In Missouri, local school districts like Brunswick R-II, Keytesville R-III, Northwestern R-I, and Salisbury R-IV are shining examples of what’s possible when educators focus on kids, not bureaucracy. Yet, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is dragging them—and our students—down with its heavy-handed, test-obsessed centralized control. DESE’s dismal statewide results stand in stark contrast to the resilience of our local schools, proving that the real failure lies not with our teachers, but with a top-down system that stifles innovation and progress. It’s time for Governor Mike Kehoe and the Missouri General Assembly to abolish DESE and let local districts lead the way.

Local Triumphs Amid Statewide Failure

Our local schools are defying the odds. The 2024 Annual Performance Reports (APRs) tell the story: Brunswick R-II scored 90.6% (174/192 points), Salisbury R-IV hit 90.3% (177/196), Northwestern R-I reached 92.8% (156/168), and Keytesville R-III earned a solid 80.4% (132/164). These districts excel in graduation rates—100% for Brunswick, Salisbury, and Keytesville—and in fostering career readiness, with Salisbury and Brunswick both scoring perfect marks in college and career assessments. Their Continuous Improvement scores are near-perfect too, with Brunswick and Northwestern at 100% and Keytesville at 98.3%.

These achievements reflect the grit of local educators who know their students best. But DESE’s statewide data, available through the Missouri Comprehensive Data System, paints a different picture: a measly 43% proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA), 39% in Math, and 37% in Science for 2023-2024. That’s a far cry from states like Texas, where 2023 reading proficiency hit 52%, thanks to less centralized meddling. Our local districts are succeeding in spite of DESE, not because of it.

Centralized Control: DESE’s Testing Tyranny

DESE’s fixation on standardized testing is a chokehold on education. The APRs hinge on Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) scores, turning classrooms into test-prep factories. Local teachers, despite their success, are forced to prioritize DESE’s metrics over real learning. The Show Me Institute has been blunt about the consequences:

“DESE’s lack of transparency and overemphasis on test scores obscures the true state of student performance, leaving thousands without fundamental skills.”
— Show Me Institute, “Missouri School Rankings Project”

This centralized stranglehold isn’t just inefficient—it’s failing kids. A 2023 Missouri Times report highlighted DESE’s refusal to adjust accreditation despite 112 districts scoring poorly under the new MSIP 6 system, with critics arguing it shields underperformance (Missouri Times, “Education Debate Heats Up”). Meanwhile, our local schools—like Northwestern, with its 75% advanced credit score—push forward, but they’re battling DESE’s one-size-fits-all playbook.

DESE’s Flawed Curriculum Mandate

Worse still, DESE ties our schools’ hands with its mandated curriculum, forcing districts to adopt materials that are often substandard or outright flawed. Local schools don’t get to choose what’s best for their students—DESE dictates the standards and approved resources, aligned to its precious MAP tests. Brunswick might ace ELA with a 414.4 MPI, and Salisbury might hit 100% Math growth, but these successes come despite curricula that prioritize test readiness over depth. The Show Me Institute nails the problem:

“Centralized standards lock districts into outdated or poorly designed programs, undermining local innovation.”
— Show Me Institute, “Missouri’s Education Monopoly”

Take Missouri’s lingering Common Core-aligned frameworks—DESE clings to them despite evidence of their flaws. The Federalist has exposed how such standards “dumb down math and reading, favoring rote skills over critical reasoning,” citing stagnant scores nationwide (The Federalist, “Common Core’s Lasting Damage”). Our local districts have no choice but to slog through DESE’s picks, even when they fail to meet community needs or prepare kids for real challenges.

Kids Pay the Price for DESE’s Overreach

Centralized control doesn’t just skew stats or force-feed bad curricula—it robs students of a real education. When DESE mandates test prep and subpar resources over substance, kids lose out on critical thinking and practical skills. The Federalist‘s Joy Pullmann puts it starkly:

“Centralized education systems prioritize compliance over competence, leaving students unprepared for the real world.”
— The Federalist, “Why Centralized Education Fails”

In Missouri, statewide proficiency stagnation—hovering below 40% in core subjects—proves her point. Our local districts show what’s possible when control stays close to home. Salisbury’s 100% growth in Math and Science, or Brunswick’s perfect ELA scores, aren’t thanks to DESE—they’re despite it. Yet, DESE’s rigid framework limits how far these schools can go, tying their hands with red tape, pointless benchmarks, and a curriculum that doesn’t measure up.

End DESE, Empower Local Schools

Brunswick, Keytesville, Northwestern, and Salisbury are proof that Missouri’s education future lies with local leadership, not Jefferson City bureaucrats. DESE’s centralized grip delivers failing statewide results while our districts shine through sheer determination. The Show Me Institute has a clear fix:

“Dramatic reforms [should] devolve power back to districts and parents.”
— Show Me Institute, “Missouri Has an Education Emergency”

Missourians can’t wait for change to happen on its own. Contact your state representatives and senators—tell them to back Governor Kehoe in dismantling DESE. Demand a system that trusts our local schools, not Jefferson City’s failed edicts. Here’s who to reach out to:

  • Governor Mike Kehoe: Office of the Governor, P.O. Box 720, Jefferson City, MO 65102; Phone: (573) 751-3222; Contact Form

Our kids deserve an education system that works for them, not against them.

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