Program October 2014 Lessons Learned: Missouri’s Schools

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Lessons Learned:
Challenges & Opportunities for Missouri’s Schools

Speaker: Dr. Chris L. Nicastro, Missouri Commissioner of Education

A Missouri Supreme Court ruling in June 2013 launched sweeping and confusing changes in schools and communities throughout the St. Louis area. The decision, which allowed students to transfer out of the unaccredited Riverview Gardens and Normandy school districts, raised many questions, some of which still remain unanswered. As Missouri’s education commissioner, Chris Nicastro was in the eye of the storm that broke shortly before the school year began. She gave us an eye-witness account of what happened then and how the unaccredited districts are now responding to the challenge of becoming accredited.

A state-appointed board assumed control of the Normandy district, now called the Normandy School Collaborative, in July 2014. Nicastro explained that the failing districts are required to pay for their students’ tuition and transportation to accredited districts. They must pay these costs while at the same time trying to attain accredited status and also serve the students who remain in the district. “The stakes are high because the current program is unsustainable,” Nicastro said. The state legislature has failed to act to resolve the districts’ dilemma, and Nicastro couldn’t predict how 4,000 Normandy students will be accommodated if Normandy runs out of money, since most surrounding districts are full. However, the collaborative is taking steps to raise its accreditation status by supporting teachers, a third of whom are new. It has provided special training in math, science, and English, as well as classroom management. New systems for building and personnel management are in place, as well as new curricula and technology, she said.

Missouri’s Department of Education is committed to raising the performance of all districts in addition to the three unaccredited ones (Kansas City was also unaccredited). It has adopted “Top 10 by 20,” a program to make Missouri a top-ten state for education by 2020. Goals include ensuring that every high school graduate is college or career ready; that early childhood education prepares every kindergartener for school, and that Missouri prepares effective teachers. See the department’s website at dese.mo.gov for more information.

stems for building and personnel management are in place, as well as new curricula and technology, she said.

Missouri’s Department of Education is committed to raising the performance of all districts in addition to the three unaccredited ones (Kansas City was also unaccredited). It has adopted “Top 10 by 20,” a program to make Missouri a top-ten state for education by 2020. Goals include ensuring that every high school graduate is college or career ready; that early childhood education prepares every kindergartener for school, and that Missouri prepares effective teachers. See the department’s website at dese.mo.gov for more information.