DESE Update: March 17, 2026

Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education. sent this bulletin at 03/17/2026 02:00 PM CDT

DESE Streamlines Certification Support with New Call Center Schedule

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is updating Educator Certification Call Center hours effective April 15, 2026. The call center will be open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with email support available Monday through Friday.

Click here for the full Administrative Memo regarding the Educator Certification Call Center schedule update.

State Board of Education Meeting Set for March 24, 2026

The State Board of Education will meet Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. at the Jefferson State Office Building in Jefferson City.

Time: 8:30 a.m.
Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2026
Location: Jefferson State Office Building in Jefferson City

Click here to join the online State Board of Education meeting set for March 24, 2026.

Click here for all State Board of Education meeting agendas, minutes, and recordings.

Webinar: Missouri Schools — ADA Title II & Accessible PDFs

New ADA Title II updates introduce digital accessibility requirements for K–12 schools, with compliance deadlines beginning in 2026 and 2027. This webinar will cover key requirements, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards, and common compliance risks, with a focus on improving PDF accessibility. Attendees will learn how to evaluate existing documents, prioritize fixes, and begin building a practical accessibility plan. The session will also introduce Accessibility on Demand, a solution available to Missouri public schools to help remediate PDFs.

11 a.m. – noon on Thursday, March 26, 2026
Online webinar — open to anyone.

Click here for more information and to register for the Missouri Schools — ADA Title II & Accessible PDFs webinar on March 26.

MOASBO 2026 Conference Registration Now Open

Registration is open for the Missouri Association of School Business Officials (MOASBO) Annual Conference & Expo (April 26 – 29, 2026). The event features professional learning, networking, a keynote speaker, and vendor exhibits focused on Missouri school finance.

Both members and non-members can register for the MOASBO Annual Conference & Expo through this portal.

Afterschool Grant Applications Open

Missouri school-age afterschool programs can apply for two competitive grants through the Office of Childhood’s Afterschool Program. Applications are due by 1 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2026.

Available grants:
• 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC)
• School Age Community (SAC)

Click here to read the full Administrative Memo for afterschool grant application details, guidelines, and additional information.

Register Now for DCI Summit | May 27-28, 2026

This year’s DCI (District Continuous Improvement) Summit theme, Weaving the Strands of Possibility: Every Student, Every System, Every Day, highlights the collective effort needed to support student success. The Summit will feature keynote speaker John Antonetti, co-author of 17,000 Classroom Visits Can’t Be Wrong, along with engaging concurrent sessions led by Missouri educators sharing proven strategies and successful practices.

Click here for more information and to register for the 2026 DCI Summit on May 27-28, 2026.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, veteran status, mental or physical disability, or any other basis prohibited by statute in its programs and activities. Inquiries related to department programs and to the location of services, activities, and facilities that are accessible by persons with disabilities may be directed to the Jefferson State Office Building, Director of Civil Rights Compliance and MOA Coordinator (Title VI/Title VII/Title IX/504/ADA/ADAAA/Age Act/GINA/USDA Title VI), 7th Floor, 205 Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480; telephone number 573-522-1775 or TTY 800-735-2966; fax number 573-522-4883; email civilrights@dese.mo.gov.

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