POLICY BRIEFS

Medium-length Pieces on Pertinent Topics

Our policy briefs ask and address contemporary questions in education research. They might offer an in-depth exploration of a new policy, a short description of a proposed program, or simply highlight the ongoing research occurring right here in the PRiME Center.

You can access all of our policy briefs by topic and author below!

 
Featured
MO Parent Poll 2024
MO Parent Poll 2024

The PRiME Center at Saint Louis University and the Office of Education Policy at the University of Arkansas commissioned YouGov to survey 900 Missouri and Arkansas parents of school-aged children to find out what they think about the education issues facing their communities. The poll was administered from May 16 to June 3, 2024. This full report with citations can be found on PRiME’s website HERE. In the following slide deck, we summarize only the Missouri parents’ responses (n = 450).

Missouri MAP Results: 2024 Edition
Missouri MAP Results: 2024 Edition

Scores on the Missouri MAP test are effectively flat from 2023 to 2024. Math scores have mostly returned to pre-pandemic levels. ELA scores have yet to recover, especially at the early grades, which remain at 2021 levels. This reflects a larger trend of declining early literacy rates.

This brief is a PRiME Center rapid analysis, released the same day as the Missouri MAP score results.



One Million: Key Trends Across the K-12 Population in Missouri
One Million: Key Trends Across the K-12 Population in Missouri

In this report, we bring together multiple publicly-available datasets and examine trends in public and non-public school enrollment over the past 16 years.

Early Risers: High School start times across missouri
Early Risers: High School start times across missouri

This brief examines trends in high school start times across the state of Missouri.

Missouri School Discipline Trends: Analyzing Inequities in Out-of-School Suspensions
Missouri School Discipline Trends: Analyzing Inequities in Out-of-School Suspensions

This brief examines trends in the types of reported disciplinary incidents in K–12 Missouri schools and analyzes demographic trends in the assignment of out-of-school suspensions.

Where, When And What Happens After Students Transfers Before Year-End?
Where, When And What Happens After Students Transfers Before Year-End?

In this brief, our partners at Saint Louis Research Practice Collaborative analyze student mobility in Saint Louis schools.

Missouri Charter School Expansion Legislative Testimony
Missouri Charter School Expansion Legislative Testimony

In this brief, we highlight poll results on public opinion regarding charter school expansion.

What High School Did You Go To?
What High School Did You Go To?

In this brief, we analyze the rapidly changing high school landscape in Saint Louis between 2011-2023.

After COVID: Changes in Missouri MAP and NAEP Scores
After COVID: Changes in Missouri MAP and NAEP Scores

In this brief, we analyze the newly released state test scores alongside national test score trends over the last five years.

Four Day School Weeks and School Staffing Shortages
Four Day School Weeks and School Staffing Shortages

In this brief, we explore the relationship between four-day school week policies and teacher shortages in Missouri.

District Leave Benefits and Early Career Female Teachers in Missouri
District Leave Benefits and Early Career Female Teachers in Missouri

In this brief, we analyze how varying school district leave benefits might affect the Missouri teacher pipeline - especially among early career female teachers.

Who transfers before school's out?
Who transfers before school's out?

In this brief, our partners at Saint Louis Research Practice Collaborative analyze student mobility in Saint Louis schools.

Theme & Variation: Missouri Charter and Magnet Schools
Theme & Variation: Missouri Charter and Magnet Schools

In this brief, we analyze variation in charter and magnet schools based on their curriculum, pedagogy, and student body focus. This is a first-of-its-kind analysis for Missouri.

Open Enrollment in Missouri: Current Policies and Proposals
Open Enrollment in Missouri: Current Policies and Proposals

In this policy brief, we describe Missouri’s current open enrollment policy and outline a current proposal, House Bill 253, being considered to further increase students’ ability to transfer to schools located in other districts. We also discuss key elements of interdistrict open enrollment policies that must be considered in policy design to ensure all students and schools benefit.

Missouri School Accountability: Current and Future Directions for Elementary and Middle Schools
Missouri School Accountability: Current and Future Directions for Elementary and Middle Schools

In this policy brief, we build on our previous brief, Missouri's School Accountability System, and take a deeper dive into two specific components of school accountability systems—school rating systems and accountability indicator weights. We discuss the weight of academic growth within performance indicators at the elementary and middle school level and consider the proposed changes to these areas under SB 341 and HB 558. We add evidence by examining school accountability systems in states with high growth and conclude by providing policy recommendations based on our findings.