Missouri Learning Standards
Missouri Learning Standards & The Common Core – 2009 to Present
The state-led effort to develop the Common Core State Standards was launched in 2009 by state leaders, including governors and state commissioners of education from 48 states, two territories and the District of Columbia, through their membership in the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). State school chiefs and governors recognized the value of consistent, real-world learning goals and launched this effort to ensure all students, regardless of where they live, are graduating high school prepared for college, career, and life.
To ensure all students are ready for success after high school, the Common Core State Standards establish clear, consistent guidelines for what every student should know and be able to do in math and English language arts from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The Missouri State Board of Education adopted the common core state standards as the Missouri Learning Standards in 2010. School districts across the state began researching the standards and adopting their own timeline and plans to prepare for the new state assessments to be given in the spring of 2015.
During the time period between 2012 and 2014, elementary and secondary representatives of the Harrisonville School District (administrator & teacher) took part in a regional consortium to prepare for the new standards. This consortium was facilitated by the International Center for Leadership in Education and included approximately 12 full days of training over the two-year period.
During the 2013-2014 school year, the Academic & Student Services Department began facilitating vertical content team meetings in English language arts and math to analyze and align locally developed essential standards and learning goals in comparison to the Missouri Learning Standards. In March of 2014, district staff members were updated on the district’s progress related to the Missouri Learning standards by Beth Mulvey during their regularly scheduled faculty meetings. Staff members had the opportunity to ask questions or express concerns during this time as well.
All aspects of curriculum development include input from teachers and administrators at the local level. It is important to note that standards are not curriculum. Standards represent the intended outcome. Curriculum is the path, strategy, or method used to meet the standards successfully. For example: in basketball, the standard is to score points by making baskets or field goals. The curriculum is the offense, defense, and other types of plays and strategies to make baskets. Many teams “win” at basketball using different play books.
On July 14, 2014, House Bill 1490 was signed into law by Governor Nixon. House Bill 1490 provides a structure and timeline for review of the English language arts, social studies, science, and mathematics expectations that are part of the Missouri Learning Standards. The law calls for standards in these content areas to be updated by October 1, 2015 and implemented beginning in the 2016-2017 school year.To ensure complete transparency and provide an accurate record of discussion and comments, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has created a website to share information regarding all work group sessions and other pertinent facts and details. All work group sessions will be video-recorded and posted online at the following link.
Until the new standards are developed and approved, however, the current standards will remain in place in Missouri. The goal of the Academic & Student Services Department is to insure that every student in Harrisonville Schools is provided with a rigorous and relevant curriculum. We believe curriculum is the foundation for the best possible overall educational experience leading to success in school and in life!
Resources to learn more about Missouri Learning Standards
Assistant Superintendent of Academic & Student Services
816-380-2727 ext. 1225
Academic & Student Services Administrative Assistant
816-380-2727 ext. 1225