One Good Idea

What if every school in Missouri received a simple A–F grade—just like a student report card?That idea is gaining real momentum, and it could fundamentally change how families understand school performance.In this episode, host Peter Franzen sits down with Patricia Levesque, Executive Director of ExcelinEd—the national education reform organization founded by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. With nearly 30 years of experience, Patricia helped design and implement Florida’s landmark A–F grading system.They discuss:What A–F School Report Cards are (and what they’re not)How Florida went from a bottom-10 state in student performance to a top-10 state—and what Missouri can learnWhy simple letter grades drive accountability, media attention, and real improvementHow to respond to critics who say the system oversimplifies school performanceWhat Missouri policymakers need to get right as they consider codifying Governor Kehoe’s executive order into lawIf you care about transparency, accountability, and better outcomes for Missouri students, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.One Good Idea is produced by the Children’s Education Alliance of Missouri (CEAM).