Atlanta is one of several new program sites that will be launching this summer. CAN now has eight locations across three states (Kansas and Oklahoma, in addition to Missouri). The program operates exclusively in rural Midwest communities, which are typically underserved by high-quality summer learning programs.

CAN supplements the education students receive during the school year, helping them to build confidence, develop leadership skills, and prevent summer learning loss. Stacie McVey, superintendent of Atlanta C-3 School District, saw the partnership as a great way to engage students. “This four-week July program will offer a unique opportunity for our district and community,” she said. “It is designed to enrich the educational experience of our high-performing junior high students, while also welcoming students from outside our district, including those in homeschool, private, and traditional school settings. We are excited to partner with Compass Academy Network to make this possible and to expand learning in new ways as part of our Hornet Family.”

Debra Humphreys, founder and CEO of Compass Academy Network, called the expansion “a great step forward for the program,” and noted that she looks forward to seeing its positive impact on the community. “These additional locations mean more enrichment opportunities for students, and more paid internships for college students interested in education.”

About the CAN Program

CAN’s mission is to support education in rural communities by providing free summer enrichment programs for middle school students, with continued year-round support, to foster a love of learning, promote intellectual curiosity, develop engaged citizens, create a foundation for academic success, and cultivate a strong moral compass. CAN also provides college students who are aspiring educators with paid internship opportunities working with veteran rural school teachers to create a strengthened network of inspirational rural educators who become leaders in their classrooms and communities.

The entire 4-week Compass Academy Network program is free for eligible students, including all materials, supplies, healthy lunches and snacks, and transportation to and from a central location. Upon completing the program, students also receive a $45 Walmart gift card for school supplies. School districts with 15 or more students who complete the summer session are eligible to receive a CAN Partner Grant of $5,000 for middle school needs.

To qualify, students must have a grade point average equivalent to a “B” average (3.0) or better as well as a recommendation from a current teacher or administrator. Preference is given to students whose families qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced lunch program.

Applications for Compass Academy Network’s summer programs are currently being accepted online. Space is limited, so interested students and families are encouraged to apply soon. For more information, please visit our website at www.compassacademynetwork.org.

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This legislation is a vital step towards ensuring that every child in Missouri has access to quality education tailored to their individual needs and circumstances.

One of the key provisions of SB727 is the expansion of school choice through the Missouri Empowerment Scholarships. By increasing tax credit amounts and expanding scholarship eligibility statewide, this legislation empowers families to choose the educational option that best suits their child, whether it be a public, private, or charter school. Importantly, these scholarships prioritize students from low-income households, those with special needs, and children of military personnel, ensuring that those who need support the most have access to it.

Transparency measures are included in the bill, such as requiring the State Treasurer to disclose scholarship recipients and qualified schools, ensure accountability and safeguard against misuse of public funds.

Furthermore, protections are in place to maintain the privacy of students’ personal information while promoting transparency in the allocation of educational assistance. SB727 also addresses the critical issue of teacher recruitment and retention by significantly increasing minimum teacher salaries and providing incentives for educators to work in hard-to-staff schools and subject areas.

By investing in our teachers, we not only recognize the invaluable role they play in shaping our children’s futures but also attract and retain top talent in the education sector.

Additionally, the legislation includes provisions to support early childhood education, provide resources for small schools, and safeguard homeschooling rights and religious freedoms. Homeschooling is very important to me, and we have excellent freedoms to protect for those families in Missouri.

By prioritizing the diverse needs of students and families across Missouri, SB727 lays the foundation for a more equitable and inclusive education system. A s we strive to build a brighter future for our state, investing in education must remain a top priority. SB727 represents a bold, visionary approach to improving education in Missouri, and I urge state lawmakers to join me in supporting this critical legislation.

Together, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed and thrive in school and beyond.

Congressman Mark Alford

Rep. Mark Alford (R) is the Congressman for Missouri's 4th Congressional District.

The post Opinion: School choice should be a priority for Jefferson City Republicans appeared first on The Missouri Times.

