The Senate has continued its work on one of the most important topics of this legislative session. In December, I filed Senate Bill 1, which deals with student transfers in unaccredited school districts.  The bill also deals with retention in unaccredited school districts, charter schools, accreditation by building and gives power to the State Board of Education to intervene in the organization of unaccredited districts.  Improving struggling schools across Missouri is one of the many issues I am confronted with each session as the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee. 

In 1993 the General Assembly enacted legislation that allowed students in unaccredited districts to transfer to accredited school districts in the same or adjoining county. This provision was triggered in 2013 when thousands of students in the Normandy and Riverview Gardens school districts transferred out of their unaccredited districts and into nearby schools. As this issue has evolved, the Legislature has continued to work on a solution to make sure every student in Missouri has the opportunity to learn and be productive citizens.

The Senate recently took up and passed House Bill 42, which includes many provisions of Senate Bill 1, as well as parts of Senate Bills 22, 49 and 70, all dealing with transfers of unaccredited districts. These bills come from both sides of the aisle, making this bill a true bipartisan effort.  Last Session, the Legislature passed and sent Senate Bill 493 to the governor. This bill would have given many of the same options to students, parents and school districts that are in both Senate Bill 1, as well as House Bill 42. With the Senate’s final vote, the bill will be sent to a conference committee where the differences between the House and Senate will be worked out before it is again voted on and sent to the governor for his consideration.

We continue to work with local school districts and elected officials across the political spectrum, as well as with the governor, to create a piece of legislation that fits school districts across the state. A solution to these failing schools is long overdue and I am optimistic that a workable solution will be found in the conference committee, and a bill will be sent to the governor and signed into law before the May 15 session deadline. 

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or (573) 751-2272, or by fax at (573) 526-7381.