Missouri

Local control?

Yes

Has your state passed legislation and/or non-legislated rule changes related to the SoR?

Yes.

Dyslexia Screening Guidelines

• Requires local educational agencies (LEAs) to screen students for dyslexia
• Requires LEAs to provide at least two hours of professional development for teachers on dyslexia annually

Reading Instruction Act

• Requires that reading programs utilize evidence-based practices that include the essential components of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension
• Requires that all new teachers of reading in kindergarten through third grade be trained 
• Prohibits three-cueing as the primary method for teaching reading
• Requires LEAs to offer a reading program based on evidence-based components for kindergarten through grade 5

Reading Assessments and Reading Success Plans

• Requires K-3 reading assessments at the beginning and end of each year, plus assessments for newly enrolled students in grades 1-5
• Reading Success Plans must be provided for students with a substantial deficiency in reading and for students found to be at risk of dyslexia or with a formal diagnosis of dyslexia, including parent communication

Policy for Reading Success Plans

• Requires LEAs to have a policy for Reading Success Plans 
• Requires LEAs to provide parents and guardians with suggestions for regular, parent-guided home reading 
• Requires LEAs to provide intensive reading instruction to students on RSPs

Evaluation of Teacher Education Programs, Literacy and Reading Instruction

• Teacher education programs must include coursework in literacy and reading instruction that is aligned with the required certifications. Coursework must include the core components of reading, oral and written language development, identifying reading and language deficiencies, administering assessments, and applying those results in the classroom.

Literacy Advisory Council

• Established the Literacy Advisory Council 
• Responsible for reviewing best practices in literacy instruction and recommending improvements to policy and state law

Does your state have an approved curriculum list?

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has published a list of state-approved materials for grades K-5 to serve as examples of evidence-based reading instruction materials that are aligned with the science of reading.

Was evidence-aligned reading instruction a consideration for the curriculum review?

Evidence-aligned reading instruction was a consideration for the curriculum review. The requirements are located on the Request for Proposals, which can be found at MissouriBuys by searching for High Quality Evidence-Based Instructional Materials (Solicitation #RFPC30034902400335).

Please describe any other instructional-materials work related to the science of reading with links, where applicable

MO is currently completing an RFP in order to review additional K-5 core program instructional materials as well.

Does your state mandate or provide guidance on early screening?

Missouri requires that students in grades K-3 be screened for dyslexia and that K-3 students complete a state-approved foundational reading assessment at the beginning and end of each school year.

Please describe any other assessment work related to the science of reading with links, where applicable

Does your state have policy or guidance related to MTSS that incorporates information on the science of reading and/or evidence-based literacy practices?

The Missouri DESE does not have policy or guidance related to MTSS that incorporates information on the science of reading and/or evidence-based literacy practices.

Does your state have policy or guidance related to instruction and/or professional development

Yes.

Dyslexia Screening Guidelines

Requires LEAs to provide at least two hours of professional development for teachers on dyslexia annually.

Reading Instruction Act

• Requires that reading programs utilize evidence-based practices that include the essential components of phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension
• Requires that all new teachers of reading in kindergarten through third grade be trained 
• Prohibits three-cueing as the primary method for teaching reading
• Requires LEAs to offer a reading program based on evidence-based components for kindergarten through grade 5

The State Literacy Coaches at the Regional Professional Development Centers provide training on dyslexia, Comprehensive Literacy Plans, and Reading Success Plans (Section 161.241, RSMo).  

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education supports evidence-based literacy instruction focused on the science of reading by providing the opportunity for educators to engage in Lexia®  LETRS® (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling), Lexia® LETRS® for Administrators, Lexia® LETRS® for Early Childhood Educators, and Lexia® Aspire®. 

Does your state have state-developed guidance documents or training courses related to the science of reading?

Yes.

Reading Success Plans

State Literacy Plan – Steps to Success Series

Please describe any grant work that names the science of reading and/or evidence-aligned instruction including links, where applicable

The Missouri DESE has been awarded the 2024 Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant. The five-year grant will provide state-wide opportunities for early learning programs, K-12 schools, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) centers to receive services and funds that directly align to the state’s reading initatives. You can learn more about Missouri’s Comprehensive Literacy State Development Program by visiting the CLSD webpage.

Has your state reviewed standards for alignment to the science of reading?

The Missouri DESE has not reviewed standards for alignment to the science of reading.

Does your state have guidance or resources for families related to the science of reading?

The Missouri DESE has not created guidance or resources for families related to the science of reading. However, LEAs are required to provide parents and guardians with suggestions for regular, parent-guided home reading.

Policy for Reading Success Plans

• Requires LEAs to provide parents and guardians with suggestions for regular, parent-guided home reading

Do you have policy or guidance regarding how to leverage evidence-based practices to support secondary students?

The Missouri DESE supports evidence-based literacy instruction focused on the science of reading by providing the opportunity for educators in grades 6-9 to engage in Lexia® Aspire® professional learning.

Does your state have state-developed guidance documents or training courses related to the science of reading and Multilingual learners?

Yes. The Missouri DESE’s English Language Development webpage contains resources on instruction and professional development.

Virtual professional development sessions provided monthly for anyone working with ELs

Does your state have licensure or program approval criteria to ensure Educator Preparation Programs are aligned to the science of reading?

Evaluation of Teacher Education Programs, Literacy and Reading Instruction

• Teacher education programs must include coursework in literacy and reading instruction that is aligned with the required certifications. Coursework must include the core components of reading, oral and written language development, identifying reading and language deficiencies, administering assessments, and applying those results in the classroom.

Missouri requires education candidates to pass a science of reading aligned assessment to obtain teacher licensure: Praxis Teaching Reading 7002. Visit the Educator Preparation Literacy Initiatives webpage to learn more about Missouri’s initiatives.

Do you have a “contact us” website that we can share publicly on TRL Compass?

Email literacy@dese.mo.gov for support or questions about Missouri’s literacy initiatives.

Please describe and link to any other work you would like to share that relates to the science of reading

Literacy Summit

The Missouri DESE hosts a Literacy Summit each year for K-12 educators from all content areas. Educators are provided with two days of high-quality professional development sessions delivered by literacy experts. 

Evidence-Based Reading Instructional Program

Missouri has the Evidence-Based Reading Instructional Program (EBRIP), which reimburses LEA costs for evidence-based reading instruction materials, resources, and support services. 

The Missouri DESE manages the Evidence-Based Reading Instructional Program. Funds are utilized to reimburse school districts and charter schools for efforts to improve student literacy, including, but not limited to: initiatives that provide optional training and materials to teachers regarding best practices in reading pedagogies; resources for parents and guardians to assist them in teaching their children to read; funding for reading tutoring programs outside of regular school hours; stipends for teachers who undergo additional training in reading instruction, which may also count toward professional development requirements; and funding for summer reading programs (Section 161.241, RSMo).

Literacy Coaches

The Missouri DESE funds 31 Literacy Coaches through the Regional Professional Development Centers. Literacy Coaches provide educators with support to assist LEAs in the development and implementation of effective, evidence-based instructional practices and strategies.