The bill, which was sponsored by Representative Brenda Shields, includes three acts that implement tax credits for taxpayers, employers and child care providers.  

“The Missouri legislature took the first step in creating additional quality, affordable, safe and reliable childcare for Missouri families. Accessibility to childcare will allow more Missourians, if they so choose, to enter Missouri’s workforce and ultimately grow Missouri’s economy. I am an optimist and I believe this legislation has a path through the senate. I believe every elected official has heard from Missouri’s families about the struggles with finding safe, affordable quality childcare so they can consistently go to work or school. This is a real issue for Missouri families and we would be remiss if we didn’t address this crisis this session,” Shields said. 

Child care has been a prominent issue in Missouri since the COVID-19 Pandemic, which caused over one third of child care facilities to close and not reopen. Mike Parson made child care a priority during his 2024 State of the State Address this past January. It was also a priority in his 2023 address.  

“This year, alongside Senator Arthur and Representative Shields, we are again proposing three new child care tax credit programs. These programs will help improve access and affordability for families seeking child care across the state of Missouri,” Parson said in his 2024 address. 

Last November, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce released a report showing that Missouri “misses an estimated $1.35 billion annually for the state’s economy, including a $280 million annual loss in tax revenue, due to childcare issues.” 

Other Missouri groups have also spoken out about lack of child care access and its effects. 

United WE, a non profit group based in Kansas City, have funded research that found that child care is largely inaccessible for many Missouri Families. According to one of their reports, 41% of Missouri counties lack accredited child care facilities.

Access is not the only issue. The same report found that even when child care is accessible, married couples at the poverty line spend 67% of their income on child care. 

“Childcare is a significant workforce development issue and barrier for Missouri women,” said Wendy Doyle, President & CEO of United WE. “Missouri women cannot reach their full economic potential when families can’t access affordable childcare, and the Missouri Childcare Tax Credits Bill is a common sense solution that puts us on the right track.”

The bill now heads to the Senate, where it will be sponsored by Senator Lauren Arthur. Last session, Arthur sponsored a similar bill that did not make it out of committee. 

 “Making childcare more affordable and accessible is a bipartisan priority for lawmakers in both chambers, and I am proud to carry the Senate version of this legislation. Rep. Shields has been great to work with, and I appreciate the important work she is doing for kids and families in our state. My hope is that the small group of Senators who have blocked this legislation in the past will put politics aside and finally do something to help the many, many families that are having a hard time affording child care,” Arthur said. 

Although the bill passed out of the House with little resistance in the vote, its path through the Senate may not be as smooth. The Senate has had a turbulent start to the 2024 legislative session that has included GOP infighting over Initiative Petition Reform, filibustering of appointments, criticism of Senate Leadership and committee positions being stripped. The future of many bills making their way through the Senate remains uncertain.

Kelton Turner

Kelton is a 2023 graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. He is a native of mid-Missouri and likes to write politics at both the state and federal levels. Kelton joined the Missouri Times in April 2022

www.themissouritimes.com

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A poll shared by the coalition shows that 80% of Missourians believe that early childhood education can help parents, children, and local businesses succeed. 

“Missourians across the demographic, political, and ideological spectrum overwhelmingly support affordable, quality childcare and early learning opportunities for Missouri children,” said Brian Schmidt, Executive Director of Kids Win Missouri. 

“This is a crisis impacting children and families, public safety, and our economy.  Significant progress has been made already and, with the support of Missourians and legislative leaders, we look forward to working to strengthen policies and investments in childcare and early education in 2024.”

The first bill filing of the 2024 legislative session saw action to support child care from both chambers. Sen. Lauren Arthur (D-Kansas City) and Rep. Brenda Shields (R-St. Joseph) filed SB 742 and HB 1488. These bills included tax incentives for businesses and individuals for charitable contributions to child care providers. To receive the incentive, businesses must provide childcare to employees. 

