SCS/SB 652 – This act modifies provisions regarding elementary and secondary education.JOINT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION – SECTION 160.254:
This act requires the Joint Committee on Education to study and analyze the issues and challenges of school districts not classified as accredited by the state board of education.
TRANSITIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT – SECTION 162.079:
This act establishes a transitional school district for any school district in the state that is classified as unaccredited by the state board of education.
The governing board of the district shall consist of three members: one member appointed by the governor; one member appointed by the local school board; and one member appointed by the chief executive official of the political subdivision in which the school district is located. The transitional school district shall retain authority until such time as the district is classified as accredited or the state board of education takes action once the district has lapsed. In addition to supervising the financial and educational operations of the district, the transitional school district may lengthen the school day.
When a school district attains scores on its annual performance review that indicate a score consistent with the classification of "unaccredited", the state board of education shall classify the district as "unaccredited" or issue a report to the general assembly and governor stating the reasons for not making such classification.
LAPSE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT – SECTION 162.081:
This act provides that upon the lapse of a school district, the state board of education may either allow the transitional school district to continue to operate the school district or may dissolve the transitional school district and utilize current provisions for administration of the lapsed district.
MEGA-LOOPING – SECTION 162.626.
This act establishes a pilot program of multi-year teacher-student groupings for the St. Louis school district. Five schools shall provide for groupings to include three grade levels and five schools shall provide for groupings to include two grade levels from kindergarten through the eighth grade. Four years after implementation, the department of elementary and secondary education shall conduct a study of the program.
ST. LOUIS CITY TRANSITIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT – SECTION 162.1100.
This act authorizes the transitional school district for the City of St. Louis to increase the length of the school day. The provisions of this section shall expire upon notification by the state board of education to the revisor of statutes that the school district has attained accreditation after August 28, 2007.
STUDENT ASSESSMENTS – SECTION 162.1159.
This act requires the St. Louis City School District to administer student assessments every six weeks. Any student who does not demonstrate proficiency shall receive remedial tutoring until the student is able to demonstrate proficiency.
ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS – SECTION 162.1165.
This act requires the St. Louis City school district to establish at least one alternative education school for students who cannot be served properly in a traditional school because of chronic truancy or behavioral problems. The school district may apply for an alternative education grant.
COMPULSORY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AGE – SECTIONS 167.031, 167.034, 167.051, Section 1.
Current law requires children between the ages of seven and sixteen years to regularly attend public, private, parochial, or home school. Further, current law allows the St. Louis school district to raise their compulsory attendance age to seventeen under certain circumstances.
This act removes the aforementioned provision for the St. Louis school district and elevates the compulsory attendance age for all children in Missouri to seventeen years of age.
The act establishes a task force comprised of legislators, members of law enforcement, school administrators and teachers, to assist school districts to transition to the new compulsory attendance requirement.
The provisions of this act changing the compulsory attendance age shall become effective on July 1, 2013.
MISSOURI TEACHING FELLOWS PROGRAM – SECTIONS 168.700, 167.702.
This act creates the Missouri Teaching Fellows Program. Under the provisions of this act, certain qualified graduates of Missouri public higher education institutions who are hired to teach in school districts that are not classified as accredited may enter into an educational loan repayment agreement with the department of elementary and secondary education. For students without educational loans, the act authorizes the issuance of a stipend.
For each of the first four years that an applicant teaches in a qualifying district, one-fourth of the applicant's educational loans, not to exceed $5,000 per year, shall be repaid. For students without educational loans, a stipend of up to $5,000 may be issued. At the conclusion of the fifth academic year that an applicant teaches in a qualifying district, an amount equal to $1,000 shall be granted to the applicant. The maximum amount of $5,000 and the $1,000 stipend shall be adjusted annually based upon the Consumer Price Index.
The department shall promulgate rules to enforce the provisions of this act, including, but not be limited to: applicant eligibility, selection criteria, and the content of loan repayment contracts. The department shall create and maintain a coordinator position who shall be responsible for identifying, recruiting and selecting potential students for the program.
The act establishes the "Missouri Teaching Fellows Program Fund" in the state treasury.
The provisions of this act sunset in six years.
This act is similar to provisions contained in SB 243 (2007) and SB 690 (2007).
MICHAEL RUFF