Missouri
Missouri standardized test scores show progress, continued challenges statewide
Commissioner of Education Karla Eslinger speaks during a State Board of Education meeting Tuesday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).
Missouri students are showing progress on standardized tests administered by the state, with results in some categories approaching — and even exceeding — pre-pandemic levels.
But in other areas — most notably English language arts — students continue to struggle.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education revealed preliminary scores in the Missouri Assessment Program, or MAP, to the State Board of Education in its board meeting Tuesday.
Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge, a board member from Pasadena Hills, said she was “a little deflated that we didn’t see more growth and progress.”
DESE is implementing programs to address low levels of literacy, an issue throughout the United States, with interventions based on the science of reading and increased teacher training.
Westbrooks-Hodge said the intervention has worked like triage care; it “stopped the bleed” and scores are static.
“We made lots of great investments in the last two years, and I think we’re going to see the fruit of that as our score starts to increase,” she said. “All of these interventions are working. They’re stabilizing our educational system, and now we can start layering growth on top of that.”
English language arts scores remain below pre-pandemic levels, according to data presented Tuesday, with 56% of students scoring in the “basic” or “below basic” range. This percentage has held steady since 2022.
Lisa Sireno, assistant commissioner of quality schools, said it takes “continuous, sustained focused implementation with fidelity at the local level, up to five years, before we start to see results on large-scale measures.”
She noted that teacher shortages could be impacting the scores, as a battle of the 2023-24 school year.
When looking at scores across all subjects and grades, there is an observable improvement since 2021’s tests. That year, 24% of scores were in the “below basic” range. That’s fallen to 22% this year, still higher than the 19% below basic in the last pre-pandemic tests in 2019. The number of scores in proficient and advanced ranges are one-percent less than 2019’s achievement.
Math scores are exceeding pre-pandemic levels, with a one-percent boost in the advanced category compared to 2019 when looking at grades 3-8. Sireno noted that middle-school math has exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
Sireno expects additional analysis, especially as educators look at local-level data.
Juneteenth 2024: How to celebrate
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. Here’s how to prep for and celebrate the important holiday.
Problem Solved
Juneteenth is marking five years since it was officially recognized as a federal holiday.
Given the holiday’s relatively recent federal designation, it may not be clear to many what will be open/closed on Juneteenth. Will the post office be open? Will my trash get collected? Can I go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to renew my license?
Here’s a guide to what is open and closed on Juneteenth in Missouri.
When is Juneteenth 2026?
This year, Juneteenth will be celebrated on Friday, June 19. The holiday is also often celebrated on the third Saturday of June, with many events taking place on that day.
Communities use this day to honor resilience, culture and progress through various events, gatherings and activities. These can include church services, picnics, barbecues, parades and festivals, to name a few.
Are federal or Missouri state offices open on Juneteenth?
Given that Juneteenth is a federal holiday, non-essential federal offices will be closed.
It’s also a state holiday in Missouri, so all local governments and state offices will be closed, as well.
Will major retailers be open on Juneteenth?
Most major retailers, grocery stores, warehouse clubs and restaurants should be open on Juneteenth, but you may want to check with your local stores to confirm business hours, as they can vary by location.
Is the post office open on Juneteenth? Will mail be delivered?
All post offices will be closed, and mail will not be delivered on Juneteenth, according to the U.S. Postal Service’s website.
FedEx and UPS will operate more or less as usual, and their stores will be open.
Are banks open on Juneteenth?
Most banks will be closed on Juneteenth, as most follow the Federal Reserve’s holiday schedule.
Is the stock market open on Juneteenth?
Both the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market will be closed on Juneteenth.
Will trash pickup happen on Juneteenth?
Trash pickup on Juneteenth varies from city to city, so it’s best to check with your local waste management service to see whether they observe the holiday.
Trash pickup can be delayed by one day if the scheduled pickup falls on a federal holiday.
Columbia will have normal trash pickup on Friday, according to the city’s website. Each hauler in Springfield sets its own holiday schedule. Ozark Refuse, Republic Services and Waste Management are not delayed for the holiday.
Are libraries and DMV offices open on Juneteenth?
Holiday hours can vary among Missouri’s libraries, so it’s best to check whether the ones in your area will be open on Juneteenth.
The Daniel Boone Regional Library network in Columbia and Springfield-Greene County Library District branches will be closed.
All Missouri Department of Revenue offices will be closed on Juneteenth, including driver examination stations. With that being said, some license offices will be operating during the holiday, so check the Missouri License Office Locator to see if your local office is open.
PETTIS COUNTY, Mo. (KCTV) – A Sedalia man is dead and a woman is recovering after a single-vehicle crash, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Troopers say the crash happened around 11:20 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, near the intersection of Route M and Whiteman Rd.
Investigators add that a 2018 Dodge Challenger, driven by a 30-year-old Sedalia man, was traveling north on the highway when it veered off the right side of the road.
MSHP notes that the vehicle struck a tree and a fence before rolling over.
First responders say they pronounced the driver dead at the scene around 11:55 p.m. He was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Authorities indicate that a 26-year-old female passenger, also from Sedalia, suffered minor injuries and was transported to Bothwell Regional Health Center. She was not wearing a seatbelt.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation. No further information has been released.
Copyright 2026 KCTV. All rights reserved.
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