711, and SB 360.
The Association supports the Education Freedom Act and opposes all current Open Enrollment legislation.
For frequent, reliable, and relevant education legislative updates, sign up for MNEA Legislative Update Listserv by MNEA Legislative Director, Otto Fajen
- MACCE Updates
The Missouri Advisory Council of the Certification for Educators met on Monday, April 8, in Jefferson City, Missouri. The Council discussed a variety of topics including a review of updated rules for certification in select content areas (literacy, computer science, and science), alternative programs in Missouri for Educator certification, recent legislative updates, and data on comprehensively trained educators in the state. The Council set their meeting dates for next year as well–September 8, December 1 (Virtual), February 2 (Virtual), and April 13.
MNEA Members on MACCE are: Dr. Alexander Tai (CMNEA), Francine Hill (FH-NEA), Lisa Baldwin (NKC-NEA), Paul Aubrey (NKC-NEA), Cary Sikes (SNEA), and Leah Crawford (Ladue NEA). Please reach out to these individuals if you have questions about MACCE activity.
MNEA believes that every student and educator deserves the best experience possible in schools. That is why we are the only educational organization that is 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.
The next meeting of the Missouri State Board of Education will be held on April 8, 2025 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.