“Missourians across the demographic, political, and ideological spectrum overwhelmingly support affordable, quality childcare and early learning opportunities for Missouri children,” said Brian Schmidt, Executive Director of Kids Win Missouri. 

“This is a crisis impacting children and families, public safety, and our economy.  Significant progress has been made already and, with the support of Missourians and legislative leaders, we look forward to working to strengthen policies and investments in childcare and early education in 2024.”

The poll, which was done by Victory Enterprises, was conducted in early October and interviewed 600 likely general election voters. Data  showed that voters of both ends of the political spectrum believe access to quality child care can reduce crime. 

More than 90% of voters also believe having childcare options for families helps to recruit and maintain businesses while supporting the economy. 

“Missouri is facing a childcare crisis that requires us to use every tool in our toolbox to meet the moment,” said Arthur. “In addition to a significant and sustained investment from the state, we also need to make it easier for businesses to help their employees find care. Last year, our childcare tax credit bill received bipartisan support but did not make it across the finish line. This year, we need to get this bill to the governor’s desk so we can help more parents access safe, affordable, quality childcare.”

Arthur is no stranger to education. Before entering politics, she was a middle school teacher. Arthur has also sponsored past legislation relating to education and sits on the Competency-based Education Task Force committee. 

“I am excited to reintroduce the childcare tax credit bill this session,” said Shields . “I believe we have the momentum to pass this important piece of legislation that will increase our state’s capacity to provide high-quality early childhood care. This public-private partnership opportunity leverages our state’s resources for the benefit of our children, our caregivers, and our businesses.” 

Shields also taught in public education before becoming a State Representative. She also has served on the Missouri’s Coordination Board for Early Childhood Education.

The future of these bills will be decided in the upcoming 2024 session which starts in January. 

The Missouri Champion of Children is a coalition that includes child advocates, law enforcement, military, and business and healthcare leaders

The post Priority early childhood education legislation introduced appeared first on The Missouri Times.

Naturally, the problem highlighted is that fifth day. In rural communities where the 4-day plan was first popularized, it makes financial sense for most families. An extra day off school means extra hands around the family farm or business. It means less commuting time and easier scheduling for traveling school events, such as away sports games or other extra curricular competitions (where most students would be out of the classroom anyway). But for suburban communities, the scenarios are different. Many households are single-parent or have two working parents who cannot stay home with their children on a weekday. Now, a 4-day school week means paying for child care or a babysitter. 

Additionally, the argument is that a 4-day week cuts costs for the school district, but this seems marginal. If we are extending school hours for the remaining four days of the week, we’re still paying staff for essentially the same amount of time. Most building costs are a flat rate, regardless of how many days a week the building is in use. I’d have to see more data on this, but I’m not convinced we’re saving taxpayer dollars by shortening the academic week.

Teacher recruitment is another core tenant of why the district has adopted this system, which, on the surface, makes sense. We’ve seen that districts switching to a 4-day week see initial recruitment go up. However, this often comes at the cost of poaching from neighboring districts and is short-sighted logic. Soon, this motivation will have fulfilled its purpose—either because we no longer have spots to fill, or because other districts also switch to a 4-day week, and the recruiting advantage is nullified. 

Ultimately, the main advertised arguments in favor of this shortened week don’t seem to include the most important aspect of education: the students. My concern is that the long-term effects of this 4-day system will hurt students’ academic futures. It’s been reported that student test scores suffer—especially in math and language arts—in comparison to those in a traditional 5-day academic week, and that the extra time off is not often spent engaging in educationally enriching activities. I am also worried this imbalance with the 5-day work week will create an unsustainable financial burden on working parents, which will then lead to yet another government program paid for with more taxes.

My goal is not to balk at attempts to improve our schools. However, I am wary from all the feedback and research I’ve received that this plan may do more harm than good. I hope we can ensure that Independence’s students are aptly prepared for their post-graduation ambitions.

Rep. Aaron McMullen

Aaron McMullen is the state representative for House District 20 in Jackson County.

