HB 249 -- MISSOURI SENIOR CADETS PROGRAM

SPONSOR:  Moore

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Higher
Education by a vote of 7 to 1.

This bill establishes the Missouri Senior Cadets Program for
college-bound high school seniors with a grade point average of
at least 3.0.  Public high schools will establish cadet programs
in which the cadets will assist kindergarten through eighth grade
students with their educational needs for at least 10 hours a
week.  Successful cadets will get an hour of elective credit to
be applied to their high school graduation and may, if they
attend college to become a teacher, be reimbursed by the
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the cost of
three credit hours per semester for no more than eight semesters.

The Missouri Senior Cadets Fund is created and will consist of
all moneys appropriated, gifts, contributions, grants, or
bequests which are to be used solely for tuition reimbursements
under this program.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of $0 in FY
2009, $48,419 in FY 2009, and $5,276,688 in FY 2010.  No impact
on Other State Funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that allowing teaching experience at
a young age is a very effective way of getting good students to
commit to becoming teachers.  Teacher candidates who have early
positive field experiences make strongly committed teachers, and
current teachers and students benefit from the help of the
cadets.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Moore; Missouri State
Teachers Association; and Mark Enderle, Fulton School District.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:18 am