HB 797 -- SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

The Commissioner of Education may grant a waiver of the required
number of school days and hours of attendance in a school year
when a school district in which schools are in session for 12
months of each calendar year (Francis Howell R-III District) is
unable to meet the minimum through circumstances beyond its
control.

The bill contains an emergency clause.

HB 797 -- SCHOOL ATTENDANCE (Kissell)

The Commissioner of Education may grant a waiver of the required
number of school days and hours of attendance in a school year
when a school is unable to meet the minimum through
circumstances beyond its control.

The bill contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

HB 797 -- SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

SPONSOR:  Kissell

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee
on  Education - Elementary and Secondary by a vote of 23 to 0.

The Commissioner of Education may grant a waiver of the required
number of school days and hours of attendance in a school year
when a school is unable to meet the minimum through
circumstances beyond its control.

The bill contains an emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that occasionally through
circumstances beyond a district's control, it becomes impossible
to meet the state's mandatory school year requirements of 174
days/1044 hours.  Rather than amending the statutes on a case--
by-case basis in years when this requirement cannot be met, this
bill permits a school district to request the Commissioner of
Education to waive the requirement if the circumstances of
school closing are beyond the district's control (e.g., weather,
flood, fire).

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Kissell and
Ostmann; Cooperating School Districts of Greater St. Louis; and
Missouri National Education Association

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Becky DeNeve, Research Analyst

HB 797 -- School Attendance

Sponsor:  Kissell

The Commissioner of Education may grant a waiver of the required
number of school days and hours of attendance in a school year
when a school is unable to meet the minimum through
circumstances beyond its control.

The bill contains an emergency clause.