Goal #1 - All Missouri Students Will Graduate College, Career Ready

Updates from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Missouri's NCLB Flexibility Waiver Request Update

Department officials participated in a conference call March 29 with the U.S. Department of Education's (USED) Peer Review Panel, a team of external and internal staff that is evaluating Missouri's request for a flexibility waiver for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), known as No Child Left Behind. The call was scheduled by USED to allow state education officials to clarify Missouri's plans and answer questions raised by the reviewers. The next step in the process is to wait for feedback from the reviewers and the USED. Missouri hopes to gain approval of its waiver by the end of April or early May.

MAP Testing Begins

The Missouri Assessment Program's (MAP) grade-level assessment testing began April 2. Students in grades 3-8 are participating in assessments of their content knowledge and skills in communication arts and mathematics. Students in grades 5 and 8 are participating in science assessments. Results of the assessments will be provided to parents and students in late August and will be used to generate school district accountability reports in late summer.

Missouri Schools Will Pilot Technology-enhanced Items

Thirty-one high schools will be participating in a two-week pilot project beginning May 1 that will allow schools and students to try out new items that could eventually become part of the End-of-Course assessments. Advances in technology are making possible the development of a new generation of student assessment tools.

The Department is working with Questar Assessment, Inc., to develop and pilot technology-enhanced items, which will gather information to enhance understanding - statistically and psychometrically - as the state migrates to online, interactive assessments. The pilot is focused on summative assessments but has eventual application for formative exams.

Missouri Comprehensive Guidance Process and Personal Plans of Study

The MSIP Standard for Personal Plans of Study provides students with direction for their post-secondary transition to college and a career. The K-12 process of career awareness, exploration, planning and decision making is designed to help students develop meaningful education and career plans based on their interests, abilities and goals.

All students are encouraged to develop a Personal Plan of Study that supports their academic, career, and personal/social development and helps them become college and/or career ready.

In addition, the Guidance System of Support (GSOS) provides professional development for all Missouri K-12 counselors to enhance their comprehensive guidance and counseling program that includes this individual planning process. This year GSOS developed templates for the Personal Plan of Study, Programs of Study, and the Career and Educational Planning Guide, along with tools to enrich the principal/counselor relationship.

These collaborative meetings, updated templates and the use of the Missouri Connections website provide tangible results for schools and students. Missouri Connections currently has 308,135 portfolios and has seen a 13 percent increase in participation this year. For more information, contact Guidance and Counseling Services.