Perfected

ADULT HIGH SCHOOLS (Sections 160.2705, 160.2720, and 160.2725)

Currently, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is required to authorize the operation of four adult high schools across the state. This act transfers such authority to the Department of Social Services. In addition, the Department of Social Services shall authorize a fifth adult high school to be located in Jackson County or an adjacent county.

The Department shall administer funding to the adult high schools subject to appropriations. For the existing adult high schools, the Department shall maintain authorization for the nonprofit organizations to operate the high school, provided that no more than one organization may be authorized to operate an adult high school in each of the current four locations. An organization may establish satellite campuses for any adult high school it is authorized to operate.

By January 1, 2024, the Department shall select a Missouri-based nonprofit organization to operate the high school, provided the organization meets current law requirements and demonstrates the ability to commit at least $500,000, rather than $2 million, for the necessary infrastructure to establish the school. The act also provides that such organization must limit the administrative fee to no more than ten percent.

Finally, each nonprofit organization must submit an annual report to the Department of Social Services in addition to other entities as provided in current law.

These provisions are identical to provisions in SS/SCS/HCS/HB 417 (2023) and HB 1183 (2023) and similar to SB 199 (2023) and provisions in HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 411 & 230 (2023).

EDUCATIONAL FUNDING FOR STUDENTS BEING TREATED IN A RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY (Sections 163.063 and 167.126)

The act defines a "nonresident pupil" as a child who, at the time such child is admitted to a residential care facility, is domiciled in one Missouri school district but resides in another Missouri school district as the result of a placement in a residential care facility arranged by or approved by the Department of Health and Senior Services or the Department of Social Services or as the result of a court order. For purposes of calculating state and federal aid, a nonresident pupil shall continue to be included in the enrollment of the school district in which such pupil was domiciled prior to being placed in a residential care facility. Educational costs incurred by a residential care facility for a nonresident pupil may be reimbursed as provided under current state law. Costs incurred for a child who was not enrolled in a Missouri school district at the time such child was admitted to a residential care facility may also be reimbursed as provided under current law.

When a child's school district of residence, other than the district of domicile, provides educational services while the child temporarily resides in a psychiatric residential treatment facility for more than three days, the district of domicile shall remit to the district of residence an amount equal to the average per-pupil sum produced by the local tax effort of the district of domicile.

These provisions are substantially similar to provisions in HCS/SS/SB 198 (2023) and similar to provisions in HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 411 & 230 (2023), SB 422 (2023), and HCS/HB 715 (2023).

FOSTER CHILD ENROLLMENT (Section 167.019)

In the event that a best interest determination of a foster child's school district of enrollment is not completed within five business days of such child's placement in a foster home, the determination shall be that it is in the child's best interests to enroll in the district of the child's residence as a result of foster care placement.

OLIVIA SHANNON