SB 603 – For the school year beginning July 1, 2011, students currently enrolled in a public school may enroll in a public school in another school district. This act does not apply to the Kansas City or St. Louis City school districts. The student's parent or guardian must notify the child's school district of residence and the receiving district by January 15 of the preceding school year of the intent to change the child's enrollment on an application prescribed the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. If a parent fails to provide notification by January 15, he or she may do so until the third Friday in July of that calendar year provided that the parent has good cause to do so, as described in the act. An application for enrollment may be granted at any time with the approval of the child's school district of residence and the receiving district.
Each school district must adopt a policy outlining appropriate class size and teacher-pupil ratios for all grade levels. No school district is required to admit students if doing so would violate its class size and teacher-pupil ratio. If a school district denies entry to any student, it must state grounds for such denial. School districts must maintain records on the number of transfers requested into and out of the district, the number of pupils it accepts, and the number of pupils it denies.
A parent who enrolls his or her child in another school district under this act may return the child to the school district of residence at a later time. If the parent returns the child to the school district of residence, the parent cannot reenroll the child in the other school district. However, the parent may request enrollment in a different school district by following the procedures in this act.
For students receiving special education services, a request to enroll in another district will only be approved if the receiving district maintains a special education program appropriate for the child. Also, the child's enrollment in the receiving district must not exceed the maximum class size. In addition, a member of the IEP team in the school district of residence must be part of the IEP team in the receiving district for any initial planning sessions. The board of education of the school district of residence must pay the receiving district the actual costs incurred in providing the special education.
Any students who enroll in other school districts under this act will be counted, for state school foundation aid purposes, in the student's school district of residence. The school district of residence must pay the receiving district for the student's attendance as described in the act. If a student enrolled in another school district under this act moves to a different school district during the academic year, the first school district of residence must continue paying the receiving district for the remainder of the school year. The new school district of residence must pay for any subsequent years.
The parent is responsible for providing transportation. A school district may provide transportation to a student to and from a point on an existing bus route provided the parent transports the child to that point.
Participation in interscholastic athletics will be governed by the requirements and eligibility standards of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA).
This act is substantially similar to HB 2462 (2010), SB 373 (2009) and is similar to SB 537 (2009) and HB 2482 (2008) and is substantially similar to a provision contained in HB 2464 (2010).
MICHAEL RUFF