ACCOUNTABILITY PORTAL (Section 37.850)

This act expands the information to be made accessible on the Missouri Accountability Portal to include all forms of compensation and benefits paid to or on behalf of employees and bonds issued by any public school districts and charter schools, and requires public schools to supply all such information to be made accessible on the Portal to the Office of Administration.

This provision is substantially similar to a provision in the perfected HCS/HB 1750 (2022), a provision in HCS/HB 1753 (2022), and HB 2359 (2022).

PARENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS (Section 161.841)

This act creates the "Parents' Bill of Rights Act of 2022", which requires school districts that receive any federal or state money to provide to parents specific rights and information relating to their child.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall develop policies and procedures for school districts and public schools to follow to accommodate and assist parents in the exercise of such parental rights and to receive information they are entitled to under the act.

No school district or public school shall collect any biometric data or other sensitive personal information about a minor child without obtaining written parental consent.

Schools and school districts shall notify parents of all reported incidents pertaining to student safety as stated in the act.

Civil actions may be brought as stated in the act for noncompliance with these provisions.

These provisions are similar to provisions in HCS/SS#2/SB 761 (2022), provisions in the perfected SS/SCS/SB 741 (2022), and provisions in HB 2195 (2022).

TRANSPARENCY TOOL (Section 161.852)

The act requires the Department to develop a tool within the Department's comprehensive data system that gives access to every school district's curriculum, source materials, and professional development materials.

School districts are required to submit updates to any required information every 6 months and the Department shall update the tool monthly.

This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/HBs 1995 & 1474 (2022) and similar to a provision in HCS/HB 2189 (2022), a provision in SB 645 (2022), and a provision in SB 810 (2022).

SCHOOL BOARDS (Section 162.005)

The act requires school boards, as defined in the act, adopt a school board meeting speaker policy by the 2023-2024 school year. The policy shall contain requirements as stated in the act.

Parents may bring a civil action against the school district or public school for a violation of the policy, and if the district or school is found to have knowingly engaged in repeated violations the Department may withhold state aid from the district or school until it comes into compliance.

This provision is identical to a provision in HCS/HB 2575 (2022).

CURRICULUM (Section 170.231)

Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year all school districts and charter schools are required to post approved curriculum on the school's website. Any changes to the curriculum must be updated within 30 days and notice shall be provided to parents. Any curriculum that is trademarked or copyrighted may not be widely disseminated to the public.

This provision is identical to HCS/HB 2008 (2022).

DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN CONCEPTS OR BELIEFS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS (Section 170.355)

No school or school employee shall compel teachers or students to discuss public policy issues. The act outlines ideas related to Title IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that teachers and students cannot be compelled to adopt, affirm, or profess including but not limited to: that individuals of any race, ethnicity, color, or national origin are inherently superior or inferior and that individuals, by virtue of their race, ethnicity, color, or national origin, bear collective guilt and are inherently responsible for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, ethnicity, color, or national origin.

Students, parents, or teachers may file a complaint with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or the Attorney General for violations of this provision.

This provision is identical to HCS/HB 2428 (2022), similar to a provision in HCS/SS#2/SB 761 (2022), and similar to a provision in HCS/HBs 1995 & 1474 (2022).

JAMIE ANDREWS