The Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) is the mechanism used by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for making recommendations for accrediting public school districts in Missouri. The process of accrediting school districts is mandated by state law and by State Board of Education regulation.
Recommendations regarding accreditation status are presented to the State Board of Education for its approval.
Staff members (including the eleven Area Supervisors) provide technical assistance on the MSIP process to district personnel individually and through training sessions.
The latest iteration of the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP 6) is focused on continuous improvement for all schools, the preparation of each student for life beyond high school and promoting practices that lead to healthy school systems. MSIP 6 will take a closer look at what districts are doing to implement effective practices and sustain improvements, while increasing the focus on individual student growth.
The Department believes high expectations, a clear vision and a few very focused, high impact goals will be critical to drive the improvement efforts necessary to bring about positive results.
The Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) APR provides local education agency (LEA) and building-level data for stakeholders. Beginning in 2024, the Department will also generate an APR Classification Composite Score each year, which averages three years of APR data. These reports serve as the primary basis for the accreditation classification of school districts. They are also used by charter sponsors to inform renewal decisions.
APR data can be viewed in two ways:
Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024, 1pm-2pm
Topic: Dr. Eric Parsons Growth Model Presentation
During this session, Dr. Eric Parsons, Associate Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Missouri – Columbia, provides a detailed description of the Missouri Growth Model. He explains what the Missouri Growth Model is, what it calculates, and how the number generated in the APR can be used to inform decision making.
Tuesday, March 12th, 2024, 1pm - 2pm
Topic: Data Collection Process and Review
This session is lead by two members of the MSIP management team from the Office of Quality Schools: Improvement and Accountability Data Manager Konnie Koenigsfeld, and Improvement and Accountability Manager Stuart Smith. Together they will go over the data submission calendar, where and how to submit data, and review the appeals process.
Tuesday, April 9th, 2024, 1pm - 2pm
Topic: Dr. Eric Parsons Growth Model Presentation
This will be a repeat of the February session for those who were unable to attend. During this session, Dr. Eric Parsons, Associate Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Missouri – Columbia, will provide a detailed description of the Missouri Growth Model. He will explain what the Missouri Growth Model is, what it calculates, and how the number generated in the APR can be used to inform decision making. There will be a brief Q&A following the presentation. Click here to join.
Tuesday, May 7th, 2024, 1pm - 2pm
Improvement and Accountability Data Manager Konnie Koenigsfeld, and Improvement and Accountability Manager Stuart Smith from the Office of Quality Schools will be back at it to review all data reports created by DESE and what to do with data once reports are published. Click here to join.
Thursday, June 6th, 2024, 1pm - 2pm
Topic: Missouri Growth Model and APR Review
This session will be hosted by multiple members of the Office of Quality Schools and will serve as an overview of both the Missouri Growth Model and the Annual Performance Report. Click here to join.
MO DVT is a web-based application that offers easy-to-use reports and analysis on academic performance, including achievement and growth data aggregated by subject, year, and grade. See the introductory video to learn more.
MO DVT will be available to Missouri educators on February 9, 2024.
MO DVT Training Sessions for Missouri Educators
February 15, 2024, 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. – live web session
June 17 – 20, 2024
Upcoming in-person trainings:
District Assurance Checklist
Districts may use the PDF version of the checklist for reference.
As part of the MSIP 6 process, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, in collaboration with the Institute for Public Policy (IPP), has developed a climate and culture survey for use by local education agencies (LEAs). The surveys are provided for LEAs to review the survey content to determine whether to use the survey or to purchase a survey for use.
The Missouri School Improvement Program has the responsibility of reviewing and accrediting the public school districts in Missouri. The process of accrediting school districts is mandated by state law and by State Board of Education regulation.
The Department reviews each district’s accreditation status and the APR supporting data to identify trends and status in performance outcomes. Other considerations include Comprehensive School Improvement Plans, previous Department MSIP findings, financial status, compliance with regulations and statutes, and superintendent certification. A district’s accreditation classification remains intact until the State Board of Education rules otherwise.
Recommendations regarding accreditation status are presented to the State Board of Education for approval.
The Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) used survey data from students, parents, and staff in previous cycles to help evaluate educational processes in districts. Although these surveys are no longer used as part of the MSIP review process, a district may contact the Office of Social and Economic Data Analysis (OSEDA) at (573) 882-5428 if they desire to utilize surveys to evaluate educational processes in their respective districts.
