Truman School of Government and Public Affairs

The Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC) was awarded the Second Chance Act Pay for Success Grant by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) in March of 2020. This grant provides funds for one or more outcomes-based contracts (OBC) to ensure accountability and improve performance regarding recidivism reduction. OBCs are structured such that payments are tied directly to certain outcome metrics being achieved by a service provider.

To assist the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) with their school improvement process, IPP is developing the Missouri School Climate and Culture Survey (MSCCS), which will be used to gather the perceptions of students, parents, and certificated school staff regarding the quality and character of school experiences, including academic, social, and safety domains.

Since 2020, IPP has worked with Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to evaluate the $33.5 million Preschool Development Grant Birth to Five. Awarded by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and the Department of Education, the purpose of the grant is to help the state coordinate a more effective, high-quality early learning system for Missouri’s children and families.

IPP has produced several reports for the United WE regarding occupational licensing in Missouri.  Since those reports were published, United WE and the state of Missouri have made progress reducing barriers related to state licensing requirements that disproportionately affect women.  IPP will produce a brief to update the findings of the previous research, examine the progress made toward reducing barriers to licensing in Missouri and considerations for opportunities to continue to reduce barriers.