FIRST REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 84
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR SINGLETON.
Pre-filed December 1, 2000, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
0109S.01I
AN ACT
To amend chapter 167, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to intradistrict public school choice.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 167, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 167.124, to read as follows:
167.124. 1. A school district shall provide for intradistrict school choice, pursuant to this section, at all grade levels for which the district operates more than one attendance center.
2. A school district shall enroll all pupils resident in the district and at a grade level for which it operates more than one attendance center and eligible to attend school at that grade level who submit a timely application to attend the school of their choice, unless the number of applications exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level or building. If capacity is insufficient to enroll all pupils who are eligible and submit a timely application, the school district shall employ an admissions process, established pursuant to a written policy established by the board, that assures all eligible applicants of an equal chance of gaining admission except that:
(1) A school board may establish an attendance area around each school, and pupils resident in the area will receive a preference for enrolling in the school, provided that such preferences do not result in the establishment of racially or socioeconomically isolated schools and provided such preferences conform to policies and guidelines established by the state board of education; and
(2) A school district may also give a preference for admission of children whose siblings attend the school or whose parents are employed at the school.
3. A school district shall not limit admission to any school based on race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, gender, income level, proficiency in the English language or athletic ability, but may limit admission to pupils within a given age group or grade level.
4. The department of elementary and secondary education shall commission a study of the intradistrict choice program established pursuant to this section, and the impact study shall be undertaken every two years. The impact study may include, but is not limited to, determining if changes have been made in district policy and procedures and distribution of resources to the various schools in the district attributable to establishment of intradistrict choice and determining perceived changes in attitudes and expectations on the part of district personnel, school board members, parents, students, the business community and other education stakeholders. The department of elementary and secondary education shall make the results of the studies public and shall deliver copies to the school board of each school district.