DESE: Fake letter on social media is April Fool's Day joke

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

SIKESTON — A fake letter circulating on social media saying the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will not allow students to move on to the next grade level for the 2020-2021 due to school closures caused by COVID-19 is nothing but a cruel April Fool’s Day joke, according to DESE.

“We wanted to share with you that a fake letter is circulating on social media, claiming our Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will not allow students to move on to the next grade level for the 2020-21 school year since COVID-19 caused school closures and the cancellation of statewide assessments. That is not true. This letter is fake and, unfortunately, part of an insensitive and disappointing April Fool’s Day joke,” said Mallory McGowin, communications coordinator for DESE, in a news release late Wednesday.

The fake letter dated April 1 used the department’s logo and was signed by “Candice B. Furreal.”

“We could not be more disappointed that someone chose to use their free time to create this document, illegally using our department logo and make a joke about something as serious as our students' education,” DESE said on its official Facebook page. “This is particularly insensitive given the anxiety and uncertainty so many students and families are dealing with right now.”

To see more, visit DESE’s official page: Facebook.com/MOEducation.

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