SS#2 HCS HB 889 -- EDUCATION

This bill makes several changes to both elementary and secondary
education and higher education law.

KINDERGARTEN

Students who are otherwise eligible to begin kindergarten in the
fall may attend summer school before their fall enrollment and
be counted for state school aid.

REMEDIATION AND READING

The bill creates a 4-year competitive grant program on the
district or building level to support improved reading
instruction in the early grades beginning July 1, 2000.
Grantees would select a reading assessment or improvement
program and specify goals for improvement.  Funding for the
third and fourth years of the grant is contingent on progress.
If a significant level of improvement is achieved, the
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) may
reimburse the district's match.  Grants may be renewed for an
additional term under certain conditions and must be equally
distributed geographically according to student population.
DESE will create a list of reading assessments and improvement
programs from which grantees may select, although use of
programs from the list is not required.  DESE will also develop
guidelines to help use information from assessment to improve
reading instruction and guidelines for training teachers and
administrators in improved reading instruction methods.

Reading improvement instruction provided outside regular school
hours can be counted for additional hours of average daily
attendance for state school aid beginning July 1, 2000.  An
illustrative list of reading improvement methods is included.

A 3-year pilot tutoring program for state employees who work in
the Kansas City and St. Louis school districts is created.  Such
employees meeting specified requirements may be granted up to 40
hours per year with pay to participate in language arts tutoring
and mentoring programs in elementary schools.

School districts may adopt student promotion policies that
require remediation as a condition for promotion.  Such policies
must recognize that different learners require different
methods; provisions concerning remediation of special education
students are included.  Remediation may occur outside the
regular school day; in this case, the additional hours count
towards a district's hours of instruction for average daily
attendance.  Students who score at the lowest level of
proficiency on the statewide assessments are required to retake
the test the next year; progress towards proficiency will be
reported in the district's annual report card.  In the 2001-2002
school year, this information will be used in identifying
academically deficient schools.

Students cannot be promoted when their reading ability is more
than one grade level below their current grade.  This
prohibition does not apply to students receiving special
education services.

In districts in which charter schools are permitted, a state
university or college providing educational programs to the
district may sponsor one or more charter schools, including
schools that emphasize remediation of reading deficiencies.

The bill establishes a pilot project in each subdistrict of the
St. Louis public school district for explicit phonics
instruction for students up to third grade.

Neither the State Board of Education nor any other agency may
establish a high school exit test or test for a state-approved
diploma.

SCHOOL PLACEMENTS

Currently, institutions that provide a residence for 3 or more
children whose parents do not reside in the district may enroll
children in the district school only under contract for actual
per pupil costs for services or unless the children are placed
by a public agency.  The bill permits enrollment of such
children in district schools, also permitting bill-back of the
district of domicile for local tax effort.  A placement that is
made only for the purpose of enrolling the child in the
district's school or a placement by a public agency does not
qualify under this subsection.  In new provisions, the bill also
permits school districts to receive payment from DESE rather
than the domiciliary district, subject to appropriation, for
excess costs resulting from public agency placements.

ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION

Currently, no provision is made for readmission or enrollment of
a student who has been expelled in connection with a specified
list of crimes under the Safe Schools Act; the bill permits
enrollment in the district's alternative education program if
deemed appropriate by the district.

TEACHERS AND TEACHER EDUCATION

The Missouri Critical Teacher Shortage Forgivable Loan Program
is established to provide undergraduate and graduate loans for
eligible students entering college teaching programs leading to
a degree in a critical teacher shortage area.  To be eligible,
individuals must be full-time students in an approved upper
division undergraduate or graduate program leading to teacher
certification.  Students must declare their intent to teach in a
public school in Missouri in a critical teacher shortage area,
as identified by the State Board of Education, and maintain
certain academic standards during their work.  The bill
specifies the amount and length of the loans permitted at the
undergraduate and graduate levels.  Loans may be forgiven based
on years of teaching service:  for each full year of eligible
teaching service, $4,000 in loan principal plus accrued interest
may be forgiven; for each full year of eligible teaching service
at a high population density, low economic condition urban
school, or at a low population density, low economic condition
rural school, $8,000 in loan principal plus accrued interest may
be forgiven.  Forgivable loans must be repaid within 10 years of
the completion of the program of studies.  The amount of the
loan plus annual interest of 8% must be repaid if a student does
not teach in a public school as required by the conditions of
the forgivable loan program.

The bill also creates the Missouri Teacher Corps for the purpose
of recruiting 50 college seniors or graduates without an
education degree to commit to teach in selected schools for a 2--
year period.  DESE in cooperation with state colleges and
universities will provide intensive short-term training.
Members of the corps will receive financial assistance towards a
master's degree in curriculum and instruction for a 2-year
period, and the degree program will follow a nights-weekends--
summer schedule.

The St. Louis public schools may apply to DESE for a waiver for
retired teachers to teach in reading, math, science, and special
education for a 2-year period without loss of retirement
benefits.

SCHOOL FINANCE

Currently, the definition of operating levy for school purposes
prohibits using a calculated levy when a school district's
actual operating levy exceeds its calculated levy.  An exception
is added to permit districts that increase their levy to that
level by board action before January 1, 2000, or by voter
approval at any time to continue the prior tax rate adjustments
for 5 years.

The bill also sets up a 5-year payback period for districts that
make improper transfers of funds between the incidental and
capital projects funds.  Currently, districts undergo a
deduction of state aid in the amount of the transfer in the year
following the transfer.  A district that applies for the longer
payback period must raise its levy to replace the revenues that
are deducted from its school aid, must have the minimum levy,
and must meet certain certificated salary compliance provisions
during the term of the payback.  This portion of the bill has an
emergency clause.

School districts may use the second preceding year or the
immediately preceding year to estimate enrollment for purposes
of school aid.  Aid to charter schools in districts with
leasehold bond obligations will be adjusted by the amount that
represents the per-pupil share of the bond debt, determined
annually.  Appropriations for remedial reading per full-time
equivalent reading teacher will be increased each year based on
the amount of increase in the appropriation for entitlements.

Certain school districts may allow all pupils not entitled to
free instruction to attend school on the same basis upon payment
of tuition, including pupils whose parents are teachers or
regular district employees.  This provision applies to certain
districts, currently including only Lee's Summit R-VII.

SCHOOL BOARDS

The bill removes the June 30, 2000, sunset date on the Special
School District's authority to operate vocational and technical
programs for St. Louis City and County.  The bill also codifies
changes that the voters of St. Louis County adopted through
Proposition S in November 1998, permitting the SSD Governing
Council to select the SSD Board of Education.

The bill clarifies that if a member in office on August 28,
1998, leaves a vacancy in the St. Louis school board, the mayor
will appoint a successor to serve out the term.  This portion of
the bill is subject to the emergency clause.

School boards must establish a written policy on student
participation in statewide assessments, to be provided to
students and parents each year and kept on file.  The policy may
provide rewards and punishments intended to encourage students
to give their best efforts.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Currently the student representative to the University of
Missouri Board of Curators and other state colleges and
universities cannot participate in a closed meeting.  The bill
removes that prohibition.  A unanimous affirmative vote is
required to close a meeting of the University of Missouri
curators to the student representative.  The bill also requires
that any student representative's reimbursement for expenses be
the same as the other board members and that the student
representative's student fees and tuition are current, unless
alternative payment arrangements have been made.  In a new
section, confidentiality will apply to all University of
Missouri board members and representatives, who may recuse
themselves from any proceeding.

MISCELLANEOUS

The bill changes the provisions on English as the state's most
common language to be the common language of the state as
necessary for reading readiness.  State agencies, boards, and
commissions are prohibited from establishing policies or rules
requiring a person to obtain a state certificate pursuant to a
public school program linking education and careers as a
condition of employment.

