Missouri
Many Missouri schools lack teachers to educate English language learners – Missourinet
Missouri’s population has a significant number of people from other countries, including many students who are learning in the public school system. Cammy Goucher, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Curriculum Director for English Language Development and World Languages, said Missouri has roughly 40,000 students whose primary language is not English but they are learning English.
She said out of 554 districts and charter schools, 134 have a teacher who specializes in educating English language learners (ELL). That’s about 25% of Missouri school districts with an ELL teacher.
“Some of those have only one teacher,” Goucher told Missourinet. “And then some of our larger areas have up to 90. I know we have, in many of our rural districts, schools who have 10 to 20 English learners and do not have a designated teacher that works with them.”
According to Goucher, the Missouri districts with the most ELL students include Springfield, Carthage, Monett, St. Louis, and Kansas City. Not all Missouri K-12 public school districts and charter schools have English language learners, but Goucher said that is expected to change in the near future.
To give you an idea on the teacher to student ratio, Goucher said the teachers are overburdened.
“In Missouri, we have about 870 English language development teachers serving those almost 40,000 students. Most of those teachers are in the larger districts,” she said.
If they do not have the appropriate teacher to educate these students, then how do the children learn?
“We like to work with those districts to first have them dedicate a person or a couple of people who will spend time working with the students. In some districts I’ve been to, that is a reading specialist, and a few districts is the school counselors,” Goucher said.
The state has five specialists who also help school employees with ways to teach these students who are working to become fluent in English. Does Missouri have enough specialists to serve the entire state?
“It is a tough job to serve everyone that we need to serve,” she said. “We would love to have more, and at one time we did have more. But because of budgetary reasons, we were cut, I believe, it was from nine down to five. There are other states, though, that don’t have anyone helping the person in my position. So, I’m thankful for the five I have.”
Regardless of whether Missouri’s school districts and charter schools have these specialized teachers, Goucher said every district should have a plan in place to be prepared to work with English language learners. If a district or charter school has at least 20 English language learners in their district or charter school, they are supposed to start looking for a full-time or part-time ELL teacher. Or someone within the district can be trained to become certified to teach these students.
Years ago, schools placed English language learners in special education courses. Goucher said that’s no longer happening.
“These students do not have a disability,” she said. “They have a difference. We have had instances where students are actually gifted or very well educated in their home language. They just don’t have English yet. So, it’s our job to kind of fill that gap.”
For ELL students who have been in the United States for less than one year, they are exempt from taking the English Language Arts portion of Missouri’s standardized MAP tests. When they take the assessment, or any end-of-course tests, the students can have a translator if one is available. They are also required to take an annual federally-mandated state assessment to measure their proficiency in English.
Goucher said Missouri is not alone in the short supply of English language development teachers.
“It’s pretty consistent everywhere,” says Goucher. “Everyone is kind of filling this need at this time- a lack of teachers that are certified to teach the students and an increasing number of students.”
Could artificial intelligence help to fill the gap in the ELL teacher shortage?
“That is something that is really taking off with English language learners,” she said. “One of the big reasons is that we can translate things into so many languages. And we can also create materials for our students. It’s only as good, though, as the questions that you provide. So, the teacher has to have the knowledge to create these tools, but I can see them as being a very good resource in the future.”
Goucher said the federal government has provided English language development teachers with a few workshops to ease them into using some of the artificial intelligence tools.
Copyright © 2024 · Missourinet
Missouri
Thousands show up to protest current administration at ‘No Kings’ rally in Kansas City, Missouri
KSHB 41 reporter Lily O’Shea Becker covers Franklin and Douglas counties in Kansas. Share your story idea with Lily.
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Thousands showed up to Mill Creek Park on Saturday in Kansas City, Missouri, in a wave of protests across the country criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration.
Thousands show up to protest current administration at KCMO ‘No Kings’ rally
Multiple protesters told KSHB 41 News they participated in the protest because they feel like it is the only way their voices can be heard.
Chris Morrison/KSHB
“Congress is not working for us,” said Sharon, a protester at Mill Creek Park. “I have called my Congress people numerous times.”
It was the third wave of ‘No Kings’ protests across the country since June 2025.
