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Missouri Teacher Workforce Series: Part 1
Rising Novices, Growing Veterans, and a Shrinking Middle Missouri’s teacher workforce is not as stable as it looks. This first report in Aligned’s Missouri Teacher Workforce Series examines how the composition of the state’s educator workforce has shifted over the…
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Cell Phone Bans in Schools
Cell phones and other personal devices have become a constant presence in schools, raising concerns about disruptions to student learning. As a result, lawmakers in Kansas, Missouri, and other states across the country are taking a closer look at policies…
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K–3 Literacy Policy Brief: Kansas and Missouri (2025)
Early reading shapes every part of a student’s academic future, yet Kansas and Missouri continue to see stagnant or declining literacy outcomes. Nearly six in ten third graders in both states are not reading on grade level, underscoring the need…
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Webinar: Literacy, Data, and the Science of Reading
On November 12, 2025, Aligned hosted a webinar examining how Kansas and Missouri are translating the “science of reading” into policy and practice. The session walked through recent reading data, what research says about effective early literacy instruction, and how current laws…
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Webinar: Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems
On September 10, 2025, Aligned partnered with the Data Quality Campaign (DQC) to host a webinar introducing Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDSs) and their role in aligning education and workforce priorities. SLDSs help states connect data across systems, inform policy, and provide valuable…
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Webinar: Property Taxes & Education Funding
On July 16, 2025, Aligned’s second webinar examined the vital link between property taxes and education funding in Kansas and Missouri. Property taxes remain the primary source of local school revenue, yet reliance on property wealth can create disparities between districts. The session…
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Webinar: Special Education Funding in Kansas & Missouri
On May 14, 2025, Aligned hosted the first webinar in its bi-monthly series, focusing on how Kansas and Missouri fund special education. The session provided an overview of how both states allocate resources for students with disabilities, the fiscal pressures facing school…
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Investing Early: Missouri Districts Putting Pre-K Policy into Practice
Investing Early: Missouri Districts Putting Pre-K Policy into Practice shows what early childhood policy looks like when it’s implemented well — and what it unlocks for kids, families, and communities. The report highlights how Missouri’s pre-K investments (including foundation formula access,…
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Aligned Case Study: Marquand-Zion R-VI
In one of Missouri’s smallest and most rural districts, Marquand-Zion R-VI is delivering a high-quality pre-K experience for children facing steep barriers to school readiness, often with limited access to child care, transportation, or early learning supports. With help from…
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Aligned Case Study: Stanberry R-II
Stanberry R-II shows what’s possible when small districts have stable support to sustain and strengthen preschool. Using the Missouri Quality Pre-K (MOQPK) grant, the district reduced pressure on local dollars, reinforced early readiness, and built stronger connections with families through regular engagement…
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Aligned Case Study: Branson R-IV
Branson R-IV has built one of the region’s most expansive and inclusive early learning programs — now serving more than 200 children across 11 preschool classrooms. By braiding Missouri Quality Pre-K (MOQPK) grant funding with the state’s 8% ADA foundation formula funding,…
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Aligned Case Study
In this case study, we showcase the success of the Visiting Scholars Certification Pathway. In 2018, Aligned worked with the Missouri General Assembly to pass legislation establishing and expanding the Visiting Scholar Certificate. This certificate is available to individuals with…
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Access nonpartisan research and news about the policies shaping education in Kansas and Missouri.