HCS SS SCS SB 912 -- VIRTUAL PUBLIC SCHOOL

SPONSOR:  Goodman (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 public 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
consider the student as part of the enrollment of the district in
which the student physically resides if the parent chooses.  The
virtual public 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 the
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.  The virtual
public school will receive 85% of the state adequacy target
attributable to the student.  The virtual public 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.  The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
must ensure that multiple providers are available from whom the
curriculum may be obtained.

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 appropriations.  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 for a specialized
teacher in a small district or assistance for a homebound
student.  The framework allowing the Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education to serve as both an access point for multiple
providers and quality control equal to that of a school district
provides flexibility.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Goodman; Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education; Missouri National Education
Association; Missouri State Teachers Association; Missouri School
Boards' Association; and Missouri Chamber of Commerce and
Industry.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say that the members of
the high school activities association will have to vote to amend
its by-laws to allow students in a virtual school to participate.

Others testifying on the bill was Missouri School Administrators
Coalition.

Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative Analyst

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