“I call upon the State Board of Education to work in conjunction with the Legislature to address the student transfer issue so we can place Missouri schools and students on a path to success. This is a complex undertaking, but there are few endeavors as worthwhile as improving the lives of Missouri’s young people. Every child deserves a quality education regardless of where their parents happen to live, and I refuse to condemn another generation to a failing school district. I urge the State Board not to be distracted by policy suggestions that simply call failure by a different name and perpetuate the problems at hand.  

Many of my colleagues have introduced legislation addressing the education crisis in our state, and I am confident we can find a solution that will yield promising results. To that end, I plan to advance legislation filed this week by Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, that requires the State Board of Education to use one of the following designations when classifying school districts: unaccredited, provisionally accredited, accredited, and accredited with distinction. I ask the State Board of Education to keep in mind the Legislature’s prerogative to set public policy, as well as its own statutory limitations, before making a decision to change our accreditation system. I look forward to working with my colleagues, as well as the State Board of Education, to create a system that provides a quality education for all of Missouri’s children.”

Senate Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles