This act is similar to SB 589 (2023) and SB 1208 (2024).

OLIVIA SHANNON

The school board of each school district shall determine the district's capacity to accept student transfers in each grade level and in each school in the district. Each school board shall provide this information to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) beginning on July 15, 2027, and by the first day of each month thereafter. DESE shall publish and update the capacity of each district's grade levels and schools on its website. (Section 167.895)

Parents of students who wish to transfer shall notify DESE by August 1, 2027, and by the first day of each month thereafter, and DESE shall assign students to a receiving district or charter school as provided in the act. A receiving district shall accept all students who apply and are assigned to the district, so long as there is capacity for each student. School board policies shall not discriminate against any transfer student on the basis of his or her residential address, academic performance, athletic ability, disability, race, ethnicity, sex, or free and reduced price lunch status. (Sections 167.895 and 167.898)

The act repeals provisions that require sending districts to make tuition payments to receiving districts. Instead, for purposes of calculating state and federal aid, each transfer student shall be counted as a resident of the receiving district in which the student is enrolled. Tuition shall not be charged to any student or to his or her parent or legal guardian. (Sections 160.415, 162.081, 167.132, 167.151, and 167.895)

DESE shall designate at least one receiving district or charter school to which each sending district shall provide transportation. A sending district shall be required to provide transportation only to the school district or charter school designated by DESE. (Section 167.241)

If the receiving district is part of a special school district, the sending district shall contract with the special school district for the entirety of the costs to provide special education and related services, excluding transportation. The special school district may contract with a sending district for transportation, or the sending district may provide transportation on its own. (Section 167.895)

The act outlines school districts' responsibilities for the provision of special education and related services to students with disabilities. A special school district shall continue to provide special education and related services, excluding transportation, to students with disabilities who transfer to another school within the special school district. If the sending district is a metropolitan school district, it shall remain responsible for providing special education and related services, including transportation, to students with disabilities who transfer to a receiving district. A special school district in an adjoining county to a metropolitan school district may contract with the metropolitan school district for the reimbursement of special education and related services provided by the special school district for transfer students. A receiving district that is not part of a special school district shall not be responsible for providing transportation to transfer students, regardless of whether transportation is identified as a related service within a student's individualized education program. A sending district may contract with a receiving district that is not part of a special school district for transportation of students with disabilities. A seven-director or urban school district may contract with a receiving district that is not part of a special school district in the same or an adjoining county for the reimbursement of special education and related services provided by the receiving district. (Section 167.895)

This act is identical to SB 971 (2026) and similar to SCS/SBs 215 & 70 (2025).

OLIVIA SHANNON

If the defendant in a website access violation case attempts to correct the alleged violation within 30 days of being provided notice, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the subsequent initiation or continuance of litigation constitutes abusive litigation. Such presumption shall not exist if the alleged violation is not corrected within 90 days under circumstances described in the act. If the Attorney General determines that the website access litigation is not abusive, then there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the litigation is not abusive.

The court may award attorney's fees to the party defending against the abusive litigation. The court may also award punitive damages or sanctions not to exceed three times the amount of attorney's fees awarded by the court.

If the U.S. Department of Justice issues standards concerning website accessibility under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, the provisions of this act shall expire.

This act is identical to HB 1674 (2026), HB 1755 (2026), HB 1780 (2026), HB 1842 (2026), HB 2150 (2026), and HB 2312 (2026), is substantially similar to SB 1272 (2026) and HB 2056 (2026), and is similar to SB 1154 (2026) and HB 1694 (2026).

KATIE O'BRIEN

No student shall be enrolled under the Public School Open Enrollment Act before July 1, 2028. (Section 167.1230)

TRANSFER POLICY AND PARTICIPATION

(Section 167.1205)

Any student in kindergarten to grade 12 may attend school in a nonresident LEA participating in the open enrollment program. Before November 1st of each year, each charter school or school district, defined as a "local education agency" or "LEA", shall adopt a resolution stating whether the LEA intends to participate in the program by receiving transferring students during the subsequent school year.

LEAs may restrict the number of students who may transfer to a nonresident LEA to 3% of the previous school year's enrollment. After the 2028-29 school year, an LEA's maximum number of students who may transfer to a nonresident LEA shall increase by 1% for every two consecutive school years that the LEA is at the transfer maximum, up to a potential maximum of 5% of the previous school year's enrollment. For purposes of calculating the transfer maximum, a transferring student shall be counted as enrolled in the resident LEA if, in the school year before the year of transfer, the student was enrolled in a school other than a public school, attended an FPE school, as such term is defined in current law, or moved to Missouri from another state and has not yet enrolled in school.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shall develop and maintain an online resource that allows a nonresident LEA to ensure that such LEA does not accept a transfer application if doing so would cause the transferring student's resident LEA to exceed the transfer maximum established in the act. The online resource shall additionally provide a searchable public database of the number of transfers offered in each participating LEA, listing allowable transfers for each building, grade level, classroom, and program in an LEA.

