SPS Style Guide

• On first reference, use “Springfield Public Schools.” On subsequent references in the same document, use “SPS.” While “SPS” is preferred for continuing references, you may choose to use “school district.” Avoid using “the district,” which may sound impersonal and bureaucratic. When appropriate, you may use “our school district.”
• On the website, social media or enewsletters where the source is clearly identified as “Springfield Public Schools,” it is acceptable in that content to use “SPS” on first reference.
• Never use “the” in front of Springfield Public Schools or SPS.
• Use of apostrophe: An apostrophe is typically not needed when using Springfield Public Schools. Do not add an apostrophe to Springfield Public Schools when it is used primarily in a descriptive sense: “Springfield Public Schools teacher,” “Springfield Public Schools calendar,” etc. Tip: The apostrophe usually is not needed if for or by rather than of would be appropriate in the longer form. Example: “a teacher for Springfield Public Schools” or “a calendar for Springfield Public Schools” vs. “Springfield Public Schools’ leaders.” Springfield Public Schools is a noun plural in form but singular in meaning so in instances where an apostrophe is needed, add only an apostrophe (Springfield Public Schools’ not Springfield Public Schools’s). When an apostrophe is necessary when using SPS it should be SPS’ not SPS’s.
• Avoid using Springfield R-XII or The School District of Springfield R-XII, which are more legal descriptions of SPS. These would typically be reserved for use on grant applications and other legal documents or when communicating with DESE.

• On first reference, use “Springfield school board” (preferred) or “Springfield Board of Education.” In subsequent references, use “school board.”
• When referencing Board of Education members, always use courtesy titles. Example:  Dr. Denise Fredrick and Mr. Tim Rosenbury served on the committee.

On first reference, state the full name of the school (excluding the first name of its namesake). Example: Pittman Elementary School, not Alice Pittman Elementary School.

In headlines, it is appropriate to use only the namesake portion of the school name. Example: Pittman students perform for PTA.

For combination schools, use the phrase “K-8 School” when referencing the entire building. If referring only to one specific level in the building, use “Elementary School” or “Middle School” in the school’s name.

Example: Westport K-8 School will be celebrating its grand opening Aug. 14; Westport Elementary School students will perform for the PTA.

Launch is an online learning platform developed and led by Springfield Public Schools. The statewide collaborative effort provides high-quality virtual course access for Missouri students. Only capitalize the L in Launch. Participating school districts are
referred to as partner districts. Example: Launch acquired its 157th partner district, Chillicothe Public Schools.

When stating the date of an event, list the information in the following order: time, day, date, place. Example: The PTA meeting will be held at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Harrison Elementary School.

Spell out the name of a month when using it alone or with a year. Do not separate the month and year with a comma (January 2013). Abbreviate the names of all months only in tabular material. Outside of tabular material never abbreviate names of months with 5 letters or less (March, April, May, June, July). When a phrase includes a month, day and year, set off the year with commas.

Example: Graduation ceremonies will be held Tuesday, May 8, 2016, on the campus of Missouri State University. For other information, see AP Stylebook entries for “months,” “dates” and “years.”

Include a full date at the bottom of all articles on SPS.org. Example: Published May 24, 2019

Typically job description titles should be placed after the individual’s name, in lowercase letters. Example: Teresa Bledsoe, assistant director of communications.

“Superintendent” is typically the only title we would capitalize in front of someone’s name. Example: Superintendent John Jungmann, Dr. Jungmann.

Always use Dr. as the title of an individual with a doctoral degree. When referencing Board of Education members, also use courtesy titles. Example: Dr. Denise Fredrick and Mr. Tim Rosenbury served on the committee.

Spell out numbers one through nine; use figures for 10 and up. Examples: two classes, 11 students, first quarter, 10th grader. See exceptions in AP, p. 194.

Ages: Always use figures. Hyphenate when used as an adjective before a noun or as a substitute for a noun: “5-year-old girl” but “the girl is 5 years old.”

Percent: Always spell out (except in tabular material) and always use a figure. Example: 90 percent, 3 percent.

The Springfield Public Schools mobile app is called MySPS. Do not refer to it as a mobile app; refer to it only as the SPS app.

Springfield Public Schools has eight choice programs that provide immersive, year-round learning experiences within a specific content area. Choice programs include: Middle College at OTC, Kickapoo U at Kickapoo High School, Parkview Leadership School at Parkview High School, Health Sciences Academy @ Mercy, Wonders of the Ozarks Learning Facility (WOLF) at Bass Pro Shops, Academy of Exploration at The Discovery Center, the Academy of Fine and Performing Arts at Springfield Little Theatre and the to-be-named Agricultural School at the Darr Agriculture Center. These are the only programs that should be referred to as choice programs.

