Education

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released the state’s 2012 school test scores Tuesday. And while the data show a small but fairly consistent improvement across most subjects, Columbia still has some work to do in a few categories.

The Missouri Assessment Program, or MAP, tests students from third grade through high school in areas such as communication arts, math and science. For the 2012 school year, the Columbia district met all 14 state standards to remain an accredited district.

Out-of-state students are becoming increasingly important to universities in Missouri and Kansas, which are trying to make up for cuts in higher education funding.

The Missouri treasurer's office will have a team at the State Fair to help people determine if they have any unclaimed property being held by the state.

State Treasurer Clint Zweifel says his office has about $700 million in unclaimed property. Members of his office's unclaimed property team will be at the Mathewson Exhibition Center throughout the fair.

The fair runs was opening Thursday and runs through Aug. 19.

Zweifel says more than 400 account owners found $90,000 at the fair last year. People can also search for unclaimed property on the treasurer's website.

Gov. Jay Nixon is helping kick off the events at the 110th annual Missouri State Fair.

Nixon planned to purchase ticket for the fair Thursday in Sedalia, then greet attendees at the entrance gate before taking part in the official opening ceremony.

The fair runs from Thursday through Aug. 19. It features the standard fair attractions — lots of livestock, carnival-style rides, concerts and shows and, of course, food.

Nixon and many other politicians plan to be on hand Aug. 16 for the fair's annual governor's ham breakfast.

Updated at 4:55 with comments from interim dean Thomas Keefe.

Updated at 4:20 with comments from current Student Bar Association president

Updated 3:58 p.m. with letter from Biondi to staff via Saint Louis University.

Updated at 2:40 p.m. with comments from former Student Bar Association vice president.

Will be updated.

Annette Clark, dean of the Saint Louis University School of Law, resigned this morning.

In two letters obtained by St. Louis Public Radio (which you can read below), Clark details her reasons for leaving. Clark says she "no longer [has] confidence" in the abilities of President Lawrence Biondi or Vice President of Academic Affairs Manoj Patankar to lead the University.