The post Opinion: Who is the 4-day school week really helping in Independence? Not students or parents. appeared first on The Missouri Times.

AFC has a proven record of advancing school choice in the electoral, legislative, and media arenas. As noted in recent NBC News reporting, AFC is “on the verge of ushering in a transformation in how large swaths of the country fund schools.” The One Million More initiative will push to make one million additional students eligible for school choice programs.

During the 2022 election cycle, AFC’s affiliated political organizations devoted $9 million toward supporting school choice candidates in the 2023 election cycle, with three-quarters of supported candidates winning their races and 40 anti-school choice incumbents targeted losing their seats.

Throughout legislative sessions, AFC has turned its focus and resources toward advocacy, working alongside allies to secure a historic number of victories. To date, a total of seven states have established massive school choice, including Arizona in 2022 and six more this year alone: Iowa, Utah, Arkansas, Florida, South Carolina, and Indiana.

The One Million More initiative will target at least half a dozen more states with digital and traditional media investments, as well as targeted advocacy efforts in key legislative districts to ensure that every possible state passes or expands school choice this year.

Statement from Tommy Schultz, CEO, the American Federation for Children:  

“This has been the most successful cycle for school choice in history – and we’re not done yet. Until every child can access the opportunities gleaned from a high-quality education, we will remain steadfast in our mission to empower families, especially lower-income families, with the freedom to choose the best K-12 education for their children. This One Million More investment over the coming weeks will ensure we do our part to cap off 2023 as a legendary year in the history of the movement for education freedom. We look forward to supporting the families, local advocates, and lawmakers fighting on the frontlines for our mission.”

The post Press Release: American Federation for Children Announces “One Million More” Campaign to Close Out 2023 Legislative Cycle appeared first on The Missouri Times.

The video itself details some of the issues Missouri is facing currently in the realm of childcare, including some alarming statistics about how some of these childcare issues are affecting the Missouri economy and workforce.

Childcare related issues have plagued the state in recent time. Last year, Rep. Betsy Fogle added an amendment to that years budget dedicated to funding childcare.  In December of 2022, CEO of United WE Wendy Doyle wrote an Op-Ed detailing the adverse affects childcare issues have had on the Missouri Economy.

“There is no better investment for our state than in our kids and no better time than now,” said Brian Schmidt, Executive Director of Kids Win Missouri. “We launched this coalition and this advertising campaign to encourage the Missouri General Assembly to make child care and early education a priority this legislative session.”

Governor Mike Parson made childcare a large talking point of his 2023 State of the State address. Parson proposed $56 million to expand pre-K programs in the state and $78 million in support to  low-income, working families to help access child care. Various legislators have also made childcare one of their main issues during the 2023 legislative session as well.

Formed in 2022, the Missouri Champion of Children Coalition includes: Kids Win Missouri, Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Children’s Trust Fund, United WE, Aligned, American Academy of Pediatrics-Missouri Chapter, Children’s Defense Fund, Council for a Strong America, and other community leaders across Missouri.

The video can be viewed here.

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The retreat is to be hosted by the Hunt Institute, an affiliate of the Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy in North Carolina.

The Hunt Institute was formed in 2001 and is named after the former governor of North Carolina, James B. Hunt. The group mainly focuses on education issues and appeals to lawmakers from various states in order to improve education related policy.

This comes at the end of a very education centered year for Missouri legislators. Education legislation was at the forefront of bills from both chambers and education issues, like curriculum content and teacher pay, also took control in many discussions. Education was also a talking point in many of the midterm elections.

This week, the institute is coming to Jefferson City and hosting a range of Missouri lawmakers and leaders, many who have a background in education. Among the pack are Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Sen. Lauren Arthur, Sen. Karla Eslinger, and Rep. Chuck Basye.

Arthur was a middle school teacher before being elected to the legislature and also serves on the Joint Committee on Education and the Interim Committee on Education.

“I’m excited to take part in the 2022 Missouri Legislators Retreat and eager to join my colleagues in conversations centered on education,” said Arthur. “Our collaboration and partnership is essential to ensuring better outcomes for Missouri students.”

