SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 1237
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR STOLL.
Read 1st time February 28, 2002, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
4955S.01I
AN ACT
To amend chapter 160, RSMo, by adding thereto eleven new sections relating to science and mathematics education, with an expiration date for a certain section.
Section A. Chapter 160, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto eleven new sections, to be known as sections 160.950, 160.953, 160.956, 160.959, 160.962, 160.965, 160.968, 160.971, 160.974, 160.977 and 160.980, to read as follows:
160.950. There is hereby established the "Missouri Statewide Initiative for Science Education Enhancement" program (MOSISE) for the purpose of educating gifted and talented students.
160.953. As used in section 160.950 to 160.980, the following terms mean:
(1) "Gifted and talented student", a student enrolled in an elementary or secondary school of this state, including a private, parochial, parish or home school student, who is identified as possessing demonstrated or potential abilities that give evidence of high performance capability or has demonstrated extraordinary aptitude and achievement in mathematics, science, computer science, engineering or other academic subjects, as evaluated and confirmed by standardized academic tests, class rank, recommendations from both the student's teacher and principal, grade-point average, or other supporting information confirming extraordinary aptitude;
(2) "Participating student", a student identified as a gifted and talented student who takes part in a program for at least one semester of a school year and/or summer;
(3) "Participating university", an accredited institute or higher education including two-year community colleges, four-year colleges and universities and research institutions qualified to administer a program;
(4) "Program", an appropriately differentiated curriculum provided by a participating university for gifted and talented students which meets the standards established pursuant to this chapter, and also includes the identification of these students.
160.956. 1. MOSISE curriculum and activities may be developed by the coordinating board of higher education pursuant to section 160.962. Each participating university shall also consider identifying as gifted and talented student who has transferred from a district in which he or she was identified as a gifted and talented student.
2. This program shall include goals which:
(1) Encourage and support science enrichment opportunities for students throughout the state;
(2) Increase and support expanded knowledge of the diversity of career opportunities in science and technology and the breadth and depth of their applications in the workplace and workplaces in this state;
(3) Foster an understanding of the philosophy, nature, and ethics of science;
(4) Improve the subject matter skills of teachers in developing and implementing curriculum materials;
(5) Improve the science content knowledge of teachers and students through interaction with senior scientists in the corporate and higher education communities throughout the state;
(6) Provide experiences in scientific research design, experimentation, data collection, and analysis through the explorations of one or more authentic scientific research problems;
(7) Instruct participants in technical writing and oral presentation of scientific papers;
(8) Improve content knowledge of current topics in science, mathematics/computer science, engineering and other related fields;
(9) Facilitate the development of social skills appropriate for professional and intellectual interactions, cooperation, and leadership in the technological workplaces of the future in this state;
(10) Provide participants with the opportunity to interact with peers of similar academic and career interests, reinforcing their goals and achievements; and
(11) Establish an electronic network among teachers, students, and researchers for continued support and professional development and interaction.
160.959. 1. Participating students who attend a private, parochial, parish or home school shall be in compliance with section 167.031, RSMo.
2. A participating university shall be entitled to state aid for participating students who take part in a program and who otherwise attend private, parochial, parish or home schools. State aid shall be calculated on the basis of full-time equivalent average daily attendance of part-time students as provided in section 163.011, RSMo.
3. Nothing in this section shall change the authority of a public school board to set the schedule of classes for full-time or part-time public school pupils including participating students pursuant to this section.
4. No resident child shall be denied or discriminated against by a participating university, commissioner of education or coordinating board of higher education on the grounds that the child regularly attends a private, parochial, parish or home school.
160.962. The commissioner of education shall maintain regulations governing the following areas:
(1) Procedures that the coordinating board of higher education shall use in identifying gifted and talented students who are eligible for a program and in providing programs pursuant to sections 160.950 to 160.980;
(2) Definitions of special day classes, part-time grouping during the summer and/or academic year, enrichment activities, independent study, acceleration, and other programs that the commissioner of education deems appropriate;
(3) Establishment of allowable indirect cost expenditures that may be funded by MOSISE funds;
(4) Development of a MOSISE curriculum and activities, provided that participating universities shall assist in such development; and
(5) Other areas that the commissioner deems necessary to fully implement the intent and provisions of sections 160.950 to 160.980.
