Show-Me Institute

It is no kindness to promote a child through school who cannot read.

Research shows that, at least in the early grades, retained students benefit tremendously in terms of on-grade academic performance when they are held back.

The Value of the Threat of Grade Retention As we look ahead to Missouri’s 2027 legislative session, literacy reform is likely to be one of the top education issues. States like Mississippi and Louisiana have surged past Missouri […]

Midtown's proposed $39M TIF district in St. Louis would let an unelected board redirect 23 years of future tax growth to its own projects:

Midtown St. Louis TIF Deal Is as Bad as It Gets A version of the following commentary appeared in the St. Louis Business Journal. There is a proposal for a $39 million tax-increment financing (TIF) district in the Midtown area of […]

If communities resist handing out tax incentives, ensure additional revenues turn into broad tax cuts, and focus on removing barriers that could hinder timely development, then data centers could become a genuine opportunity rather than a threat.

How Missouri Communities Can Keep Data Centers from Raising Utility Bills A version of the following commentary appeared in the Kansas City Star. Many communities are unsure how to respond to data-center proposals. The upside is real. Data centers have multi-billion-dollar […]

Sunday Read from Elias Tsapelas: Missouri has gradually boxed its tax policy into an unenviable corner. The sales tax reflects an economy that no longer exists, while the state’s heavy reliance on the income tax makes it less competitive with other states.

Opinion: Missouri tax policy has boxed in our growth. Amd. 5 frees it. Opinion: Amendment 5 would allow additional income tax cuts only when revenue growth shows the state can afford them.

From Avery Frank: This simple step would help address Missouri's growing reading crisis:

Teacher Preparation in Missouri Is Getting a Failing Grade Missouri ranks 44th nationally in teaching the science of reading. Are our future teachers equipped to tackle the literacy crisis?

New from Susan Pendergrass: Columbia Public Schools is fighting to keep a new charter school out of Columbia — while some of its own schools have math proficiency rates in the single digits:

CPS math scores show why new charter school is needed | Opinion Math proficiency scores at some Columbia public schools show the need for a new charter school, the Show-Me Institute's Susan Pendergrass writes.

David Stokes runs through a few local issues on the ballot in the upcoming August 4 election:

Local Issues on the Ballot in Missouri This August There are several cities and counties seeking to have new taxes or bond issues approved by voters on August 4. These include several major bond issues in Kansas City, a […]

NEW from Patrick Tuohey: Missouri's Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against Kansas City for violating anti-discrimination laws.

Last month, Patrick spoke with Lee's Summit civil rights attorney Jonathan Whitehead on Mundo in the Morning on KCMO Talk Radio about the legal history behind Kansas City's contracting program and why the city may be in legal jeopardy.

Read more about the lawsuit and listen to the interview:

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Missouri has taken an important step toward phone-free classrooms.

Missouri Earns a “B” on Cell-Phones-in-Schools Report Card Missouri received a “B” on a national report card evaluating state policies on cell phone use in schools. This grade, available at phonefreeschoolsreport.org, places Missouri in the top half of […]