These resolutions were put together and rushed through the Missouri State Senate with little study of this massive overhaul of the two state agencies.  Instead of this “ready, fire, aim” approach, the state should seriously review how combining two large bureaucracies into one mega- bureaucracy would affect education for individual children in our state.   These critical questions just scratch the surface of what must be answered before discussion of combining these two departments can move forward:

• How will a merger of DESE with DHE help better provide information to parents about the performance of their public schools?

• How will a merger of DESE and DHE help parents make better decisions regarding college choices, attendance and student financial aid?

• How will a merger of DESE and DHE, which operate in very different worlds, help them perform their separate and distinct missions?

• How will a merger of DESE with DHE redefine adequate funding of our schools and will that lead to a new funding lawsuit against the state?

• And most importantly, how does this merger increase educational achievement for all children, in all grade levels in our state?

Proponents of combining these departments and boards have said that the move will increase efficiency and lead to a seamless system of education in our state.  Given all of the unanswered questions and lack of details on how the new department would operate, I do not see this as the case.  Proponents have also touted the merger as a cost saving measure for our financially strapped state, but the fiscal note on the resolutions said that “the potential fiscal impact is unknown.”

It is clear that these resolutions are a knee- jerk reaction to the state’s budget crunch.  This issue has had little study and review, leaving many questions as to the effect on Missouri’s children unanswered.  To implement such a drastic change to our state’s education structure without answering essential questions would be bad for the children of our state.  Please call your State Representative and ask him or her to oppose merging the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with the Department of Higher Education.

In conjunction with cost cutting measures, State Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro outlined her proposed plan for reorganizing the department.  Under the plan, the department would operate under two arms.  The first arm would be for administrative and fiscal services.  The second arm would be for learning services.  The reorganization plan also added departments for data systems and early learning, as well as a newly created position for a Legislative Liason.

In addition to budget and reorganization discussions, the Board also approved two applications for charter schools.St. Louis Collegiate will be located in St. Louis and was approved to begin operations in the 2010 – 2011 school year.  Students in Kansas City will also have a new public charter school option, as the Board approved the charter of DeLaSalle Charter School.  The school is one in a growing nationwide trend that is converting from a private school to a charter public school.  This school will also begin charter operations in the 2010 – 2011 school year.

The board also heard updates on Missouri’s work toward the Common Core State Standards Iniative and round two of the Race to the Top competitive grant program.  These are two initives pushed by United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.