Race: When describing individuals’ race, do not capitalize black or white. Do capitalize ethnic terms.

Example: There are 142 white students and 18 Hispanic students at Robberson Community School.

Black and/or African American: Students of African heritage are referred to as Black and/or African American, with no hyphen. However, in data provided by DESE, students may be referred to as Black if DESE identifies the group in its data set as Black. Also,
refer to February as Black History Month.

Example: Black and/or African American students from SPS high schools participated in the annual Youth Empowerment Summit at Missouri State University sponsored by the Springfield NAACP Chapter.

NPHC members from Missouri State University met with Black and/or African American students from Glendale High School to discuss the importance of Black Excellence.

Hispanic: Students whose heritage relates to Spanish-speaking countries are referred to as Hispanic, per DESE. Hispanic is not a race, but an ethnicity.

Example: Latinx and or Hispanic students from SPS high schools participated in the annual STEPS 2 EmPowerment conference at Missouri State University which is hosted during the university’s observance of Latinx Heritage Month, in the month of September.

Members of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. from Missouri State University met with Latinx and or Hispanic female students from Central High School to discuss women in leadership.

Note: Terms that are used to describe people or people groups change over time and are fluid. These terms should reflect the time and intention of the publication.

Under-resourced: Students who are not receiving the services and/or resources that they need to be successful and/or live near or below the poverty line are referred to as under-resourced, with hyphen.

Example: Under-resourced students typically struggle academically, with consistent attendance a struggle for most families.

Under-represented: Students from historically marginalized groups (African American, Hispanic, disabled, females, non-Judeo religions, etc.) are referred to as under-represented, with hyphen. Do not use the term minority.

Example: Academic competitive teams are typically difficult spaces for under-represented students, who often encounter obstacles for participation.

LGBTQ+: is an acronym for those who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer. Those questioning their sexual and or gender identity may fall into this group as well. The + symbol is seen as an inclusive way to incorporate other identities and communities under the LGBTQ+ umbrella. When referencing this group and relevant to their learning or role at SPS, refer to individuals who “identify as” a label within this acronym.

Example: The Gay Straight Alliance at Glendale High School supports the LGBTQ+ community. Senior Joe Smith, president of the GSA, identifies as gay.

Disabled: Use person-first language in every instance. Put the person first and the condition second. Avoid words such as handicapped, retardation and mentally ill.

Examples:

“Kyle is a first grade student at Truman Elementary who has autism” not “Kyle is an autistic first-grader at Truman Elementary.”

“There is a classroom of students who receive special education services” not “there is an autistic classroom at Holland.”

Students have an emotional health condition; students are not mentally ill.

Students have a variety of disabilities. Do not use the qualifier of physical or mental disabilities. Never use the word handicapped. Example: Springfield Public Schools provides services to students with a variety of disabilities.

Students with IEPs is preferred over special education students or students with special needs. Example: “SPS students who receive special education services” instead of “special education students” or “students with special needs.”

At SPS, there is a department of special services. There is no special education department. Example: At SPS, there is a department for special education and related services.

Academic degrees: If mention of degree is necessary to establish someone’s credentials, the preferred form is to avoid an abbreviation and use a phrase such as: John Jones, who has a doctorate in psychology.

Use an apostrophe in bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, etc., but there is no possessive in Bachelor of Arts or Master of Science.

Also: an associate degree (no possessive).

Department: Use lowercase except for words that are proper nouns or adjectives: the transportation department, the finance department, etc. Capitalize only when department is part of the official and formal name: Springfield Public Schools Finance Department.

Alphabetical order: When printing a list of students, schools, etc., always alphabetize the list unless there is an obvious reason not to—such as listed in order of prizes awarded, grade level, hierarchy, etc.

Cancel, canceled, canceling, cancellation

Grade, grader: hyphenate in combining forms: a fourth-grade pupil, first-grader. However, “He attends first grade at Wilder Elementary School.”

-wide: No hyphen. Districtwide, systemwide, schoolwide, statewide, etc.

Fliers: Brochure or handout.

Summer School: The annual program held during the summer at SPS is called Explore. Do not refer to this program as “Summer School.” Explore may be referred to as a “summer learning experience.”

Example: Explore will begin on Monday, June 1.

Example: Springfield Public Schools students are invited to attend Explore, a summer learning experience.