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The annual state budget and a tax that funds the bulk of Missouri’s Medicaid program are two things that must pass this session. And before the break, senators passed a major education bill that included priorities for both Republicans and Democrats.
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Teachers, families and students in Missouri's Independence School District are adjusting to a four-day school week this year. Superintendent Dr. Dale Herl said data shows benefits to the shorter school week, but opinions from parents and staff are mixed.
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Three Kansas City schools were surprised with $10,000 each last week from the local nonprofit BeGreat Together. The grant is intended to help teachers at historically underfunded public schools enhance the classroom experience.
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A new report found Missouri’s rural teachers are paid better only than those in Arkansas. Missouri also has one of the lowest rates of state tax revenue, meaning the burden for funding schools falls heavily on local taxpayers.
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Missouri’s state board of education decided to provide schools with optional guidelines on social-emotional learning to help them cope with worsening student behavior. Commissioners are concerned about potential political pushback to the learning standards, which have been criticized by conservatives.
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Poor classroom behavior is pushing some teachers out of the profession. The Missouri Department Elementary and Secondary Education wants to implement learning standards including self-awareness, respect and empathy.
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Riley Long, a high school teacher in the Blue Valley School District, is taking his passion for educating outside of the classroom to help others learn how to be better trans allies.
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A new poll from St. Louis University and YouGov found support for increased funding for some education initiatives but growing discontent with public schools in Missouri.
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To help solve Missouri's shortage of school staff, Gov. Mike Parson signed legislation last week that allows educators to work full-time for a district without losing their retirement benefits. The law also affects positions like bus drivers and janitors.
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Some Missouri school districts have turned to a 2016 state law that empowers them to file charges against teachers who break their employment contracts. The process can lead to the suspension of a teacher’s license. Other school districts have used the law to impose financial penalties as high as $10,000.
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Most elementary teacher preparation programs across the country and in Missouri do not adequately focus on the science of reading, according to a new review from the National Council on Teacher Quality. In fact, Missouri's programs were among the worst in the nation — with the exception of UMKC.
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Missouri pays its teachers some of the lowest salaries in the nation, and many educators are leaving the profession.