The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has submitted a proposed A–F framework for grading the state’s public schools and districts to the governor's office.
The proposal follows an executive order signed in January by Gov. Mike Kehoe, which directs state education officials to create annual letter-grade report cards that reflect student outcomes.
Under the proposed system, the state will generate yearly grade cards for traditional school districts, individual school buildings and charter schools. State education officials emphasized that the new letter grades will add to Missouri's existing accountability tools rather than replace them.
"The goal for the A–F school grading framework is to provide families and communities with a simple, comparable and rigorous picture of school performance," said Dr. Stacey Preis, interim commissioner of education.
For kindergarten through eighth-grade buildings, the proposed letter grades will factor in student academic achievement, value-added growth and progress toward proficiency in English language arts, literacy, mathematics and science.
High school grades will measure academic achievement and value-added growth in English language arts, mathematics and science. They will also factor in the school's four-year graduation rate and "Success Ready Graduate" measures, which track career and college readiness.
Kehoe expressed support for the newly developed framework, noting that the goal is to shift focus toward student outcomes rather than administrative processes.
"Parents deserve clear, easy-to-understand information about how schools are performing so they can make the best decisions for their children," Kehoe said. "The A–F framework is about bringing greater transparency and accountability to Missouri's education system."
State officials plan to present the proposal to the State Board of Education in August. The framework remains subject to change pending any revisions requested by the governor's office during the review process.
The full 24-page proposal is available online through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website.
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