WORK GROUPS: This act repeals the requirement that the State Board of Education convene work groups when it evaluates academic performance standards or learning standards.

Each work group must elect a chairperson and a secretary. Additional organizational procedures are described in the act. Any person appointed to a work group by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Governor, or the Lieutenant Governor may be removed by him or her. This act contains procedures for a work group member's qualifications to be challenged and removed from a work group. (Section 160.514)

When the State Board of Education receives comments on academic performance standards or learning standards, it must send copies of all comments to the chairpersons of all work groups. (Section 160.514)

The chairperson of each work group must submit a monthly progress report to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Additional procedures for conducting the business of the work groups are described in the act, including maintaining a quorum, reimbursement of expenses, and substitute teacher policies. Work groups may establish as many grade-level expectations as they believe necessary for each grade level. Work groups must meet to ensure alignment of grade-level expectations. Before the work groups make recommendations for grade-level expectations or academic performance standards, the work groups must ensure they are in compliance with the Show-Me-Standards, age appropriate and developmentally appropriate, and understandable to teachers in that subject area. (Section 161.855)

The State Board of Education may adopt, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education may implement, as written, the academic performance standards developed and recommended by the work groups. If the State Board declines to adopt them, the State Board must provide suggestions for improvement to the work groups. (Section 161.855)

Currently, when the State Board of Education implements a new statewide assessment system, develops new academic performance standards, or makes changes to the Missouri School Improvement Program, the first year of such assessments and performance indicators will be a pilot year for calculating a district's annual performance report. This act increases the one pilot year to two pilot years. (Section 161.855).

These provisions are identical to provisions contained in HCS/SCS/SB 172 (2015). (Sections 160.514 & 161.855)

COUNCIL FOR COMMUNITY EDUCATION: This act creates the Council for Community Education within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The council will consist of eleven members, appointed by the Governor, as described in the act. The council will conduct feasibility studies on the establishment of community education programs; advise the Commissioner of Education and Department on issues relating to the establishment of community education programs; make recommendations for a state plan for community education, as described in the act; and make recommendations for the funding of local community education programs.

This section is identical to HB 89 (2015). (Section 161.960)

TASK FORCE ON SCHOOL SAFETY IMPROVEMENT: This act establishes the Task Force on School Safety Improvement within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The task force will consist of eleven members, appointed by the Commissioner of Education. The task force membership and procedures for the task force's operations are described in the act.

The task force will conduct studies on the following issues: school security features and practices; actions schools and law enforcement officers can take to eliminate or reduce the loss of life and property damage; the establishment of programs within schools to provide instruction in grades seven through twelve on the criminal justice system and make curriculum recommendations; and the practicality and need for the appointment of a director in school safety in St. Louis County.

This section is identical to HB 621 (2015). (Section 161.965)

MICHAEL RUFF