Request to Amend Accountability Plans – Missouri – NCLB Policy Letters to States

March 1, 2004

The Honorable D. Kent King
Commissioner of Education
Missouri Department of Elementary
& Secondary Education
205 Jefferson Street, 6th Floor
Jefferson City, MO 65102

Dear Commissioner King:

I am writing in response to Missouri’s proposed amendment to its State accountability plan under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). To improve the validity of decisions for the subgroups of students with disabilities and limited English proficient (LEP) students, Missouri has proposed amending the State’s n-size for these subgroups to 50 students for accountability purposes. I am pleased to approve the amendment that Missouri submitted to the Department on December 9, 2003.

Please be aware that this letter does not address whether Missouri’s accountability system for Title I, including the amendment approved above, complies with Federal civil rights requirements, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

I am confident that Missouri will continue to advance its efforts to hold schools and school districts accountable for the achievement of all students. I wish you well in your school improvement efforts. If I can be of any assistance to Missouri in its efforts to implement other aspects of NCLB, please do not hesitate to call.

Sincerely,

Raymond Simon
Assistant Secretary
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

Decision Letters on State Accountability Plans