Eslinger also has a background in education, working as an elementary school teacher, a principal and a superintendent. She also served as an assistant commissioner of education for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Eslinger serves as the chairwoman of the Interim Committee on Education.

Basye is the outgoing chairman of the House Education Committee and has sponsored a range of education related legislation in the House.

“The Legislators Retreat provides a unique opportunity for policymakers to engage directly with leading education experts, and I’m grateful to The Hunt Institute for creating this space and instigating positive outcomes for our students,” said Basye.

The retreat will feature a variety of education and policy experts that will help create constructive dialogue around education issues.

According to the institute, topics will include “the importance of early childhood investment, family engagement, educator workforce development, evidence-based literacy instruction, and postsecondary attainment.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing these policymakers come together and discuss critical education issues facing Missouri,” said Dr. Javaid Siddiqi, President & CEO of The Hunt Institute. “Having these conversations are a necessary step toward improving education across the country, and I’m grateful to our Missouri partners for their continued dedication to this work.”

Kelton Turner

Kelton is a 2023 graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. He is a native of mid-Missouri and likes to write politics at both the state and federal levels. Kelton joined the Missouri Times in April 2022

www.themissouritimes.com

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The catchphrase has served the dual purpose of a message to young readers as well as the title of the book the eleven senators wrote together in 2021. “You Can, Too!” encourages childhood reading and chronicles the stories of all 36 women who have found themself holding office in the Missouri Senate.

Currently, there are more woman senators holding office than ever before, with 11 of the state’s 36 female senators that have ever served currently in the Senate. That number may soon increase to 38, pending general election results in Senate Districts 22 and 32.

Now, the senators are on tour, stopping in each of the 11 Senate Districts the legislators represent. They’re touring in part to promote their new book, but also to explore ways to encourage early childhood literacy in Missouri and bring possible legislative solutions.

Apparently, it all started with the book.

“It started when we were all working on the book,” Sen. Karla Eslinger, R-Ozark County, said. “Working together in that way — it became a bond.”

As the lawmakers worked on their book, they started thinking of ways to continue its message of childhood reading and inspiration to chase one’s dreams.

“We started thinking, maybe we should do something with this,” Eslinger said.

Now the legislators are on a bipartisan tour to connect with constituents about how to best promote childhood literacy. The senators have talked to teachers, parents and many other stakeholders to find out what they can do at a policy-making level to increase childhood literacy in Missouri.

“We’ve all come together to impact education and the low literacy rate,” Sen. Karla May, D-St. Louis City said. “We’re going around and bringing in partners and teachers … we’re finding out what we can do to impact literacy in Missouri.”

“We always want to reflect on our communities’ needs,” Eslinger said of the tour. “We want to get a little time to have an open discussion about what we can do to make sure all our children are reading.”

Eslinger said that no clear legislative initiatives have been outlined yet, stating that the senators want to allow all opportunities for input during the tour to be exhausted before a plan is put in place.

The senators will compile information throughout the tour and meet later in October to discuss policy decisions, May said.

The bipartisanship of the effort is a sight to marvel at in an increasingly contentious political climate. In Missouri, the contention has gone so far as to start squabbles inside of party lines in the Republican supermajority.

Not only have all 11 senators put their names on the same tour, they are actually touring together. At a tour event in West Plains on Monday, for example, Republican senators Jeanie Riddle (Audrain County), Sandy Crawford (Dallas County), and Eslinger teamed up with Democratic Sen. Barbara Washington of Jackson County.

May sees the women in the Senate coming together in an attempt to fix a problem as a sign of leadership.

“This group of women have decided to lead,” May said. “It has nothing to do with Ds and Rs … this is a problem that we can fix.”

The tour has been a way for the legislators to see flaws in policy regarding childhood literacy and will help the senators to avoid oversight in their legislative solutions, May said.

