The governor also took the opportunity to tout his education policies, his efforts to ensure all students across Missouri have access to a quality education that prepares them for college and the career of their choice.
“To keep our economy growing, we must continue to prepare our students to compete in today’s global marketplace,” Gov. Nixon said.
“With strong public schools like Mound City, students in the Show-Me State are demonstrating that investing in education is an investment in our future. Today, with Missouri’s AAA credit rating intact and our economy moving forward, we have a unique opportunity to build on these achievements by making smart investments in our schools and our students.”
Recently, Mound City Public Schools scored a 93.9 percent on the 2013 Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) 2013 Annual Performance Report (APR). The district’s attendance rate and graduation rate have also been consistently higher than the state average, with the graduation rate achieving 100 percent in the last two years.
“We are very proud of the students, parents, teachers and staff here in Mound City for their accomplishments and commitment to education,” said Ken Eaton, Superintendent. “Mound City is a community that supports and values our public schools and the role teachers play in on our students’ continued success. Education is a key principle of the foundation of character we help build every day in our classrooms.”
The Governor also applauded Mound City High School for its recent Missouri A+ designation, which allows qualified students to apply for scholarships for two years of tuition and fees at any of Missouri’s community colleges. In January, Gov. Nixon set a goal of giving every student in the state the opportunity to earn an A+ Scholarship.
“Over the past four years, we’ve worked to prepare more students to succeed in college and their careers by adding 266 schools to Missouri’s A+ Schools program since 2009,” Gov. Nixon said. “Today, 99 percent of public high school students in Missouri, if they work hard and play by the rules, can earn an A+ scholarship and attend two years of community college tuition free.”
Under the A+ program, Missouri students can earn a scholarship to cover the cost of tuition and academic fees for two years at any public two-year community college or technical school in the state. To be eligible for the program, students must meet academic achievement standards, conduct and attendance requirements, and perform 50 hours of tutoring or mentoring service.