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Andrew J. Rotherham is a co-founder and External Relations leader at Bellwether, a national nonprofit that exists to transform education to ensure systemically marginalized young people achieve outcomes that lead to fulfilling lives and flourishing communities. Rotherham also works in Bellwether’s Policy and Evaluation practice area and serves on the Virginia Board of Education. He occupies a unique place in the U.S. education sector working across silos. He has been appointed to senior policymaking roles by Democrats and Republicans, works at the intersection of research and policy, media, and practice, and is a longtime champion of heterodoxy, empiricism, and pragmatism in education policy.

Rotherham writes the blog and newsletter Eduwonk.com.

Learn more about Bellwether: https://bellwether.org/
Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Ignasi Grau Callizo is the General Director of International Organization for the Right to Education and Freedom of Education (OIDEL).

Grau holds a double bachelor in Law and Business Administration and a master’s degree in Political Science.

Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

On April 23, 2024, at the Kansas City Public Library Central Branch, Jim Geraghty, Fellow at National Review Institute and National Review’s senior political correspondent, discussed his two reporting trips to Ukraine. Geraghty delved into the broader implications of the conflict and its significance for the United States.

Geraghty writes the National Review’s widely read daily “Morning Jolt” newsletter and appears on the magazine’s weekly “The Editors” podcast. He also co-hosts two podcasts and has authored eight books, including "Heavy Lifting" with Cam Edwards and "Voting to Kill."

This event was co-sponsored by Show-Me Institute, National Review Institute, the Kansas City Public Library, and Show-Me Opportunity.

David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss:

- The need to update Missouri's tax and expenditure limits (the Hancock Amendment)
- The passage of SB 727, the education reform bill, by the Senate
and House
- Metrolink expansion, and more

Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass and James Shuls join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the House passing SB 727, sending it to the governor’s desk.

The bill ended up being quite large. Here is some of what’s in it.

Charter schools could be coming to Boone County. If a group of teachers, parents, or citizens wants to open a charter school and has a solid application, it can now apply to a university or the state charter school board for sponsorship. The group does not need the approval of a local school board.

Eligibility for the MO Scholars scholarship program for low-income students and students with disabilities has been greatly expanded. There are no longer geographic restrictions for who is eligible. The income limits for eligibility have been raised. The total amount of tax credits that can be dedicated to the program was increased from $50 million to $75 million. And the dollar amount of the scholarship was raised to bring the number in line with the Foundation Formula amounts for similar types of students.

Districts in the state’s largest communities must now put a potential switch to a four-day school week to a vote. There is also a financial incentive that will be remitted to any district that remains open five days per week.

There is also an important change to the state’s foundation formula. Previously, students were counted purely based on attendance. Now, the formula will be 50 percent based on attendance and 50 percent based on enrollment.

The minimum teacher salary was raised from $25,000 to $40,000 for all teachers and from $33,000 to $46,000 for teachers with master’s degrees.

Districts will be able to attempt to fill teaching positions in “hard-to-staff” schools by placing teachers higher on the salary schedule than they normally would be.

There are many more provisions to SB 727. It represents a defensible trade-off between increasing options for Missouri students who need them and investing in the system.

Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Patrick Tuohey join Zach Lawhorn to discuss:

– The KC Stadium tax "No" vote victory
– Other Missouri election day results
– The latest on the $50 billion state budget that passed out of the House, and more.

Produced by Show-Me Opportunity