For the rest of the article, go to Cunningham Proposes School Accreditation Fix

Missouri lottery sales went from $995 million in fiscal year 2008, the beginning of the last recession, down to $968 million in fiscal year 2009. Then sales went back up to $971 million in fiscal year 2010 before reaching $1 billion in fiscal year 2011.

Missouri lottery officials credit their success to increased marketing efforts, more ticket outlets and more community outreach.

In 2011, the Missouri Legislature allowed the lottery to increase its advertising budget by about 4 percent to $8 million, said May Scheve Reardon, executive director of the Missouri Lottery.

“We were able to do a 12-month campaign. In the past, we really only advertised our holiday Scratchers and maybe one other game. This helps us build momentum and keeps us in front of our players,” Reardon said.

During the past year, new scratchers games also helped boost sales, Reardon said.

One popular new game is a Bass Pro Shop-themed game offering instant winnings of up to $750,000 and hundreds of $500 gift cards as prizes. Another is the Missouri Lottery’s 25th anniversary cruise game in which participants could win up to $75,000 or a one of several seven-night Royal Caribbean International Cruises.

“We have one of the most aggressive prize packages. Our Scratchers are just so fun and exciting. We keep up with trends in the market,” Reardon said.

Lottery proceeds transferred to the state for public education programs totaled $259,424,366 in fiscal year 2011. Monday the Missouri Lottery made its largest monthly proceeds transfer ever, transferring more than $29 million from August ticket sales.

Reardon expects lottery sales to continue to increase through 2012 and hopes to transfer $267 million in proceeds to education this fiscal year.

For the rest of the article, go to Lottery sales up in Missouri, across nation

Cunningham said virtual schools are an option.

For the rest of the article, go to ‘No Magic Bullet’ Will Solve Concerns Over Turner v. Clayton School District

The Senate General Laws Committee approved the bill with no debate on a party-line vote of 6-2, with Republicans backing it and Democrats opposing it.

The sponsor, Sen. Jane Cunningham, said the measure responds to concerns about a recent Missouri Supreme Court ruling. That decision held that students in unaccredited districts can attend schools in adjacent counties, at the home district’s expense.

If the Legislature doesn’t reverse the ruling, city schools fear a mass exodus of students and resources; suburban schools are worried because they would have no authority to deny students when space is tight.

In response, “we just opened up every option,” said Cunningham, R-Chesterfield. “What we’re trying to do is increase supply, particularly in the city, where the children live.”

For the rest of the article, go to Bill opens door for open enrollment, private school funding

Today, the St. Louis and Kansas City school districts spend more than $15,000 a pupil — more than all but the most expensive private schools. Charter schools provide a real opportunity for poor students stuck in failing schools. They also enable teachers and administrators to innovate more freely and force other public schools to improve their performance in order to compete successfully.

For the rest of the article, go to New Year’s hopes from the Show-Me Institute

Virtual Schools