Missouri to Lead National Pilot on New K-12 Testing Model

Jefferson City, Mo. (KFMO) - The U.S. Department of Education has chosen Missouri as the only state in the nation to pilot a new statewide testing system for K-12 students.

Beginning with the 2025–26 school year, the state will replace traditional end-of-year exams with shorter assessments given throughout the year. The new Success-Ready Student Assessment program is designed to provide real-time feedback to teachers, students, and parents, allowing instruction to be adjusted as learning takes place. Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education says about 200 students will participate in the first phase of the pilot.

Federal officials say the project could serve as a model for transforming how student progress is measured nationwide.