Students in Missouri schools may be provided the opportunity to earn both high school and college credit through dual credit or dual enrollment. Dual Credit classes are taught by high school teachers that have been approved by a college or university to be adjunct professors and are usually taught at the high school or in the district. Dual enrollment classes are taught by college or university professors, and the school district has arranged to award high school credit for the classes. Dual enrollment classes are often taught at the college/university site.
| Dual Credit | Dual Enrollment | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Instructor: | A high school teacher must be approved to be an adjunct professor by the appropriate college or university. The teacher must meet DESE certification requirements and the Coordinating Board for Higher Education’s Requirements. | Instructor: | College/University professor. The teacher is qualified under Higher Education guidelines, but may not be under DESE certification requirements. |
| Agreement: | A written agreement must be in place between the college/university and school district. | Agreement: | A written agreement must be in place between the college/university and the school district. |
| Course Fees: | Course fees are determined by the agreement between the school district and the college/university. | Course Fees: | Course fees are determined by the agreement between the school district and the college/university. |
| Curriculum: | Set by the college/university. | Curriculum: | Set by the college/university. |
| Textbooks: | Determined by the college/university. | Textbooks: | Determined by the college/university. |
| Equating Credit: | Typical conversion as noted in the Graduation Requirements for Students in MO Public Schools is: one unit of high school credit for a five hour college class; ½ unit of high school credit for a three hour college class; ¼ unit of credit for a two hour college class. | Equating Credit: | Typical conversion as noted in the Graduation Requirements for Students in MO Public Schools is: one unit of high school credit for a five hour college class; ½ unit of high school credit for a three hour college class; ¼ unit of credit for a two hour college class. |
| Attendance: | Students enrolled in dual credit courses may be counted in attendance at the high school for state aid purposes via MOSIS/Core Data as long as the 1.0 ADA is not exceeded. | Attendance: | Attendance for students participating in dual enrollment classes for state aid purposes will be dependent on the agreement between the school district and the college/university. The district must follow all state attendance reporting guidelines and must not exceed the 1.0 ADA (Please refer to the guidelines for dual enrollment for state aid purposes listed in the Graduation Requirements for Students in Missouri Public Schools). |
| MSIP6 APR Inclusion: | Yes – See Comprehensive Guide to the Missouri School Improvement Program for the details. | MSIP6 APR Inclusion: | Yes – See Comprehensive Guide to the Missouri School Improvement Program for the details. |
| Core Data/MOSIS Reporting: | List the dual credit site as district since the instructor is your employee. Remember that the Course Assignment File must have a match in the Educator School File. | Core Data/MOSIS Reporting: | List the dual credit site as the college since the instructor is not your employee. This is the only record that will not have a match in the Educator School File. |
Embedded credit is an alternative method for granting credit in which a school district chooses to embed competencies from one subject into another class and award credit to students for both the embedded content and the other subject. The embedded credit content must be closely aligned to the Missouri Learning Standards and a plan for determining competency for both subjects must be in place. The instructor must have appropriate certification in both content areas.
For additional information, please contact School Improvement at 573-751-4426.
References: Graduation Requirements for Students in Missouri Public Schools—Variances to the State Minimum Graduation Requirements and the Core Data and Missouri Student Information System Reference Manual, Exhibit 14A—Embedded Credit and Team Teaching
The School Flex Program (Section 160.539 RSMo) affords schools the opportunity to offer an alternative delivery system for students in grades 11 and 12, who have been identified by their high school principal, parents, or guardians, as potentially benefiting from an alternative delivery system in order to pursue a timely graduation. Participants in this program must attend school for at least two instructional hours per day and be earning credit in classes needed for graduation, maintain a 95% attendance rate, and avoid suspension or expulsion. In addition, there must be evidence that participants are enrolled and attending college or career technical programs and/or proof of employment. All components of the plan must align to the student’s Individual Career Academic Plan (formerly known as a Personal Plan of Study), which has been developed by the school district with the student.
This program does not require the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to approve prior to implementation. Eligible students participating in the School Flex Program shall be considered full-time students of the school district or charter LEA and shall be counted in the school’s average daily attendance for state aid purposes.
For additional questions or information, please contact School Improvement, 573-751-4426.
Staff members (including the Area Supervisors) provide technical assistance on the MSIP process to district personnel individually and through training sessions.
