Missouri Schools Struggle with Learning Loss and Attendance Decline

More than half of Missouri's charter school systems and one in six school districts fail to meet state standards for accreditation, according to new data. The annual performance reports, which measure factors such as standardized test scores and graduation rates, show that Missouri school districts and charters scored an average of 77%, down from 96% in 2018. Low teacher retention and student absenteeism were cited as main factors affecting school performance. The data indicate a need for academic recovery, and discussions around school choice policies and the popularity of four-day school weeks are expected to dominate the next legislative session.