160.965. The commissioner of education shall:
(1) Apportion funds pursuant to sections 160.950 to 160.980 to each participating university for which a request for proposal according to section 160.980 to offer programs pursuant to sections 160.950 to 160.980 has been approved according to sections 160.950 to 160.980 and regulations adopted by the commissioner;
(2) Assist participating universities, upon their request, to design, implement, and evaluate programs funded pursuant to sections 160.950 to 160.980;
(3) Ensure that the expenditure of funds authorized for programs pursuant to sections 160.950 to 160.980 is consistent with sections 160.950 to 160.980;
(4) Encourage the development of locally designed, innovative programs for gifted and talented students;
(5) Assist school districts in the development and implementation of staff development programs related to gifted and talented students;
(6) Encourage the development of procedures that assure the ongoing participation of parents of gifted and talented students in the planning and evaluation of programs funded pursuant to sections 160.950 to 160.980.
160.968. 1. The participating universities that elect to provide programs pursuant to sections 160.950 to 160.980 may establish programs for gifted and talented students consisting of special day classes, part-time groupings and other classroom formats consistent with the regulations of the commissioner of education. These programs shall be planned and organized as an integrated, differentiated learning experience within the regular school day, and/or over summer days, and may be augmented or supplemented with other differentiated activities related to the core curriculum using such strategies as independent study, acceleration, and enrichment.
2. Each participating university shall determine the most appropriate curricular components for participating students.
3. For all programs for gifted and talented students, each participating university shall concentrate part of its curriculum on providing participating students with an academic component and, where appropriate, with instruction in basic skills.
4. Participation in the MOSISE programs may be included as part of a school district's career development and teacher excellence plan pursuant to sections 168.500 to 168.515, RSMo, to the extent consistent with the career plan of the teacher as approved by the school board.
160.971. Subject to any terms and conditions that may be agreed upon, each participating university providing programs pursuant to sections 160.950 to 160.980 are encouraged to file joint request for proposals (RFP) pursuant to section 160.980. Joint request for proposals filed by participating universities shall be given preference in the application approval process of section 160.980.
160.974. The participating universities that provide programs for gifted and talented students pursuant to sections 160.950 to 160.980 may:
(1) Conduct programs, seminars, and classes for gifted and talented students within or without the boundaries of any school district and, for that purpose, employ instructors, supervisors, and other personnel and provide necessary equipment and supplies;
(2) Transport or arrange for transportation of students to or from educational institutions where regularly scheduled programs and classes are being conducted; and
(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require transportation for these services.
Attendance of participating students at these programs, seminars, and classes shall be included in computing the average daily attendance of a school district for the purposes of apportionments from the state public school fund.
160.977. Program funding will be a shared responsibility between the participating universities and this state. The participating universities will provide a match of one dollar for every two dollars provided by the state. Funds provided in support of sections 160.950 to 160.980 shall be used solely for the purposes of sections 160.950 to 160.980. Allowances provided in any fiscal year but not expended in that year may be expended in subsequent fiscal years.
160.980. 1. The department of elementary and secondary education will plan, develop, and provide a request for proposals structure for two-year and four-year colleges and universities and other scientific research institutions in the State of Missouri to develop programs through a competitive proposal process. The department shall assemble a twelve-member review panel of experts representing a cross-section of the government, scientific corporate and higher education communities. The RFPs will be reviewed and judged by the twelve-member review panel. RFPs shall be made available no later than April first of each year.
2. Each participating university shall submit an application for approval for a proposed program for gifted and talented students to the commissioner of education. The application shall be submitted in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner of education. An application shall be approved by the twelve-member review panel for a period of one, two, or three years, or denied, based on the quality of the plan, in accordance with criteria adopted by the twelve-member review panel. Those criteria shall be reviewed by the twelve-member review panel at least once every three years and shall address, but not be limited to, the elements of program design, identification, curriculum and instruction, social development, professional development, parent and community involvement, program assessment and budgeting. The application shall include budget information including separate data on identification and program costs, and any other data required by the twelve-member review panel to administer and evaluate the program effectively. Each time a participating university submits an application for renewal of its authorization, the participating university shall submit a program assessment in accordance with criteria adopted by the twelve-member review panel.
3. Each participating university shall maintain auditable records.
4. Each applicant shall designate, in its application to the commissioner of education, a person with responsibility for the development, identification procedure, and implementation of the local program for gifted and talented students, fiscal management, and the collection of auditable records for the independent evaluation.
5. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections 1 to 4 of this section, the twelve-member review panel may approve an application for a period of five years, if following a site validation of the application by the department, it determines that the program for gifted and talented students is exemplary.