MO Dept. of Education Upset Over April Fools Day Prank

A fake letter circulated on Facebook Wednesday as an April Fools Day prank that claimed Missouri students would have to repeat their current grade since the coronavirus forced schools to close. The bogus letter illegally used the Department’s logo, and is signed by “Candice B. Furreal”. Department of Education Spokeswoman Mallory McGowin was not impressed.

“We at the Department feel like we have tried to make clear from the start that we do not want our students across the state to be negatively impacted any more than they already are because of COVID-19. We’re obviously disappointed that someone has chosen to use their free time in this way to create the document, to use our logo illegally and ultimately and most importantly make light of what we consider a really serious situation and that is our students’ education. We feel like it’s pretty insensitive, given the current situation our students and families and educators are already facing so much anxiety and uncertainty right now.”

McGowin says they don’t have time to trace the original post.

“So many agencies right now are dealing with so many more important things,” McGowin says. “We really don’t want to give these folks more credit than they’re due or more time and energy than they’re due.”

Similar pranks popped up in Michigan, California and Utah.