Jefferson City News

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has announced the recipients of over $2.2 million in grants from the Competency-Based Education (CBE) program. Six school districts and a collective group of local education agencies have been selected to receive funding aimed at enhancing competency-based education initiatives.

The grant recipients include Lebanon R-III, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, Pattonville R-III, Ritenour, Sedalia 200, Ste. Genevieve R-II, and a consortium of 28 local education agencies working together under the Success-Ready Students Network.

Schools applied through a competitive process for grants up to $400,000 each. The funds will support programs that allow students flexible learning opportunities to progress at their own pace by demonstrating mastery of skills and earning course credit based on proficiency rather than seat time.

“These grants provide local educators more opportunities to best meet the unique needs of their students,” said Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven. “Competency-based education programs are truly student-centered, making learning the constant in the equation, and seat time the variable — knowing some students will master certain concepts faster than others. We’re proud to work alongside these innovative educators to reimagine our approach to student success.”

The CBE grant program was established by Senate Bill 681 in 2022, which also tasked DESE with creating a task force to further develop competency-based education programs in public schools.