“We’ve heard how these policies aren’t really working at a ground level,” May said. “We have to be thinking critically about what the purpose of this legislation is.”

As the 11 senators continue their tour through the Show Me State, May expects the bipartisan group to have no problems when it comes to finding solutions.

“We have found a sweet spot where we can work together to achieve something great,” she said.

The next stop on the tour will be in Sen. Crawford’s district, taking place on Tuesday at the Buffalo Historical Society in Buffalo, Mo. at 11:30 a.m.

Featured Image: Eight women who previously served in the Missouri Senate pose for a group photograph along with 10 of the 11 currently serving female senators. (Courtesy of the Missouri Senate)

Matthew McFarland

I’m a journalist hailing from the Detroit area. I love to tell investigative stories with a focus on everyday people.

You can contact me by email at matthew@missouritimes.com

The post Women senators promote childhood literacy, seek community input on bipartisan tour appeared first on The Missouri Times.

The bill is named the Charter Equity Funding bill and has two major parts. The first part deals with the funding formula for charter schools in comparison with public schools. 

The second half is a new set of regulations that give parents more power in their ability to choose online schooling for their children. 

Before HB 1552 was created and signed into law, parents across the state raised complaints of their local schools’ inaction to requests for online schooling and that schools were using loopholes to deny certain students virtual education.  

Specifically, the bill mandates that school districts and charter schools will have to adopt a policy that makes the process for enrolling in virtual courses similar to that of enrolling in in-person courses.

“Each school district or charter school shall adopt a policy that delineates the process by which a student may enroll in courses provided by the Missouri course access and virtual school program that is substantially similar to the typical process by which a district student would enroll in courses offered by the school district and a charter school student would enroll in courses offered by the charter school,” the bill reads.

This language forces school districts to streamline their process for students applying for virtual education programs. 

This is not a guarantee for all students. The bill leaves language that gives schools the authority to consider in-person learning possibilities before moving the student to a virtual education program. 

HB 1552 also protects the schools the ability to deny students virtual education, but only under certain conditions. 

If the school denies a student virtual education opportunities, it must be for “good cause,” according to the bill. This good cause must be provided in writing and can only be used to deny virtual education if a determination is made that virtual learning is not in the best interest of the student.

The bill also streamlines the appeals process for the parties involved that would like to submit an appeal to any denial. The bill stipulates there must be good faith collaborations between the relevant parties, timelines regarding participation and considerations for in-person learning among other things. 

Overall, the language in HB 1552 leaves most of the authority to local school districts and the contractors they interact with for virtual education. 

The bill requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to publish a guidance document that details options for virtual education access in the state. This document will be distributed to every school in Missouri.

DESE has until Jan. 1, 2023 to fulfill this requirement.

“The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education continues to review HB 1552 and make preparations to implement the new requirements of the bill,” Mallory McGowin, chief communications officer for DESE said. “The changes to the virtual school program are significant and DESE will continue to work with virtual providers and school districts to enact the new law.”

There was an event held at the historic Clinton’s soda fountain in Independence, Mo. to celebrate the signing of HB 1552. The event included a multitude of parent advocacy groups that specialize in virtual education issues, as well as candidates for both the Missouri House of Representatives and the Senate.

Many parents of students and local School Board members were also in attendance at the event. 

One of the parents and activists at the event was Samoy Mainda. Mainda is the parent leader for the Missouri Chapter of the National Coalition for Public School Options. 

Mainda’s daughter was unable to access virtual education previously, she believes that is because existing laws allow schools districts to overrides the desires of parents.

“I am hopeful that the changes enacted under HB 1552 will close the loopholes school districts have abused to deny thousands of families their right to choose the best education for their children,” Mainda said. “No family should ever have to endure the difficulties and trauma my family and many others have endured in our quest to give our children the best education possible.”

Kelton Turner

Kelton is a 2023 graduate of the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. He is a native of mid-Missouri and likes to write politics at both the state and federal levels. Kelton joined the Missouri Times in April 2022

www.themissouritimes.com

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