Missouri Bill Proposes Schools to be Graded
By: Alisha Culbertson
Updated: March 1, 2013
CARL JUNCTION, MO.---- The Missouri House passes a bill so schools will start receiving grades based on how well they perform on state standards. The bill is a lot like a program Missouri schools already have in place, but with this bill, public schools will be graded on an "A" through "F" scale.
The report cards could indicate the state standards and how the school scored. If the bill is approved by the governor, grades will be given out for student achievements, students growth, achievement gap, and college-and-career readiness. A corresponding letter grade, "A" through "F," would be applied for each.
Carl Junction Assistant Superintendent Kathy Tackett says the bill is impractical because a program like this is already in place. "It's lots of different pieces of criteria. Including student test scores, but also subgroup achievement and college-and-career-ready. Are our students going to college or going to work and able to be valid members of society?"
It's called the Missouri School Improvement Program, or MSIP5. A plan of action is already in place if schools score poorly.
"We already have measures in place in the State of Missouri to take care of school districts that are not being proficient and advancing," says Tackett.
School administrators say they welcome more communication between schools and parents, but they believe the grades could be misleading.
"It's like saying to a student that makes straight A's, 'Oh, but you're attending a school that makes a C, so really, you're not doing that well.' So, I don't think it's motivation for kids and I don't think it's informational to parents," says Tackett.
School administers say no matter what, they are willing to take constructive criticism.
"Always try to get better no matter what. We don't ever think we're good enough. We think we do a great job in what we do, but we always want to continue to improve," says Tackett.
If the law does pass, education officials will have to produce a report card for public schools and for charter schools that have classes beyond 2nd grade. This new type of school grading is already active in 17 other states.
The report cards could indicate the state standards and how the school scored. If the bill is approved by the governor, grades will be given out for student achievements, students growth, achievement gap, and college-and-career readiness. A corresponding letter grade, "A" through "F," would be applied for each.
Carl Junction Assistant Superintendent Kathy Tackett says the bill is impractical because a program like this is already in place. "It's lots of different pieces of criteria. Including student test scores, but also subgroup achievement and college-and-career-ready. Are our students going to college or going to work and able to be valid members of society?"
It's called the Missouri School Improvement Program, or MSIP5. A plan of action is already in place if schools score poorly.
"We already have measures in place in the State of Missouri to take care of school districts that are not being proficient and advancing," says Tackett.
School administrators say they welcome more communication between schools and parents, but they believe the grades could be misleading.
"It's like saying to a student that makes straight A's, 'Oh, but you're attending a school that makes a C, so really, you're not doing that well.' So, I don't think it's motivation for kids and I don't think it's informational to parents," says Tackett.
School administers say no matter what, they are willing to take constructive criticism.
"Always try to get better no matter what. We don't ever think we're good enough. We think we do a great job in what we do, but we always want to continue to improve," says Tackett.
If the law does pass, education officials will have to produce a report card for public schools and for charter schools that have classes beyond 2nd grade. This new type of school grading is already active in 17 other states.
