HCS HB 1275 -- VIRTUAL SCHOOLS

SPONSOR:  Baker (123)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Student Achievement and Finance by a vote of 8 to 0.

This substitute requires the State Board of Education to
establish a virtual school by July 1, 2007.  Any student in
kindergarten through grade 12 may enroll, regardless of where the
student lives within the state.  State school aid will treat the
student as part of the enrollment of the district in which the
student physically resides if the parent chooses.  The virtual
school will report aid-related data to the district of residence.
A full-time equivalent student is one who completes six credits
per regular term, and each virtual course counts as one class.
The school district will retain 15% of state aid for enrollees
under Section 163.031, RSMo, related to the funding formula and
Section 163.043, related to the Classroom Trust Fund,
attributable to the student; and the virtual school will receive
85% of the state adequacy target attributable to the student.
The virtual school must comply with all laws applicable to school
districts including the state accreditation program, adequate
yearly progress, annual performance report, teacher
certification, and curriculum standards.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of $96,466
in FY 2007, $102,146 to Unknown in FY 2008, and $104,698 to
Unknown in FY 2009.  Subject to Appropriation.  No impact on
Other State Funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that a virtual school can provide
opportunities for students who are hard to serve with a
traditional classroom, whether the need is a specialized teacher
in a small district or a homebound student.  The framework
letting the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
serve as both an access point for multiple providers and quality
control equal to a school district provides flexibility.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Baker (123) and
Moore; Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; Missouri
National Education Association; Missouri State Teachers
Association; Missouri Federation of Teachers and School-Related
Personnel; Missouri School Boards' Association; Missouri Rural
Development Partners, Telecommunications Education Committee;
Keith Fisher; Michelle Lynch; Rhonda Boyer; Shannon and Gary
Jones; and Valerie Fisher.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say a virtual school holds
exciting possibilities; implementing it in a controlled way
through the rule-making process should help satisfy some of the
concerns.

Others testifying on the bill were Missouri School Administrators
Coalition; and Missouri Distance Learning Initiative.

Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:42 am