Always Prospering
eMINTS changes how teachers teach and students learn. Its instructional model provides a research-based approach to organizing instruction and can be implemented in any subject area at any level. The eMINTS instructional model enables educators to create classrooms where all students are motivated to succeed socially and academically, fully incorporate technology investments into teaching and learning, complement existing preK-16 curriculum with critical-thinking requirements found in national, state and local curriculum standards and build enthusiasm and creativity into daily teaching. Research shows that enrollment in an eMINTS classroom is beneficial for increasing MAP scores for both the Communication Arts and Mathematics tests. The eMints model is currently offered in over half of Missouri’s school districts and in nearly 1,400 elementary, middle and high school classrooms. Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED)
WIRED is innovative USDOL funded approach to workforce and economic development. It goes beyond traditional strategies for worker preparation by bringing together state, local and federal entities; academic institutions (including K-12, community colleges and universities); investment groups; foundations; and business and industry to address the challenges associated with building a globally competitive and prepared workforce. Missouri has received two WIRED grants - Greater Kansas City and Southeast regions. Project Lead the Way (PLTW)
PLTW is a not-for-profit organization that develops and promotes pre-engineering courses for high school and middle school students. PLTW has developed a four year sequence of courses which, when combined with college preparatory mathematics and science courses in high school, introduces students to the scope, rigor and discipline of engineering and engineering technology prior to entering college. The program is designed to attract more students to engineering careers as well as promote greater success in collegiate programs at a time when the number of college graduates in math, science and technology is decreasing in the nation. There are 39 school districts, 66 high schools, 23 middle schools and 2 universities (University of Missouri-Rolla & University of Central Missouri) participating in the program. Achievement First Program
Partnership for Regional Education Program in Kansas City (PREP-KC) is a successful educational intermediary organization that coordinates a number of promising initiatives to improved Kansas City's educational outcomes. The Achievement First (AF) in the Kansas City, Missouri School District, has the following strategies:
- Small learning communities (SLCs) of students and adults. The same group of teachers stays with the same group of students for multiple years. In the high schools, the SLCs are organized around career themes. The themes are infused into core academic courses, and a thematic course of study is created and linked to post-secondary education and career paths.
- The Family Advocate System creates a bridge between the SLC and students' families. Each staff member in the school becomes an advocate for 15-17 students and their families, and stays with them through all of the years they are in that school. Advocates work closely with families on issues related to career and college preparation.
- Instructional Improvement becomes an intensive focus for teachers working together in their SLCs. All faculty members study and practice rigorous, standards-based instruction focused on actively engaging all students. These strategies and tactics are designed to increase student graduation and college attendance rates.
While many Missourians see the A+ Schools Program as a scholarship program, it was created by the Outstanding Schools Act of 1993 as an incentive for improving Missouri's high schools. The primary goal of the A+ Schools Program is to ensure that all students who graduate from Missouri high schools are well prepared to pursue advanced education and employment. Participating high schools are encouraged to:
- reduce the dropout rate;
- raise academic expectations by eliminating general-track courses;
- provide career pathways for all students; and
- work closely with business and higher-education leaders to better prepare students for their lives after graduation.
Bright Flight is a merit-based scholarship in the amount of $2000 per annum to Missouri's qualifying graduating high school seniors who enroll in a Missouri accredited college or university. From June 2004 to July 2005, 8390 students were enrolled in the Bright Flight program, which totalled over $15 million in state expenditures. To qualify for Bright Flight, a student must be in the top 3% of his or her state-wide high school class as determined by normalized tests, the ACT and SAT composite scores. To date, a score of 31 or above on the ACT or an SAT-equivalent score qualifies. A score of 31 will be needed to qualify for the 2008-2009 school year. Students must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA in college and full-time student status to renew the scholarship, which can be renewed for up to five years for a maximum compensation of $10,000. Bright Flight students must attend school continuously, that is, they cannot cease attending school unless they worked for a non-profit organization or held a government job/served for the armed services. Academic interruption must not exceed 20 months. Curriculum Alignment Initiative (CAI)
The work of the CAI is part of MDHE strategy to increase participation in higher education and to smooth pathways for students entering into and progressing in higher education. The goal is of this work is to improve the college readiness of students throughout Missouri, by clearly articulating to high school students what it means to be college ready, and to smooth transfer of entry-level collegiate courses. CAI is mandated by Senate Bill 389 (2007) and directs public colleges and universities to work with the CBHE to develop entry- and exit-level competencies for entry level collegiate coursework. Access Missouri
With Access Missouri, Missouri has substantially increased its level of effort and refocused the state's need based financial assistance programs in order to improve the financial access of Missouri's lower and middle income families to the postsecondary education options they need. We have championed additional funding for such programs, increasing the amount available from $27M to $72M, and implemented a new program that is serving more than 35,000 students, an increase of more than 100% from FY 2007. Promising P-20 Practices from throughout the U.S.
- NGA Center for Best Practices
- Workforce Innovation and Regional Economic Development (WIRED)
- America Diploma Project
- Education Commission of the States
- The Bridge Project
- The Education Trust
- Pathways to College Network
- GEAR UP Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs
This site provides extensive information on best practices in early childhood, elementary and secondary, and postsecondary education, including teacher quality, high school redesign, reading, access to and success in postsecondary education, extra learning opportunities, and school readiness.
The WIRED Initiative, launched in November 2005, stresses the critical role talent development plays in creating effective regional economic development strategies. This USDOL funded initiative goes beyond traditional strategies for worker preparation by bringing together state, local and federal entities; academic institutions (including K-12, community colleges and universities); investment groups; foundations; and business and industry to address the challenges associated with building a globally competitive and prepared workforce. This site provides tools to assist leaders in implementing the WIRED approach in their states and regions.
Four organizations – Achieve, The Education Trust, the National Alliance of Business and the Fordham Foundation – have joined forces to strengthen ongoing standards-based reform efforts at the state level. The American Diploma Project aims to develop and solidify demand for standards-based high school assessment data in admissions and hiring processes; assist states in revising and/or strengthening their current standards-based systems; and develop national high school graduation benchmarks in English language arts and mathematics that all states may use to calibrate the quality and rigor of their standards and assessments. This site provides more information about the project goals, activities and partners
The mission of the Education Commission of the States is to help states develop effective policy and practice for public education by providing data, research, analysis and leadership; and by facilitating collaboration, the exchange of ideas among the states and long-range strategic thinking. The P-16 site does just that by providing relevant information on P-16 movement nationally.
Hosted by the Stanford Institute on Higher Education Research, this site provides research reports on the alignment between higher education admissions-related requirements and K-12 curriculum frameworks, standards and assessments.
The Education Trust is a nonprofit organization that works for the high academic achievement of all students at all levels – kindergarten through college. In addition to access, the work of the Trust encompasses K-16, standards, teacher quality, state and federal policies and community engagement. This site has multiple publications and reports on P-16 reform, as well as an extensive list of Web links, including local and state P-16 initiatives.
An alliance of major foundations, nonprofit organizations, education institutions and the U.S. Department of Education are working together to improve college access and success for large numbers of underserved youth, including low-income, underrepresented minority and first-generation students. This site provides information on the network's goals, activities, partners and funders.
Enacted in 1998, GEAR UP is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and funds partnerships of high-poverty middle schools, colleges and universities, community organizations and businesses to work with entire grade levels of students. The partnerships provide tutoring, mentoring, information on college preparation and financial aid, an emphasis on core academic preparation and, in some cases, scholarships. This Web site provides general information and progress reports about GEAR UP programs.