Mo. Rev. Stat. § 160.514 — MO Code / Chapter 160 / Section 160.514
160.514 Academic performance standards, adoption by state board, standards — ...
Status: in_force

160.514. Academic performance standards, adoption by state board, standards — procedure for adoption — development of written curriculum frameworks — adoption of written curriculum by boards of education. — 1. By rule and regulation, and consistent with the provisions contained in section 160.526 , the state board of education shall adopt no more than seventy-five academic performance standards which establish the knowledge, skills and competencies necessary for students to successfully advance through the public elementary and secondary education system of this state; lead to or qualify a student for high school graduation; prepare students for postsecondary education or the workplace or both; and are necessary in this era to preserve the rights and liberties of the people.

2. Whenever the state board of education develops, evaluates, modifies, or revises academic performance standards or learning standards, it shall convene work groups composed of education professionals to develop and recommend such academic performance standards or learning standards. Separate work groups composed of education professionals shall be convened for the following subject areas: English language arts; mathematics; science; and history and governments. The subject area of history and governments shall incorporate geography and the history and governments of the United States and the world. For each subject area in which the state board of education develops, evaluates, modifies, or revises academic performance standards or learning standards, the state board shall convene two separate work groups, one work group for standards for grades kindergarten through five consisting of sixteen members and a second work group for standards for grades six through twelve consisting of seventeen members. A person may be selected to serve on more than one work group if he or she is qualified. No work group member shall be required to be a member of a professional teacher association. An education professional serving on a work group shall be a Missouri resident for at least three years and have taught in the work group's subject area for at least ten years or have ten years of experience in that subject area, except for the parents appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives. Work group members shall be chosen in such a manner as to represent the geographic diversity of the state.

3. Work group members shall be selected in the following manner:

(1) Two parents of children currently enrolled in grades kindergarten through twelve shall be selected by the president pro tempore of the senate;

(2) Two parents of children currently enrolled in grades kindergarten through twelve shall be selected by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(3) One education professional selected by the state board of education from names submitted to it by the professional teachers' organizations of the state;

(4) One education professional selected by a statewide association of Missouri school boards;

(5) One education professional selected by the state board of education from names submitted to it by a statewide coalition of school administrators;

(6) Two education professionals selected by the president pro tempore of the senate in addition to the members selected under subdivision (1) of this subsection;

(7) Two education professionals selected by the speaker of the house of representatives in addition to the members selected under subdivision (2) of this subsection;

(8) One education professional selected by the governor;

(9) One education professional selected by the lieutenant governor;

(10) One education professional selected by the commissioner of higher education;

(11) One education professional selected by the state board of education from names submitted to it by nationally recognized career and technical education student organizations operating in Missouri; and

(12) One education professional selected by the state board of education from names submitted to it by the heads of state-approved baccalaureate-level teacher preparation programs located in Missouri. The state board of education shall also appoint to each work group for grades six through twelve from names submitted to it by a statewide organization for career and technical education one current or retired career and technical education professional who also serves or served as an advisor to any of the nationally recognized career and technical education student organizations identified in subdivision (4) of subsection 2 of section 178.550 .

4. The state board of education shall hold at least three public hearings whenever it develops, evaluates, modifies, or revises academic performance standards or learning standards. The hearings shall provide an opportunity to receive public testimony, including but not limited to testimony from educators at all levels in the state, local school boards, parents, representatives from business and industry, labor and community leaders, members of the general assembly, and the general public. The state board of education shall hold the first hearing within thirty days of the work groups being convened. The state board of education shall hold the second hearing approximately six months after it holds the first hearing. The state board of education shall hold the third hearing when the work groups submit the academic performance standards they have developed to the state board. The state board of education shall also solicit comments and feedback on the academic performance standards or learning standards from the joint committee on education and from academic researchers. All comments shall be made publicly available.

5. The state board of education shall develop written curriculum frameworks that may be used by school districts. Such curriculum frameworks shall incorporate the academic performance standards adopted by the state board of education pursuant to subsection 1 of this section. The curriculum frameworks shall provide guidance to school districts but shall not be mandates for local school boards in the adoption or development of written curricula as required by subsection 6 of this section.

6. Not later than one year after the development of written curriculum frameworks pursuant to subsection 5 of this section, the board of education of each school district in the state shall adopt or develop a written curriculum designed to ensure that students attain the knowledge, skills and competencies established pursuant to subsection 1 of this section. Local school boards are encouraged to adopt or develop curricula that are rigorous and ambitious and may, but are not required to, use the curriculum frameworks developed pursuant to subsection 5 of this section. Nothing in this section or this act shall prohibit school districts, as determined by local boards of education, to develop or adopt curricula that provide for academic standards in addition to those identified by the state board of education pursuant to subsection 1 of this section.

7. Local school districts and charter schools may adopt their own education standards, in addition to those already adopted by the state, provided the additional standards are in the public domain and do not conflict with the standards adopted by the state board of education.

(L. 1993 S.B. 380 § 3, A.L. 2014 H.B. 1490)