UPDATES ON EDUCATION RESEARCH AND POLICY
NEW POSTS WEEKLY!
We want to help lawmakers, educators, and families make decisions about education by providing updates on national, regional and Missouri-specific research. While we strive to be objective, we want to facilitate discussion and will occasionally offer our own views on this blog.
Student Engagement with Generative AI Chat Bots and the Future of Technology in Missouri Schools
As concerns grow and information comes out about the dangers of GAI, policymakers, educators, and caregivers continue to look for ways to support all students in a technology-ridden world.
Missouri Governor Kehoe Announces New Schools Accountability System
On January 13, 2026, Governor Michael Kehoe signed Executive Order 26-01. This executive order directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to create a new accountability system for schools in Missouri. The order requires the new system to include an A–F school and district grading framework. DESE must outline new guidelines for the A-F system for elementary, middle, and high schools.
Statewide Ban on Cell Phones in Missouri Schools: What Does It Mean, Who is Affected, and How Do Missouri Voters Feel About it?
On July 9, 2025, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill 68 into law, enacting a statewide ban on electronic communication devices in Missouri public and charter schools beginning with the 2025–26 academic year. This bill comes in response to growing concerns among Missourians about technology in the classroom and reflects a broader desire to promote educational attainment, safety, and effective working environments for employees in Missouri schools.