Late last month, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed the executive order establishing a statewide grading system for public school districts, while exempting private schools.

Regarding Kehoe’s directive, Executive Order 26-01, those within the Wright City School District worry the state will grade it, and many other hardworking districts, unfairly.

At the board’s October meeting, Wright City R-II Superintendent Dr. Amy Salvo briefed those assembled on the information received about the new practice, which will assign a “grade” to each public district based on its performance.

“We want to make our public aware of what is actually happening,” Salvo said. “I’ve sent emails out to our entire faculty and staff so (they are) aware of what is happening. The A-F framework stems from the executive order signed by Governor Kehoe. That directed DESE to create a grading system, giving a school an A, B, D, or F for every public district. Private schools are not required (to be graded).”

The order has drawn Salvo’s ire.

“It’s an opt-in if private schools would like to participate,” Salvo said. “Initially, we were told we could see a score as early as October, and then it was November. (As of the meeting) we are yet to receive a technical guide. I have not seen what our district would be, but they said it would be (graded) on old 2024 data. When I pressed them and asked why, they said it was easier. I wish we, as a school district, could make decisions because they were easier, but we make decisions based on what’s best for kids. We will always make decisions based on what’s best for kids.”

The letter grade given by the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), based upon the 100-point scale, will take into account such evaluation criteria as academic achievement level, value-added growth, and growth toward proficiency at the elementary and middle school levels while also factoring in career readiness metrics and the four-year graduation rate at the high school level.

The order requires grade cards to follow a clear, standardized layout.

According to the order, these public reports will give parents, educators, lawmakers, and community members an accessible summary of school performance without requiring them to interpret complex institutional metrics.  

The state framework directs DESE to align state assessment proficiency targets relative to performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) to ensure statewide performance benchmarks remain nationally competitive.

“It will become more rigorous,” Salvo said. “Only 65 percent of districts can receive an A or a B. After that, even if (districts) achieve the scores, it becomes more rigorous and will bump schools down. Only 65 percent of schools, whether you achieve the scores or not, will get an A or a B. That, to me, is a direct attack on public education. … To me, in my opinion, this is what happens when politics enter education on something they don’t understand.”

Salvo took it a step further, adding that DESE has blocked the district from sharing how well it has done.

“Typically, we stand up here in October and share our APR data. We can’t do that,” said Salvo of the district’s annual performance review. “Our raw scores are still embargoed, so I can’t share the great things that we have. The great improvements that I will say that this district has accomplished.”

The superintendent went on to say this grade seems like overkill, especially because the state also provides a “score” through its district accreditation.

“I also want to point out that we have to live by MSIP-6, which is our accreditation factor,” Salvo said. “Because of the work on A through F, DESE said that they don’t have the manpower or resources to work on our APR. My fear is that, by the time we get whatever arbitrary score, which won’t include literacy, which they (factor), it won’t even encompass what they say is important in a grade. I say when politics enters education, no one wins.”

Board members also echoed Salvo’s sentiments, voicing their displeasure with the perceived politicization of education and the state’s unwillingness to listen to the district.

Kyle Lewis told the body that he’s even reached out to state representative Jeff Myers, who represents Wright City, to no avail.

“Since the last board meeting, I have attempted to contact Representative Myers on this matter three separate times,” Lewis said. “It has been related to this issue and the APR embargo that DESE is failing to release across the state. I’m a little frustrated that our elected representative cannot respond to a board member when I know he has sent other emails on unrelated matters to our district. I know that he’s getting the emails in his inbox. If he hears this, he knows how to get a hold of me, so we can have a conversation."

Salvo offered this closing statement.

“The last thing I want to note is that five states that have tried A through F have eliminated it,” she said. “If we are truly research-based, then I would challenge Jefferson City to do the research (about the practice). There are only eight states that (currently) have an A through F system. Whether a school district gets an A or an F, it does not tell the whole story.”