LEAs shall not be required to add teachers, staff, or classrooms to accommodate transfer applicants.

DESE or an entity skilled in policy development shall develop a model open enrollment transfer policy as outlined in the act, including specific standards for acceptance and rejection of transfer applications. All LEAs that participate in open enrollment shall adopt a policy that defines the term "insufficient classroom space," taking into account future population growth and establishing standards for acceptance and rejection of transfer applications. The standards for acceptance and rejection of transfer applications may include the capacity of the school, the availability of classroom space, and any class-size limitation. An LEA may use projections to determine class-size limitations. The standards shall include a statement that priority shall be given to any applicant who has a sibling who is already enrolled in the nonresident LEA. The standards shall not include a consideration of an applicant's academic achievement, athletic ability, disabilities, English proficiency level, or previous disciplinary proceedings, except that any suspension or expulsion from another LEA shall be included. LEAs receiving transferring students shall not discriminate on the basis of gender, national origin, race, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, disability, or whether the student is homeless or a migrant.

A nonresident LEA shall accept credits toward graduation that were awarded by another LEA and award a diploma to a transferring student if the student meets the nonresident LEA's graduation requirements.

The governing body of each LEA shall cause certain information about the open enrollment program, such as application deadlines and procedures, to be posted on the LEA's website and in the student handbook.

Students who wish to attend a nonresident LEA that has an academic or competitive entrance process shall furnish proof that they meet the admission requirements of the nonresident LEA.

A nonresident LEA may deny a transfer to a student who, in the most recent school year, has been suspended from school two or more times or who has been suspended or expelled for an act of school violence, as described in the act. A student whose transfer is initially precluded under this provision may, upon the approval of the nonresident LEA, be permitted to transfer as a probationary student, subject to no further disruptive behavior. A student who is denied a transfer due to disciplinary issues has the right to an in-person meeting with the nonresident LEA's superintendent, as provided in the act. LEAs shall develop common standards for determining disruptive behavior that shall include criteria established in current law.

High school students who participate in open enrollment shall be ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletics during the first 365 days of enrollment in a nonresident LEA, with exceptions outlined in the act.

APPLYING FOR TRANSFER

(Section 167.1210)

A student who applies for a transfer under the act may accept only one transfer per school year. A student who accepts such a transfer shall commit to attend and take all courses through the nonresident LEA for at least two school years. The student may meet with the superintendent of the nonresident LEA to be released from such commitment if extenuating circumstances arise or if the student's resident LEA changes. A transferring student shall not enroll as a full-time student in the Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program.

A student who transfers to a nonresident LEA and then returns to the resident LEA shall complete a full semester in the resident LEA before applying for another transfer. A transferring student with a school attendance rate below 80% for any quarter shall be notified of such rate, and if such student's attendance rate in the subsequent quarter does not reach at least 90%, the student's transfer and eligibility to attend the nonresident LEA may be voided by the LEA.

A student who transfers to a nonresident LEA may complete all remaining school years in the nonresident LEA without reapplying each year. Any sibling of a student enrolled in a nonresident LEA may enroll in the same nonresident LEA if the LEA has the capacity and the sibling has no discipline issues, as provided in the act.

The transferring student or the student's parent is responsible for the transportation of the student to and from the boundaries of the nonresident LEA in which the student is enrolled. Nonresident LEAs shall provide transportation within the boundaries of the LEA, but charter schools that do not currently provide transportation services are exempt from this requirement. Transportation costs shall included in the nonresident LEA's calculation for transportation reimbursement under current law.

For the purposes of determining federal and state aid, a student who transfers to a nonresident school district LEA shall be counted as a resident of the nonresident LEA. For a student transferring to a nonresident charter school LEA, state aid for such student shall be determined by multiplying the weighted average daily attendance of such transferring student by the state adequacy target and multiplying this product by the dollar-value modifier, as the terms "weighted average daily attendance", "state adequacy target", and "dollar-value modifier" are defined in current law, and certain provisions of state law providing for state aid payments to charter schools shall not apply to such calculation. For purposes of payment to special school districts, a transferring student receiving services from a special school district shall be counted as a resident pupil of the nonresident LEA in which the student is enrolled. If a student receives 50% or more of such student's instruction from the special school district, the special school district shall receive all funding which would otherwise be paid to the nonresident LEA for such student.

