MSIP 5 Resources Available Online
As the Department continues its transition from 4th cycle of the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) to MSIP 5, please take a look at the resources available on our MSIP 5 webpage. As always, please don't hesitate to contact the Department with additional questions.

Powerful Learning Conference Scheduled for January

The Department's 2013 Powerful Learning Conference: Leading and Learning - "Missouri CSI: Continuous School Improvement" will be held January 28-29 in Osage Beach, Mo. Learn about school improvement from nationally acclaimed keynote presenters, Dr. Anthony Muhammad and Dr. Brian McNulty. Attendees will also take advantage of breakout sessions presented by expert practitioners and regional consultants sharing best practices, effective school reform and evidence of successful school improvement efforts. Register now

Save the Date for Conference on the Young Years

The Department's Early Learning section will be hosting the 40th annual Conference on the Young Years, March 7-9, 2013. Presentations from several nationally recognized speakers will address leadership in early childhood, literacy, science and art. Department staff, along with classroom teachers, will also be presenting a strand of presentations specifically on the Core Academic Standards. Registration information will be available in December.

State Board Approves New Educator Preparation Program Standards

The State Board of Education approved new standards for Missouri educator preparation programs at its November meeting in St. Louis. The Missouri Standards for Professional Educators (MoSPE) outline the standards programs must follow and the requirements students seeking their educator certificate must meet in order to become certified. Read more

Vendors Selected to Create New State Educator Certification Assessment System
The state Office of Administration announced the vendors who will assist in the development of a Missouri educator certification assessment system. Educational Testing Service and Evaluation Systems (NCS Pearson) were selected after thorough evaluation from a pool of proposals submitted in response to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's request for proposals (RFPs). Read more

Educator Certification System Increases Operational Efficiency

The online Educator Certification System has been operational since June 2011. During this time, the staff of the Educator Certification Office issued 65,677 certificates and processed over 783,000 applications for certification. In addition, the staff has provided technical support to educators, districts, as well as colleges and universities by answering 84,504 phone calls and responding to over 20,000 emails. Efforts to increase operational efficiency included the re-design of the office's website and will continue with upgrading and enhancing the certification system over the next year.

- More information about the Top 10 by 20 strategic plan
- Information and materials for supporters