In a split vote, the Springfield school board rejected a request from one of its own to publicly support a legislative proposal to strip the Missouri Board of Education of the authority to use state-mandated tests, or other measures, to accredit districts.
Board member Maryam Mohammadkhani, who supports the changes outlined in Senate Bill 814 , made the request during a special meeting Tuesday to finalize the 2024 legislative platform.
She said with the “Education Freedom Act,” state Sen. Jill Carter , a Republican who represents Jasper and Newton counties, seeks to help public school districts and “allow us to effectively compete in the choice market and help stave off the decline in enrollment or expansion of charter schools into the southwest region.”
The bill, which has gained early traction, aims to give school districts more power over which tests they use, how achievement results are shared, and which national agency issues accreditation.
Under the proposal, state board will not accredit the districts and will only be allowed to use test results to satisfy the federal law that mandates testing in certain grades and subject areas on an annual basis.