HCS HB 1725 -- TUTORING CORPS

SPONSOR:  Franklin (Walton)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Education-
Elementary and Secondary by a vote of 17 to 3 with 1 present.

This substitute creates a joint program administered by the
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the
Department of Higher Education to provide grants and technical
assistance for volunteer tutors in school districts with high
poverty populations.  Grants will be need-based, and the
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will establish
qualifications for school districts, with highest priority given
to districts with more than 70% of their students eligible for
free and reduced price meals.  The departments will coordinate
efforts to obtain and place tutors, who must be at least 18 years
old.  Tutors will be eligible to receive reimbursement for three
credit hours of higher education in specified subjects at a
public college or university for every 100 hours of tutoring.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Cost to General Revenue Fund of
$204,775 to Unknown in FY 2003, $216,755 to Unknown in FY 2004,
and $222,618 to Unknown in FY 2005.  Subject to appropriation.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that this program should be effective
on two levels, providing tuition assistance for tutors and
additional help for students who need it the most.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Walton; St. Louis
Board of Education; Missouri Federation of Teachers; and Missouri
School Administrators Coalition.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:02 am