Missouri DESE

Missouri Teacher of the Year nominations close April 14! 🍎 Know a teacher who makes a difference every day? Take a few minutes to nominate them today: ow.ly/R1li50YBbSM #DESETeacherOfTheYear #WhatWeDoMatters

🎓 The Missouri Career Development and Teacher Excellence Plan (Career Ladder Program) provides voluntary performance pay matching to school districts. This funding helps support salary supplements for teaching staff that take on additional responsibilities and voluntary efforts. If your district is interested in this program for the 2026-26 school please submit your application between April 1st – 30th, 2026. 🔗 For additional information on the Career Ladder Program and how to apply please review the Career Ladder Program Guidance: ow.ly/1wQS50YBv0q

📢 NEWS RELEASE: The Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force (Task Force) met Monday to continue its work under Executive Order 25-14, focusing on updating the state’s K-12 school funding model. 🔗 Read the full news release here: ow.ly/ebws50YBvbz 📩 Subscribe to receive future news releases here: ow.ly/ZXbx50YBvbv

📣 You’re Invited: OOC Planning Sessions! Join DESE for upcoming Office of Childhood (OOC) Planning Sessions — your voice matters as we shape the future of early childhood initiatives across Missouri. We’re bringing together partners, providers, and community stakeholders for both virtual and in-person listening sessions. 🗓️Register for Virtual Sessions (by region) below: - April 9 (NC) | 1–2 p.m. 🔗: ow.ly/XZFL50YybH6 - April 15 (SC) | 9–10 a.m. 🔗: ow.ly/3uE650YybH8 - April 15 (STL) | 12–1 p.m. 🔗: ow.ly/mvbG50YybH5 - April 17 (SW) | 11 AM–12 p.m. 🔗: ow.ly/LCLE50YybHa - April 21 (NE) | 2–3 p.m. 🔗: ow.ly/xJgU50YybH7 Attend In-Person Sessions: - April 1 (SC) | 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. | United Way of Central Missouri, 205 Alameda Dr., Jefferson City - April 14 (SW) | 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. | United Way Care Partner, 320 E 4th St., Joplin - April 27 (STL) | 6 - 7 p.m. | United for Children, 5501 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis - April 28 (SE) | 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. | Early Learning Collaborative, 209 West College St., Farmington

Updated Certification Call Center Hours We’re making improvements based on feedback from Missouri educators to better serve you. Starting April 15, 2026, our hours will be: → Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. → Tuesday & Thursday: Reviewing and processing applications (email support available) These new hours will allow for dedicated time answering calls, processing applications, and issuing certificates — so you get faster, more efficient support. For assistance anytime during the week, contact certification@dese.mo.gov.

Chrissy Bashore (Coordinator of School Counseling), Melissa Head (Director of School Counseling), and Geoff Heckmann (Platte County High School Counselor & Coordinator of Community Partnerships for MSCA) recently presented at the MOASSP 53rd Annual Spring Conference. 🎤 Their session, “What a Comprehensive School Counseling Program Can Do for YOU and Your Students,” highlighted the impact strong counseling programs have on student success. 🎓 Thank you to MOASSP for the opportunity to connect and support school leaders across the state. When we work together, everyone wins. 🤝

The Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force is reviewing final working group progress and discussing advancing updates to the state’s funding formula in today's meeting. Follow along at vimeo.com/event/5234089

Last chance this month to recognize an amazing Missouri teacher! 🍎 Nominate them for Missouri Teacher of the Year today: ow.ly/LIOX50YmCAs Students, parents & community members can all participate!

🙌 Shoutout to Van-Far Elementary for bringing families together through reading! Through their "One School, One Book" initiative, Principal Brian Hummel, Supplemental Reading Teacher Sara Jensen, and many other educators are helping bring stories to life – providing every student with a copy of the book, sharing recorded readings, and encouraging families to read and talk together each night. 📚 #WhatWeDoMatters

🎉 Congratulations to these early learning programs for achieving the Exhibiting High Quality designation through DESE! 🌟 Garfield Elementary Early Learning, KCPS 🌟 Jefferson College Early Childhood Center 🌟 Kirksville R-III Early Childhood Learning Center 🌟 Ozarks Technical Community College Nursery Your commitment to excellence is making a lasting impact on children, families, and communities. Keep up the amazing work! 👏

Join Missouri in celebrating National AI Literacy Day tomorrow, March 27 💡 It’s an opportunity for students, families, and educators to explore what AI is and how we can prepare learners for an AI-driven future. Let’s build the knowledge and skills needed for what’s ahead 🤖 🔗 Learn more: ow.ly/NrmM50YyGXs

📢 NEWS RELEASE: The State Board of Education approved the accredited status of educator preparation providers during its Tuesday meeting. DESE also provided updates on through-year assessments. 🔗:ow.ly/fPgu50Yzgqm 📩 Subscribe to receive future news releases here: ow.ly/5uEf50Yzgqo

Updated Certification Call Center Hours We’re making improvements based on feedback from Missouri educators to better serve you. Starting April 15, 2026, our hours will be: → Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. → Tuesday & Thursday: Reviewing and processing applications (email support available) These new hours will allow for dedicated time answering calls, processing applications, and issuing certificates — so you get faster, more efficient support. For assistance anytime during the week, contact certification@dese.mo.gov.

That concludes today's #MoSBOE meeting. The board has now move into the closed session.

The #MoSBOE will hear licensure items before concluding the meeting and moving into the closed session.

The #MoSBOE is currently discussing the update on the Success-Ready Student Assessment Pilot.

📣 You’re Invited: OOC Planning Sessions! Join DESE for upcoming Office of Childhood (OOC) Planning Sessions — your voice matters as we shape the future of early childhood initiatives across Missouri. We’re bringing together partners, providers, and community stakeholders for both virtual and in-person listening sessions. 🗓️Register for Virtual Sessions (by region) below: - March 26 (SE) | 12–1 p.m. 🔗: ow.ly/natB50YybFt - March 30 (NW) | 10–11 a.m. 🔗: ow.ly/mcPy50YybFu - April 9 (NC) | 1–2 p.m. 🔗: ow.ly/yWk750YybFn - April 15 (SC) | 9–10 a.m. 🔗: ow.ly/FV1h50YybFr - April 15 (STL) | 12–1 p.m. 🔗: ow.ly/HVHr50YybFq - April 17 (SW) | 11 AM–12 p.m. 🔗: ow.ly/V0OW50YybFs - April 21 (NE) | 2–3 p.m. 🔗: ow.ly/vmA850YybFp Attend In-Person Sessions: - April 3 (SC) | 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. | United Way of Central Missouri, 205 Alameda Dr., Jefferson City - April 14 (SW) | 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. | United Way Care Partner, 320 E 4th St., Joplin - April 27 (STL) | 6 - 7 p.m. | United for Children, 5501 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis - April 28 (SE) | 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. | Early Learning Collaborative, 209 West College St., Farmington

The #MoSBOE back from lunch and is currently discussing the Commissioner's evaluation tool on the agenda.