Support the Quality Education Act
The goal of this legislation is to improve how Missouri measures school success, makes information available to parents, and supports schools that are struggling.
Our Recommendations for the Future
Change Missouri School Performance Ratings So That At Least 90% of a School’s Rating is Based on Student Growth and Academic Achievement.
Provide a Report Card to all Public Schools – District and Charter – That Describes How the School is Performing in Student Growth, Achievement, College/Career Readiness, And Graduation Rate.
Empower Families With Actionable Information on How Their Child’s School is Doing.
Ensure There is Adequate Funding for Schools That Are Provisionally Unaccredited or Unaccredited to Develop and Implement Improvement Plans Through the School Turnaround Act.
Get Involved in the Quality Education Act Today.
Fill out the form below and stay up-to-date on the bill’s progress.
Help Your Children Reach Their Full Potential
All Missouri students deserve access to a world-class education. Although Missouri has a system to measure school success, it is not working. In the current system, 99% of Missouri’s school districts are “Fully Accredited,” yet Missouri’s student achievement levels are below the national average. In fact, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which is often referred to as "The Nation's Report Card", only 3 in 10 Missouri students and 1 in 10 Black Missouri students are reading at a proficient level. Furthermore, as the system currently stands it is difficult for families to access clear information about their local school. It is time for a better system. Your support of the Quality Education Act will ensure that Missouri measures what matters, provides clear information for families and provides support and interventions to struggling schools.
The Current State of Missouri Education
In the decade preceding the pandemic, student achievement in Missouri was declining relative to other states. The pandemic has exacerbated the situation for Missouri students. Since 2009, Missouri’s 4th grade reading proficiency level on the NAEP has dropped from 16th nationally to 35th, and Missouri’s 8th grade reading proficiency level on the NAEP has dropped from 17th nationally to 32nd.
Despite these facts, virtually all Missouri school districts receive accreditation despite many districts scoring well below state averages for student achievement and growth. Additionally, Missouri publishes school and local education agency report cards through the Missouri Comprehensive Data System, but these can be difficult to find and interpret. The Quality Education Act will measure what matters – student growth and achievement and create a clear and easy-to-understand system to communicate how all our public schools are performing.
Our mission at Quality Schools Coalition is to improve education in Missouri by advocating for a policy and regulatory environment in which public schools flourish. We are inspired each day by educators working to raise academic outcomes for all students, improve the college and career readiness of our high school graduates, and close achievement gaps based on race and income. We hope that this legislation will begin to provide a path forward for all of us to continue these pursuits.
- Dean Johnson, Quality Schools Coalition
Resources and Press
Sly James Op-Ed: Student growth, not paperwork, is what Missouri schools need to flourish
Former KC mayor and Quality Schools Coalition Board Member wrote an opinion piece in support of the Quality Education Act.
Quality Education Act Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about the Quality Education Act.
Quality Education Act Polling Memo
This memo from American Viewpoint showcases survey results from close to 800 voters and shows favor to the Quality Education Act.
Quality Education Act Framework
Find out more about how the Quality Education Act was designed.
White Paper: Measure What Matters: An Urgent Vision for Transparency in Missouri’s Measurement System
This white paper was jointly commissioned by Kansas City Action Fund (KCAF) and Quality Schools Coalition (QSC) to outline the current state of Missouri’s K-12 measurement system and a set of recommendations and opportunities to improve it.
Op-Ed: Missouri Must Measure What Matters Most in Education
This piece was featured in the Springfield News-Leader.
Missouri School Accountability: Current and Future Directions for Elementary and Middle Schools
This brief was created by The Policy Research in Missouri Education (PRiME) Center at Saint Louis University.
Advocate For Your Children
Show Your Support for the Quality Education Act in the following ways
Bring transparency to the Missouri rating and measurement system by emailing your local government. Find your legislators here.
Call
Click here to call local senator in support of the Quality Education Act.
Make Your Voice Heard
Show up in person to a local hearing and discuss your support of the Quality Education Act.