The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) wants to create a new program designed to shape high school students into future teachers. It is requesting $200,000 dollars in its FY2022 state budget to launch the “Grow Your Own” program. During a state Board of Education meeting, DESE Chief Budget Officer Jennifer Jordan says […]
Tag: districts
More than $9 million in grants approved for six Missouri school districts to provide protection against tornados
The State Emergency Management Agency announced more than $9 million in grant funding has been approved to build tornado safe rooms in six Missouri school districts. The federal grants for school districts in Dunklin, Henry, Ozark, Shannon, Texas, and Wright counties will pay for 90 percent of the cost of the safe rooms, which are […]
Audio: Missouri Board of Education has lengthy discussion about the state of charter schools
Missouri has had 28 charter schools close since 2005, mostly due to poor performance. Charter schools are funded through a mix of state and private dollars and operate independently of traditional public schools. During a Missouri Board of Education meeting, member Carol Hallquist of Kansas City says a group of urban leaders told her the […]
Missouri awarded $18 million Literacy Development Grant
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education was one of 11 states to receive a grant from the U.S. Department of Education for its Comprehensive Literacy State Development program. The $18 million grant will be distributed over five years, allowing the state to advance literacy skills for children from birth through Grade 12. “Literacy […]
Missouri Education Department proposes $8.5 billion FY2022 budget
The Missouri Board of Education has voted today in favor of the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE) $8.5 billion proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning next July. The plan is a slim increase over the current budget year – about $26.8 million. “FY22 almost certainly will be a challenging revenue year, […]
Missouri Board of Education to decide whether to accelerate MOCAP enrollment decisions
The state Board of Education is expected to vote today on proposed changes to the Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program, or MOCAP. The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) received hundreds of public comments about the proposal. The part that has garnered the most attention deals with the time it takes […]
National Education Association wants database of COVID-19 exposures in schools
The Missouri National Education Association says the state should make a centralized system for the public to see information about COVID-19 exposures in K-12 and higher education schools. It has sent a letter to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education calling on the agency to create one that would “regularly publish” the information and protect […]
Audio: Northern Missouri congressman focusing on navigation and flood control
A congressman who represents northern Missouri describes the Port of St. Joseph as a major economic engine, saying farmers up and down the Missouri River depend on it to get grain to market. U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, met separately last week with both Missouri Farm Bureau and the Coalition to Protect the Missouri River […]
Missouri court says redistricting plan’s summary language has ‘major problems’
The Missouri Court of Appeals says part of the summary language for the Amendment 3 November ballot measure has “major problems” and needs new wording. In a written court decision Monday, the three-judge panel says the description, written by the Republican-controlled Legislature, “fails to acknowledge” what the amendment would do, which is to “substantially modify, and reorder […]
Missouri Board of Education President pleased with school preparation
Many Missouri schools have kicked off fall classes and others will soon start. Missouri Board of Education President Charlie Shields says board members have been impressed with the plans schools have made to reopen this fall amid a pandemic. “The thing that we have been impressed with is the local schools, the school boards, and […]
Trenton R-9 School District and Pleasant View R-6 report uptick in student enrollments
Classes began Wednesday, August 26th for more area school districts. Trenton R-9 reports an opening day enrollment of 1,093 in kindergarten through 12th grade, which is up by 24 from last year’s first day. One thousand thirty-two students are attending in person. Sixty-one are attending classes virtually, which is about five and a half percent […]
Invitation extended to public for prayer event on Sunday evening
With the academic school year starting next week for many districts, an invitation has been made to pray for our schools. Events are scheduled for 7 o’clock this Sunday night, August 23rd at the flag pole of any Grundy County school. A spokesman noted local pastors from the community will be leading prayers for the […]
Missouri panel to request temporary removal of districts serving as MOCAP gatekeeper
The Missouri Legislature’s Joint Committee on Education is drafting a letter to send to Gov. Mike Parson to request temporary removal of school districts serving as the gatekeeper of Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program, or MOCAP. Due to COVID-19, more families are choosing to move their kids to virtual learning. During a committee […]
Audio: Attorney General William Barr announces updates on Operation Legend at press conference in Kansas City
At a press conference in Kansas City, Missouri, Attorney General William P. Barr announced updates on Operation Legend. You can listen to the full press conference in the audio clip below, which runs approximately thirty-three minutes. “Operation LeGend is working,” said U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison in introducing Attorney General Barr. “In just four […]
Mosaic Life Care Foundation approvers “EmPowerU program” to be free of charge over next five years
The Mosaic Life Care Foundation Board of Trustees approved a change in the emPowerU fee structure for the next five years. EmPowerU educational programming will be offered free of charge through the next five years for school districts in the Foundation’s 31 county service region in northwest Missouri and adjacent counties in Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa. Foundation […]
Judge strikes down Cleaner Missouri ballot summary; state moves quickly to seek appeal
Cole County Judge Pat Joyce has ordered the ballot summary in a Cleaner Missouri legislative redistricting plan must change. In a judgment issued Monday, Joyce says the Amendment 3 ballot description is “misleading, unfair, and insufficient” and therefore in violation of state law. The Republican-dominated Missouri Legislature passed the proposed Constitutional amendment, SJR38, this year, […]
Missouri Board of Education to consider proposal intended to boost available substitute teachers
Missouri is in the market for more K-12 substitute teachers during the COVID-19 time. The level of need varies around the state depending on the district, grade, subject, and region. According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the number of candidates preparing to become full-time teachers has been declining steadily over […]
Audio: Bright Futures to hold “Back-to-School” event today
Distribution of backpacks and school supplies is just one activity planned for Thursday, August 13 when Bright Futures Trenton’s Grundy County holds a Back-to-School Event. Bright Futures Trenton Co-coordinator Lynn Griffin says backpacks and supplies for Trenton R-9 students will be given out in the First Christian Church Activity Center from noon until 6 o’clock. […]
Green Hills Regional Planning Commission to receive $400K CARES Act grant
The Green Hills Regional Planning Commission in Trenton will receive a $400,000 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant from the Economic Development Administration. The grant will help the commission respond to the Coronavirus pandemic by supporting business owners and community partners to ensure economic recovery. Congressman Sam Graves of Missouri applauded the announcement of Recovery Assistance […]