HCS HB 889 -- READ TO BE READY PROGRAM (Fitzwater)

The substitute creates a 4-year competitive grant program on the
district or building level to support improved reading
instruction in the early grades beginning in school year 2000.
Grantees would select a reading assessment or improvement
program and specify goals for improvement.  Funding for the
third and fourth years of the grant is contingent on progress.
If a significant level of improvement is achieved, the
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education may reimburse
the district's match.  Such grants may not exclude vision- or
hearing-impaired students if their inclusion is appropriate.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will create
a list of reading assessments and improvement programs from
which grantees may select, although use of programs from the
list is not required.  The department will also develop
guidelines to help use information from assessment to improve
reading instruction and guidelines for training teachers and
administrators in improved reading instruction methods.

Reading improvement instruction provided outside regular school
hours can be counted for additional hours of average daily
attendance for state school aid.  The department is directed to
extend reimbursement for developmental reading instruction under
its remedial reading program down to kindergarten level.
Appropriations for remedial reading per full-time equivalent
reading teacher will be increased each year based on the amount
of increase in the appropriation for entitlements.

A 3-year pilot tutoring program for state employees who work in
the Kansas City and St. Louis school districts is created.  Such
employees who meet specified requirements may be granted up to
40 hours per year with pay to participate in language arts
tutoring and mentoring programs in elementary schools.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Decrease to General Revenue Fund of
$51,889 to $151,889 in FY 2000, $48,353 to Unknown in FY 2001,
$248,264 to Unknown in FY 2002.  Cost to State School Monies
Fund of $1,660,054 in FY 2000, $2,954,829 to Unknown in FY 2001,
$4,381,047 to Unknown in FY 2002.

HCS HB 889 -- READ TO BE READY PROGRAM

SPONSOR:  Fitzwater

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Education-Elementary and Secondary by a vote of 19 to 2.

The substitute creates a 4-year competitive grant program on the
district or building level to support improved reading
instruction in the early grades beginning in school year 2000.
Grantees would select a reading assessment or improvement
program and specify goals for improvement.  Funding for the
third and fourth years of the grant is contingent on progress.
If a significant level of improvement is achieved, the
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education may reimburse
the district's match.  Reading improvement instruction provided
outside regular school hours can be counted for additional hours
of average daily attendance for state school aid.  The
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will create a
list of reading assessments and improvement programs from which
grantees may select, although use of programs from the list is
not required.  The department will also develop guidelines to
help use information from assessment to improve reading
instruction and guidelines for training teachers and
administrators in improved reading instruction methods.

FISCAL NOTE:  Cost to General Revenue Fund of $51,889 in FY
2000, $48,353 to Unknown in FY 2001, and $248,264 to Unknown in
FY 2002.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that this bill is an incentive
approach to get schools to focus on reading in the early
grades.  Research shows that children who do not read at grade
level by the third grade have a greater risk of not succeeding
in school.  Schools need more tools to help identify and remedy
problems with reading as soon as possible.  The bill is intended
to provide flexibility without creating a mandate.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Days and Gaw;
Missouri Association of Elementary and Secondary Principals;
Missouri School Board Association; St. Louis Public Schools
Board of Education; Missouri Federation of Teachers; Missouri
NEA; Missouri State Teachers Association; and Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Becky DeNeve, Legislative Analyst

HB 889 -- Read to be Ready Program

Co-Sponsors:  Gaw, Days, Fitzwater, Smith, Campbell, Boucher,
Williams (159), Ransdall, Carter, Relford

This bill creates a 4-year competitive grant program to support
improved reading instruction in the early grades beginning in
school year 2000.  Districts would select a reading assessment
or improvement program and specify goals for improvement.
Funding for the third and fourth years of the grant is
contingent on progress.  If a significant level of improvement
is achieved, the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education may reimburse the district's match.  The bill also
requires districts to provide reading improvement instruction
when the district determines that a kindergarten through third
grade student does not meet the district's reading achievement
standards and when a student scores at the lowest 2 steps of
achievement on the statewide communication arts assessment in
third grade.  Instruction provided outside regular school hours
can be counted for additional hours of average daily attendance
for state school aid.  Remediation of third-grade reading
deficiency is a reportable item on the district's annual report
card.