The Missouri State Board of Education has issued St. Louis Public Schools a formal warning after the district failed to submit its annual financial audit by the required deadline — a move that keeps the district accredited but places it under a lower classification and could bring increased state oversight.
On Tuesday, the board voted 6-1 to reclassify SLPS from fully accredited to what the state calls “provisional accreditation.”
State officials said the action signals concern that the district is not meeting key financial reporting requirements, though they said the change does not immediately affect day-to-day operations. In a statement, SLPS acknowledged the decision and said district leaders were disappointed but committed to addressing the issues that led to the downgrade and restoring full accreditation.
District officials emphasized that provisional accreditation does not affect the district’s ability to operate schools, educate students, graduate seniors or maintain local governance. According to SLPS, schools will remain open, instruction will continue and district operations will not be interrupted.
SLPS leadership also raised concerns about the process that led to the decision, noting that an amendment to a broader accreditation motion resulted in the district being singled out despite other districts facing similar challenges. The district said it plans to seek clarity from the state while continuing to focus on improvement.
Under the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s MSIP 6 framework, accreditation is typically based on multiple years of performance data. While the state board votes on accreditation status annually, SLPS noted that changes outside of a designated composite review year are uncommon.
Provisional accreditation can lead to closer state oversight. District leaders said their focus remains on improving academic outcomes, strengthening financial and operational practices, and rebuilding trust with families and the community, expressing confidence that continued progress will support a return to full accreditation.