Resources for choosing a school

The Children’s Education Alliance of Missouri believes that in order for high quality educational options to thrive and expand, parents have to have access to information about school performance and to resources that will help them make the right choice for their children.

As a result CEAM has compiled the resources listed below to support parents as they prepare to make this decision.

The School Report Card Finder (http://www.ceamteam.org/resources/school-report-card-finder/)

The Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) 5 data released by Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) gives an evaluation of all public schools in a complicated format that does not allow parents to assess a school’s performance the same way they would for their own students. Because the information on the DESE’s website is still difficult to find and understand for most, CEAM has taken the academic achievement, graduation rate, attendance, college and career readiness, and other factors on a 140-point scale for each of Missouri’s public schools and translated the information into an easily understood format. 

It is important to understand that this information is just a snapshot of how a school is performing and currently only represents one year of data. Additionally, for early childhood centers, alternative schools and schools that do not include traditional grade level groupings (i.e. k-6, 7-8. 9-12) these ratings should just serve as a guide and not a definitive report on the school’s quality.

School Visit Checklist

http://www.ceamteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/2014-School-Visit-Checklist.pdf

In addition to understanding the academic outcomes of each school you are considering for your child, one of most important thing about choosing a school is making sure it meets their unique needs. The best, and perhaps only, way to do this, is to visit the school.  A visit to a school you are considering for your child can be complicated and overwhelming. In order to make this process easier and put your mind at ease, CEAM has created a school visit checklist that will guide you through a school visit.

How to Access the DESE Data Portal.

http://www.ceamteam.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DESE-Data-Portal.pdf

There is an incredible amount of data on student performance and school demographics on DESE’s website. The problem for most people is that it is nearly impossible to navigate without some assistance. Therefore, CEAM has created a simple step-by-step guide for parents who are interested in digging into their school’s, or potential school’s, performance data.

CEAM’s mission is to improve Missouri’s K-12 education system by advancing education policies that ensure all families have the right to choose the education they determine is best for their children. An important step toward realizing this mission is providing accurate information about school quality and resources to help parents choose the school that will best serve the unique needs of their children.

Contact CEAM at 314-454-6544.