The Fort Osage School District is preparing for changes in the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP), the state's accountability system for school districts.  As our world continues to change and the work force becomes more globally competitive, it is our responsibility as a community to do everything we can to prepare our children for success.

 The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (the Department) has had a defined a set of standards for all districts in the state since 1990.  These standards (performance, resource and process) have assisted Missouri school districts to focus on continual school improvement.  Each year, the Department generates an Annual Performance Report (APR) for each district.  This performance accountability tool is used to review our district’s performance.  The State Board of Education accredits districts through the MSIP.

Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, Missouri will begin using a new generation accountability system, MSIP 5. The primary goal of MSIP 5 is to ensure all students are prepared for success in college and/or careers. The state’s goal of becoming one of the top 10 performing states in education by the year 2020 means our students will be ready for success in a global economy. We want to ensure that all students are prepared for success in college and/or careers.  MSIP 5 sets high expectations for each child. We value the challenge of continuing to improve academic achievement and opportunities for all of our children.

As a parent, we want you to be aware of some of the main differences in
MSIP 5:

• Academic achievement standards will be based on the content area (for example, English language arts) rather than grade span (for example, 3-5 English language arts).
• Annual Performance Reports (APR’s) will be calculated both for the district and your child’s building.
• Calculations used in MSIP 5 differ from those used for MSIP 4 APRs.  As an example, in the 4^th cycle of MSIP, attendance was calculated for the entire district. In MSIP 5, attendance is based on an individual child. Are 90% of our students in attendance 90% of the time? As our district adjusts to the new performance standards, we fully expect increases in achievement each year.
• The Distinction in Performance designation expired with MSIP 4^th Cycle. The new MSIP 5 classification of “Accredited with Distinction” will be made based on three years of data during the 2014-15 school year. 

As we make the transition to the new standards and MSIP 5, we appreciate your comments and continued involvement in the district’s ongoing improvement efforts. We are confident that with your support and assistance, our children will exceed the state’s expectations.