Jefferson City News

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has published the Annual Performance Reports (APRs) for the 2022-23 academic year. These reports assess the progress of local education agencies (LEAs) and their individual schools in meeting the Standards and Indicators outlined in the sixth version of the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP 6).

Several points are noteworthy when analyzing the 2023 APR data:

Data from this year can only be compared to that from 2022, as it was also released under MSIP 6, not with previous versions.

The distribution of APR scores across the state in 2023 mirrors those from 2022.

Overall LEA scores align with statewide assessment results reported in August 2023, reflecting national trends in academic performance.

There is a continued need for interventions to address learning gaps.

Chronic absenteeism remains an issue, having risen most significantly among lower-performing student groups since the pandemic.

Continuous improvement plans indicate that LEAs acknowledge planning's critical role in enhancing instruction and student outcomes.

Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven stated, “It is our hope that schools can use these data — along with local assessments and other key data points — to inform their continuous school improvement plans and to use this unique period of time in education to reimagine how we can best serve students while continuing to focus on the basics such as reading and math.” She emphasized a statewide focus on improving teacher recruitment and retention, addressing chronic absenteeism, and advancing early learning and literacy efforts.

MSIP serves as Missouri's framework for reviewing and accrediting/classifying LEAs. It sets expectations for educational practices and student achievements with the aim of ensuring every student graduates prepared for college, career, or life.

The current report is the second issued under MSIP 6. It will play a role in accreditation decisions next year once three years' worth of data are available following the release of the 2024 APR.

For those interested in accessing detailed information from the 2023 APR, step-by-step instructions are provided to help users navigate various viewing options. Additional resources are accessible on the MSIP 6 webpage.