Lawmakers attack DESE while discussing unaccredited schools bill
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Lawmakers attack DESE while discussing unaccredited schools bill

Date: April 9, 2014
By: Christina Turner
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
Missouri lawmakers attacked the state's education department at an education committee hearing Wednesday. KMOX's Christina Santiago explains why legislators are upset and what they're proposing to help struggling schools.
RunTime:  0:42
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: St. Louis County Democratic Representative Genise Montecillo says DESE is failing.

Actuality:  MONTE4.WAV
Run Time:  00:07
Description: "Their only task is to take care of the educational needs of our children in this state and they've just sort of thrown their hands up."

This comes after a House committee heard a bill that would send performance improvement teams to individual schools if test scores do not meet accreditation requirements.

Missouri Council for School Administrators' Spokesman Mike Lodewegen says this bill corrects an earlier school law.

Actuality:  MLODE2.WAV
Run Time:  00:05
Description: "House Bill 2037 just, um, is a wellness plan rather than a hospice plan, which is what we have right now."

DESE did approve a plan in March to support and, if necessary, intervene in Missouri school districts.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Christina Santiago.

Intro: 
Missouri lawmakers are attacking the state education department while they hash out a bill that aims to intervene <STRONG><U>before</U></STRONG> school districts fail. KMOX's Christina Santiago has the latest.
RunTime:  0:45
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: St. Louis County Democratic Representative Genise Montecillo says the state education department is failing.

Actuality:  MONTE2.WAV
Run Time:  00:10
Description: "They haven't engaged with the sponsor of this bill, they wiped their hands clean of this whole process. This morning instead of being here, they're tweeting about Common Core."
 

"Here" refers to a hearing for House Bill 2037, which would send performance improvement teams to individual schools if test scores didn't meet state accreditation requirements.

St. Louis County Democratic Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal says DESE assigned a similar team to her district.

But in four years serving on the school board, she says nobody has visited her schools.

The House Education Committee took no immediate action on the bill.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Christina Santiago.