The provisions of the act shall not be construed to relieve any resident LEA of its responsibility to pay toward the cost of the education of children who receive special educational services or attend the Missouri Schools for the Severely Disabled, as provided in current law.

PARENT PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE FUND

(Sections 167.1211 and 167.1212)

The act establishes the "Parent Public School Choice Fund". Appropriations to the fund shall be used to supplement state aid payments to LEAs that participate in the open enrollment program and reimburse nonresident LEAs for the costs of providing special educational services for students with an IEP, as provided in the act. DESE shall annually evaluate the availability and use of moneys from the fund and, if necessary, request additional funds by a specific line item appropriation as part of the legislative budget process.

NUMBER OF TRANSFER STUDENTS

(Section 167.1215)

Before November 1st annually, each LEA shall publish and notify DESE of the number of transfer students the LEA is willing to receive for the following school year, delineated by building, grade, classroom, or program, if such criteria for acceptance have been set by the LEA. An LEA shall not be required to accept any transfer students above this published number. A special school district shall consult with each partner school district and, before November 1st annually, shall notify DESE of the number of likely available spots for special education services at each partner school district, as provided in the act.

The online resource created by DESE shall include a waiting list for applications to nonresident LEAs. The online resource shall notify each applicant that the applicant's transfer application may be subject to placement on such waiting list if the number of transfer applications exceeds the number of available transfers. The act sets forth a priority order for acceptance of applications from the waiting list. A parent of a student on the waiting list shall be informed by DESE of the details of the operation of the list and whether the parent will be required to refile an application for open enrollment in order to remain on the waiting list.

APPLICATION PROCESS

(Section 167.1220)

The parent of a student seeking a transfer shall submit an application to DESE between November 15th and January 1st of the school year before the school year in which the student seeks to begin the fall semester, as provided in the act. No more than five transfer applications per school year shall be submitted for any student.

Upon receiving an application, DESE shall assign a unique identifying number to the application. On or before January 15th, DESE shall conduct a lottery of eligible applications to determine which student transfers DESE will approve for submission to the nonresident LEAs, subject to conditions set forth in the act, and shall also notify each nonresident LEA of applications that DESE has approved for transfer.

The governing body of the nonresident LEA shall request from all schools attended by the student within the last 12 months certain records relating to the transfer, including special education records, discipline records, and records of behavioral risk assessments. An LEA that receives such a request for records shall respond to the request within five business days. Any official to whom such information is disclosed shall comply with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

Nonresident LEAs shall review and make a determination on transfer applications received from DESE within 10 business days, as provided in the act. If a nonresident LEA rejects an application, DESE shall submit the next application on the waiting list to the nonresident LEA for consideration.

Before March 1st of the school year preceding the school year in which a student seeks to enroll in a nonresident LEA, the nonresident LEA's superintendent shall notify DESE as to whether the student's application has been accepted or rejected through the online resource created by DESE. Within three business days of sending notifications to the resident and nonresident LEAs, DESE shall notify the parent as to whether the student's application has been accepted or rejected, as provided in the act.

If an application is rejected, DESE's notification shall state the nonresident LEA's reason for the rejection. If an application is accepted, DESE shall state in its notification a reasonable deadline before which the student shall enroll, along with instructions for renewing enrollment each year. DESE shall also notify the resident LEA of the student's participation.

DESE shall further notify the student and the student's parent of the opportunity to participate in an anonymous survey provided by DESE regarding all reasons for the student's and parent's interest in participating in the open enrollment program. DESE shall publish an annual report based on the survey results, providing aggregate data of sufficient detail to allow analysis of trends regarding the reasons for participation in the open enrollment program at the statewide, regional, and local levels. The annual report shall also include detection and analysis of the impact of the program on racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic balance among schools and LEAs. No such survey results shall be published in a manner that would allow for the identification of data attributable to a specific LEA or that reveals information regarding a group of five or fewer students. DESE shall privately share data specific to each LEA with each LEA prior to publishing the annual report.

If a student declines enrolling in the nonresident LEA, provided the nonresident LEA still has capacity to accept additional students, DESE shall send the LEA the next application on the waiting list for consideration.

No additional open enrollment transfer applications shall be sent by DESE or approved by a nonresident LEA after April 15th of the school year immediately preceding the school year of enrollment.

