HCS SS SCS SB 894 -- EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES

SPONSOR:  Nodler (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 changes the laws regarding educational standards
and guidelines.  In its main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Requires school districts that have a levy lower than the
performance levy of $3.43 to certify to the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education that they are providing an
adequate education.  If the district asserts it is not providing
an adequate education, the presumption is that insufficient local
effort is causing the inadequacy (Section 163.021, RSMo);

(2)  Requires districts to adopt anti-bullying policies
containing elements specified in the substitute (Section
160.775);

(3)  Requires the department to establish guidelines for early
childhood education programs in Title I or Missouri Preschool
Project schools that focus on well prepared teachers, cognitive,
language, social and emotional development, and assessment of
family needs (Section 161.213);

(4)  Requires the department to establish guidelines for a
Missouri Virtual Public School pilot project by July 1, 2007, and
specifies fiscal and accountability requirements for the project
(Section 161.670); and

(5)  Requires the department to initiate a ready to work
certificate for high school seniors who volunteer to meet
standards that indicate they are ready for entry-level employment
(Section 1).

The provision requiring certain school districts to certify to
the department that they are providing an adequate education
contains an emergency clause.

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.  No impact on Other State Funds in FY 2007,
FY 2008, and FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill gives school districts
the chance to assert their adequacy.  The bill is an outgrowth of
the ongoing school finance litigation.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Nodler; and Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say it could have the
unintended consequence of undercutting the state's position in
the adequacy lawsuit, being viewed as intimidating, highlighting
some districts' inability to reach the performance levy, and
weakening the non-tax-driven aspect of the foundation formula
enacted by Senate Bill 287 in 2005.

Others testifying on the bill was Missouri National Education
Association.

Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:46 am