Mo. Rev. Stat. § 161.020: Department of elementary and secondary education created — superintendents of schools for deaf and for blind students — appointment.

1. There is hereby created a department of elementary and secondary education headed by a state board of education as provided in Article IX, Constitution of Missouri, and chapter 161 and others. The state board shall appoint a commissioner of education as the chief administrative officer of the department.

2. The department of education, chapter 161 and others, is abolished and its powers, duties, personnel and property are transferred as provided in this act*.

3. The division of public schools of the department of education, chapter 161 and others, is abolished and its powers, duties, personnel and property, with exceptions specified elsewhere in this act*, are transferred by type I transfer to the department of elementary and secondary education.

4. The Missouri School for the Deaf, chapter 178 and others, and the Missouri School for the Blind, chapter 178 and others, are transferred to the department of elementary and secondary education by a type I transfer. The commissioner of education shall appoint superintendents for these schools and members of the advisory boards, provided in chapter 178 and others.