OAK GROVE, MO – Gov. Jay Nixon visited Oak Grove High School to recognize the school district and its students for their continued academic achievement and to discuss his efforts to ensure all students in Missouri have access to a quality education that prepares them to succeed in college and the career of their choice.  To make sure Missouri schools have the resources to provide the world-class education students need and deserve, Gov. Nixon recently announced his commitment to fully fund the state’s foundation formula for Missouri public schools by the end of 2016.

“In order for our economy to thrive, our students must be prepared to compete in today’s global marketplace, and this district’s strong record of achievement shows that the folks here in Oak Grove are rising to that challenge,” Gov. Nixon said. “Today, with Missouri’s AAA credit rating intact and our economy picking up steam, we have a unique opportunity to build on this momentum by investing in our schools, our students and our future.”

Recently, Oak Grove Public Schools scored a 93.6 percent on the 2013 Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) 2013 Annual Performance Report (APR). The district also has achieved attendance and graduation rates higher than the state average.

The Governor also applauded Oak Grove High School for its 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 taken Missouri’s A+ Schools program statewide and added 266 schools to the program since 2009,” Gov. Nixon said. “Today, 99 percent of public high school students in the state, if they work hard, play by the rules, and give back to their communities, are able to earn an A+ scholarship.”

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.

Gov. Nixon has made public education in Missouri a top priority of his administration. Even during the height of the recession, Gov. Nixon worked across the aisle to balance the budget every year without raising taxes or making deep cuts to K-12 classrooms. Math and reading scores have increased on his watch and Missouri’s high school graduation rate is now the eighth highest in the nation. Over the past four years, Missouri has also led the nation in minimizing tuition increases at its public colleges and universities.

Press Release Courtesy of Governor Jay Nixon's Media Relations

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