Stoddard County superintendents raise concerns over Missouri’s new A-F school grading system
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
STODDARD COUNTY, Mo. (KBSI) — Superintendents from eight Stoddard County school districts are raising concerns about Missouri’s new A-F school grading system ahead of the release of preliminary grades for public schools across the state.
In a letter dated Oct. 21, the Stoddard County Activities Association addressed parents, staff and community members about the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s new grading system.
The system, established through an executive order signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe in January, will assign each public school district and school building a single letter grade.
According to the superintendents, the grading system will be used alongside Missouri’s existing Annual Performance Report rather than replacing it.
The association said the new grades will be based almost exclusively on standardized test scores.
School leaders emphasized that the initial grades are part of a pilot program and will use performance data from the 2024-25 school year.
“This marks the first year of a brand-new state system using performance data from the 2024-2025 school year,” the letter stated.
The superintendents said they expect the grading framework to change over time and warned that local school grades could fluctuate as the state adjusts the system.
The association also expressed concerns about the timeline for developing the grading system, noting that the A-F framework was created through an executive order rather than state legislation.
While acknowledging the importance of accountability, the superintendents said standardized testing provides only a limited picture of a school’s overall performance.
“Standardized tests are a single, narrow snapshot — they do not define our schools,” the letter stated.
The superintendents encouraged parents to consider their children’s classroom experiences, relationships with teachers and academic progress when evaluating their local schools.
They also emphasized the importance of serving students from different backgrounds and with varying educational needs.
The letter was issued on behalf of the superintendents representing Advance, Bell City, Bernie, Bloomfield, Dexter, Puxico, Richland and Woodland school districts.
School leaders said they will continue advocating for a comprehensive school evaluation process while keeping families informed as the new grading system is implemented.