“I’ve been here for each of the ‘No Kings,’ and I’ll admit that I’m frustrated that I have to be back here again,” protester Carter Taylor said.
Taylor is a teacher for Kansas City Public Schools with AFT Local 691, and she said she showed up to represent her students.
“I hope that everyone here doesn’t just stay here today — that they donate to food banks, that they check in on their public schools,” Taylor said.
Will Shaw/KSHB
Protesters held signs critiquing the current administration’s stances on tariffs, ongoing wars and immigration enforcement, among other things.
Chris Morrison/KSHB
“It means that people care,” protester Lonnie Beattle said. “People care about what’s going on in this country, and people are not happy with what’s going on in the country.”
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Missouri
Missouri Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 winning numbers for March 27, 2026
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at March 27, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 27 drawing
13-27-28-41-62, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 27 drawing
Midday: 1-2-5
Midday Wild: 5
Evening: 1-5-9
Evening Wild: 6
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 27 drawing
Midday: 4-9-8-1
Midday Wild: 7
Evening: 6-7-3-3
Evening Wild: 6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from March 27 drawing
Early Bird: 10
Morning: 10
Matinee: 03
Prime Time: 15
Night Owl: 09
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from March 27 drawing
08-15-18-25-29
Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.
To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:
Ticket Redemption
Missouri Lottery
P.O. Box 7777
Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777
For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.
For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.
When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
- Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
- Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
- Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
- Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
- Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Missouri
Boone Health files lawsuit against Missouri Heart Center, alleging contract breaches, data misuse
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Boone Health is suing a Columbia-based cardiology group, alleging breaches of contract, misuse of confidential information and plans to engage in unlawful competition.
The lawsuit, filed in Boone County Circuit Court, targets Missouri Cardiovascular Specialists LLP, also known as the Missouri Heart Center or MO Heart, which has provided cardiology services to Boone Health for more than a decade. According to court documents, a renewed agreement was signed in 2021 covering professional services and management of Boone Health’s cardiology operations.
Boone Health alleges it paid the cardiology group millions of dollars under those agreements for staffing, administrative oversight and revenue cycle management, which included access to sensitive financial and patient-related data. In return, MO Heart and its physicians agreed to noncompete and confidentiality provisions designed to protect Boone Health’s business interests.
The health system claims MO Heart violated those agreements by preparing to launch a competing cardiology practice in the Columbia area, potentially as soon as the contracts expire on May 6, 2026. The lawsuit alleges the new venture would fall within a restricted geographic area and time frame outlined in the noncompete clause, which Boone Health argues is enforceable under Missouri law.
Boone Health also accuses MO Heart of disclosing or misusing confidential information, including billing rates, reimbursement data and strategic business details during its transition to new partnerships with outside organizations. Boone Health alleges in the lawsuit those actions could cause “severe and irreparable injury.”
In addition, Boone Health claims MO Heart obstructed access to critical systems and data. The lawsuit alleges the cardiology group cut off Boone Health’s access to a key billing and patient information platform and stopped sharing necessary data, raising concerns about continuity of patient care.
Boone Health alleged that MO Heart indicated that it intends to operate independently and has taken the position that the noncompete provisions are unenforceable, according to the filing.
Boone Health is asking a judge to rule the noncompete agreements that MO Heart signed are valid, as well as having MO Heart return or destroy confidential information, and delay starting a competing practice until May 2027.
A jury trial has been requested.
A spokesperson for Boone Health told ABC 17 News that it would provide additional details early next week.
Dr. James T. Elliott of MO Heart disagreed with allegations in the lawsuit through a written statement.
“For months, we have tried to meet with leadership team at Boone Health to work constructively towards a new, collaborative arrangement that would preserve access to and expand high‑quality care for our patients and for the entire community. Unfortunately, Boone refused to engage with us in any meaningful way. Instead, we have been met with a series of escalating legal threats, culminating in today’s filing,” the statement reads.
“Earlier today Boone Health filed a lawsuit against Missouri Heart Center. We disagree with the lawsuit’s allegations and believe those claims are both legally and factually incorrect. This litigation does not change our commitment to caring for patients.”
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