Education committee to meet in Cape Girardeau next week

JEFFERSON CITY -- An interim House committee will hit the road next week to receive input from Missourians on ways to improve the state's education system, including a Tuesday stop in Cape Girardeau.

State Rep. Steve Cookson, chairman of the committee, said in a news release that witnesses will be asked to sign in with the topic they wish to address. Each topic will be discussed for 15 minutes that will be divided evenly among people who sign up to testify. The committee may revisit or address new topics at the end of each hearing with any remaining time.

Some areas the committee plans to discuss include ways to help low-achieving and failing school districts, school transfers, early childhood education, Common Core standards, educator evaluations and school safety. The committee will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Shuck Recital Hall at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus.

Pertinent address:

518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.