Top Takeaways: MNEA State Board Report (January 2026)

The State Board of Education (SBOE) met on January 13, 2026, in Jefferson City.

Commissioner's Report
By the time of the meeting, Commissioner Karla Eslinger reported that federal childcare funding had been released. Eslinger highlighted efforts by the Office of Administration to reduce data redundancy at all state offices including DESE via AI tools. Further, Eslinger announced DESE's new website will launch in February.

Strategic Planning
The Board reviewed progress on the strategic plan's 10 workgroups while highlighting the new workgroup and pillar of the strategic plan-"Transforming Schools". This group is focusing on low-performing schools and heightened execution of MSIP 6 with individualized support from DESE for struggling schools. The draft of the strategic plans is expected to be presented to the board by March with final roadmaps by April.

Charter Sponsor Evaluations

• St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS): Evaluated for its sponsorship of Confluence Academy. While SLPS met all standards, board members expressed concern over declining math and ELA scores, noting that SLPS has placed the school on a remedial plan.
• Washington University:Evaluated for its sponsorship of KIPP. Despite meeting standards, the Board noted performance metrics were only slightly above SLPS levels and urged more rigorous academic oversight.

Missouri NEA believes that "Charter schools serve students and the public interest when they are authorized and held accountable by the locally elected school board. Charter schools should be authorized or expanded only after a district has assessed the impact of the proposed charter school on local public school resources, programs and services" (A-6).

District Classification under MSIP 6
While the board received an overview of APR scores before the winter break, it was during the January meeting that the board acted on the classification of school districts based on the APR results calculated under MSIP 6. The Board approved updating Osborn R-O from provisionally accredited to accredited.

In an unexpected move, St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS)was reclassified to "provisionally accredited" despite having successfully met all measures needed for full accreditation. Board member Kerry Casey made the motion to downgrade their accreditation, citing "significant mismanagement," including financial instability, missed audit report submissions, transportation failures, and high staff turnover, despite some recent improvements in their APR scores.

"The Association further believes effective and fair school accountability systems must... Include a broad array of school quality indicators... [and] Produce interpretable and actionable results" (A-4).

Recovery High Schools
Recovery High Schools, established in SB 681(2022), just made significant progress to becoming a reality for Missourians. The Board approved three Recovery High Schools: Cape Girardeau, VIVO Kansas City, and VIVO St. Louis. Discussion focused on the high cost-per-student (approximately $100k initially but then reduced overtime after initial start-up costs) and long-term sustainability using opioid settlement funds.

"The Association strongly supports... Creation and improvement of drug prevention, treatment and recovery programs, including recovery high schools" (C-30).

Legislative Update
Chief of Governmental Relations Perry Gorell reported that over 200 education-related bills have been filed. Key topics include "mini-omnibus" bills covering school choice and charter schools, and literacy refinements.

For frequent, reliable, and comprehensive legislative updates about legislation that impacts education in the state, sign up for Otto Fajen's, MNEA Director of Legislative Policy, Legislative Update. This update is delivered daily to emails during the Missouri legislative session.

School Calendar Exemptions
Several districts (Monett, Stockton, Nixa) requested flexibility to start school earlier than the statutory 14-day window before Labor Day (171.031, RSMo). Districts argued the current law impedes innovative professional learning and local control. The State Board only had a discussion on this item and will vote on the flexibility request in February 2026.

Governor Kehoe Signs A-F School Grade Card System in Executive Order 26-01
Issued on January 13, 2026 as a part of the Governor's State of the State address, Executive Order 26-01that requests "The State Board of Education…to direct DESE to develop, for the Board's consideration and adoption, an annual A-F school and district grading framework…" It is important to note that this EO is a requestof the State Board of Education and not a mandate, as the governor does not have legal authority to mandate this gradecard. Although it is just a request, it is important to note that the current State Board of Education will likely fulfill the Governor's request, as the board has inquired about this type of system for Missouri Accountability programs (MSIP).
An overview of the Governor's request is as follows:

• Purpose: To provide families with "clear and accessible information" regarding academic performance and growth. This grade card will only reflect student outcomes(achievement and growth scores), so it will not take into consideration all components of the APR that are outlined in MSIP.
• Grading Scale: Schools and districts will receive a rating (A-F) based on a 0-100 point scale. An "A" represents excellent outcomes, while an "F" denotes a failure to produce adequate outcomes.
• Key Metrics: For K-8, ratings rely heavily on growth in ELA, math, and science. High schools include these, plus a "Success Ready Graduate" measure and four-year graduation rates.
• Accountability: Any school failing to test at least 95% of its students will automatically have its rating lowered by one letter grade.
• Perception of "Rigor": Once 65% of all schools in the state earn an A or B, the threshold for earning letter grades increases by "five percentage points in the subsequent school year." The EO cites the rationale for moving the goal post is "to prevent stagnation and ensure continued improvement in student outcomes."
• Timeline: DESE must submit an implementation plan by June 30, 2026, with annual grade cards to be published on school websites by September 30 each year.

This new Executive Order and the A-F Rating Scale, which is opposed by much research and evidence, is an action that Missouri NEA opposes. "The Missouri NEA supports effective and fair school accountability systems. The Association believes that these systems must promote student excellence and growth that reflect meaningful, high-quality learning and ensure that the best teaching practices are supported and utilized" (A-4).

Educator Input Needed!

‼️ We. Still. Need. You. ‼️

I cannot stress enough how much this workgroup needs practicing educators' voices because there is virtually none. Please take a few minutes to fill out this short survey to give the DESE workgroup insights as to what a campaign to elevate the profession should look like.

‼️New Deadline: Please fill out the following questions to support this work by January 31, 2026 ‼️

This DESE workgroup believes that:

• Teachers shape lives beyond the classroom
• Teachers build a lasting legacy
• Teachers lead, inspire, & grow others

The workgroup is called the Teach Task Force - a collaborative effort between the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and several education partners across Missouri. Through a campaign to spread the joy and lasting impact of the teaching profession, this group hopes to: Increase the number of individuals interested in becoming a teacher; raise the number of participants in Educator Preparation Programs (EPP); and raise teaching profession retention rates.

The group would love the practicing Educator Perspective as they build this campaign.

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MNEA believes that every student and educator deserves the best experience possible in schools. That is why we are the only educational organization that is consistently present at every meeting of DESE, the state board of education, and the Missouri Legislature. We are your eyes and ears where decisions are being made about your schools.

The next meeting of the Missouri State Board of Education will be held on February 10, 2026, in Jefferson City, Missouri. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Samantha Hayes at 800-392-0236 or [email protected]