Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or DESE, autonomous of the governor and the Missouri State Legislature, administers primary and secondary public education in the state of Missouri. Local municipalities and their respective school districts operate individual public schools but the Department audits performance of public schools. The Department also makes recommendations to state leaders concerning education spending and policies. The department is headquartered in the Jefferson State Office Building in downtown Jefferson City, Missouri.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has launched Top 10 by 20, a major improvement effort that aims for student achievement in Missouri to rank among the top 10 states by 2020.

Goals include:

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