Five area school districts to get performance awards from DESE

Over the next several weeks 181 school districts throughout the state, including five in the Cape Girardeau area, will receive distinction in performance awards from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The awards are based on Missouri Assessment Program scores, ACT scores, attendance and dropout rates and other academic performance measures.

"This is a new procedure this year," said Ron Burks, coordinator of the Missouri School Improvement Program for DESE. "The previous system was based on different criteria."

Districts used to be accredited with distinction if they met, or improved upon, 11 performance standards during a five-year period.

To qualify for the new award, kindergarten through 12th-grade districts are required to meet 11 of 12 performance indicators on the annual performance report. Districts with kindergarten through eighth grades are required to meet five out of six possible indicators.

"It's just a different system," said Burks. "The decision was made at DESE that we would no longer accredit schools with distinction."

Districts will now either be accredited, unaccredited or provisionally accredited every five years and given distinction in performance awards annually.

"I like the fact that you can receive recognition each year for the prior year's performance," said Dan Steska, superintendent of Cape Girardeau schools. "I think the yearly emphasis encourages districts to pay continual attention to their achievement instead of being tempted to let some things slide within that five-year cycle."

A banquet will be held in Cape Girardeau March 26 for district officials and school board members in the Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Nell Holcomb, Oak Ridge and Scott County districts.

Cheri Fuemmeler, Oak Ridge superintendent, said the award shows parents their children are getting a solid education.

"This sends a message out to parents that we're providing a quality education all the way from pre-school through the secondary grades," she said.

Jackson superintendent Ron Anderson agrees.

"This award provides reassurance to parents and students that we're getting the results and tax dollars are being well spent," he said.

Element of competition

With four districts in Cape Girardeau County and another district in Scott County receiving the awards, Steska said it not only says something about education in the individual districts, but the entire area.

"I think one thing it says to people who live in this vicinity is that they have a lot of things to be pleased about," he said. "As all of these communities continue to grow, parents will know they have several good choices for schools."

Steska has an idea why the schools do so well.

"There's probably a certain element of competition in this area," he said. "But it naturally focuses attention on your own district because you don't want to be left behind."

hkronmueller@semissourian.com

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