SCHOOLS TO HOST AREA MEETING

The Cape Girardeau School District will host a state educational conference Oct. 7 at Central High School.

The conference, sponsored by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. It is the seventh of 10 meetings being held throughout the state in September and October.

The meetings will provide an overview of the long-range school improvement plan adopted last fall by the State Board of Education.

That plan includes a list of about 25 proposals for state and local methods of improving the quality of public education.

Major recommendations in the plan include: stronger policies concerning student accountability; development of a "K-14" plan to provide access to at least two years of education after high school for every student who meets defined eligibility standards; adoption of formal security plans for each building and campus; and providing access to high-quality preschool and child care opportunities for every child and family.

"We want to find out what Missourians think about these ideas and what steps local school districts are already taking to continue the state's progress in improving public education," said Commissioner of Educaiton Robert E. Bartman.

Conference participants will discuss ways to improve public education during the next decade and will be asked to suggest ways the state can support local school improvements.

Each of the state's school districts has been asked to bring a delegation to the conference in their region.