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS AND GIFTED CHILDREN

(Section 167.1224)

Before enrolling in a nonresident LEA, a student with certain special educational needs, English as a second language (ESL) needs, or who is identified as a gifted child shall be provided the same process that exists for a resident student moving into the nonresident LEA. The nonresident LEA, parent, or both shall have the opportunity to reevaluate the student to determine what comparable special educational services may be required or what programs or services for which the student may be eligible.

A nonresident LEA is responsible for providing a free appropriate education to the student and shall provide the same or substantially similar services as a resident student would receive. Before enrolling in the nonresident LEA, if necessary, a transferring student and parent shall be provided the opportunity to develop a new or amended IEP, individualized family service plan, or 504 plan, or to evaluate the ESL, gifted, or dyslexia programs and services provided by the nonresident LEA. The nonresident LEA shall provide the student and parent with prior written notice documenting the services that the nonresident LEA determines appropriate to meet the student's needs. The nonresident LEA shall offer the transferring student 10 business days to accept or decline the acceptance of the nonresident LEA.

LEAs that are served by a special school district shall execute a form agreement prepared by DESE with such special school district regarding finance, staffing, and other relevant items prior to participating in open enrollment. An LEA and a special school district may choose to modify such form agreement, but no modifications shall delay the LEA's participating in open enrollment.

A nonresident LEA shall make reasonable accommodations to address the needs of incoming transferring students and to provide such students with equal access to a free appropriate public education.

These provisions shall not be construed to preclude a nonresident LEA from adding additional staff, services, or programs, or to preclude the nonresident LEA from performing subsequent evaluations to ensure proper placement of a transferring student.

AUTHORIZED EXEMPTIONS

(Section 167.1225)

A student may participate in open enrollment if such student's transfer does not cause the resident LEA to conflict with a provision of an enforceable desegregation court order or a court-approved desegregation plan. An LEA may annually declare an exemption from the program if the LEA is subject to such court order or plan, as provided in the act. Any LEA declaring such exemption shall notify DESE of such before November 1st of the preceding school year.

The act sets forth certain exemptions from open enrollment for students who qualify for transfers under current law and for LEAs that receive transfer students under such provisions.

If a student transfers from a resident LEA that is a K-8 school district to another school district for any of grades 6-8, the resident LEA shall pay tuition to the nonresident LEA upon the student's promotion to 9th grade as provided in current law. For any student who transfers to a nonresident LEA that is a K-8 school district, the K-8 school district shall not be considered such student's resident LEA for any purpose after the student completes 8th grade or upon the student's transfer out of the K-8 school district before completing 8th grade.

ANNUAL REPORTING AND AUDITING

(Section 167.1229)

DESE shall collect and report data annually from school LEAs on the number of applications and study the effects of transfers under the act. DESE shall consider, as part of its study, the maximum number of transfers and exemptions for both resident and nonresident LEAs for up to two years to determine if a significant racially segregative impact has occurred in any LEA. The report shall be submitted annually before December 1st to the Joint Committee on Education, the House Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Senate Committee on Education.

DESE shall annually make a random selection of 10% of the LEAs participating in the open enrollment program and audit each selected LEA's transfers approved or denied under policies adopted by the school board. If DESE determines that a selected LEA is improperly implementing and administering the transfer process, DESE may withhold any state aid provided to the LEA until the LEA corrects the transfer process improprieties identified by the audit.

This act is substantially similar to provisions in SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025) and HCS#2/SS/SB 266 (2025), and is similar to HB 2604 (2026), SB 1051 (2024), HCS/HB 1989 (2024), SCS/SB 5 (2023), SB 1010 (2022), HB 1814 (2022), and HS/HCS/HB 543 (2021).

OLIVIA SHANNON

The act changes the definition of "illegal alien" to "legal resident" as set forth under federal law. The act modifies the definition of "qualified student" by removing the requirement for a qualified student to have attended a public school during the previous 12 months, as well as removing requirements relating to students' kindergarten eligibility and siblings who participate in the program. Such definition is further modified by adding dyslexia and disability diagnoses to requirements concerning individualized education plans.

The act provides that an organization representing a group of parents of qualified students may intervene on behalf of such parents as a defendant in any action in which any provision of state law, the Missouri Constitution, or a state regulation involving the program is at issue. An organization that intervenes as provided in the act shall have the right to file such pleading necessary on behalf of such parents.

Finally, except as specifically provided in state law, the act prohibits the creation or enforcement of any rule, regulation, or other requirement that conditions a qualified school's participation in the program on accreditation or compliance with any other requirement. Any rule, regulation, or other requirement that violates this provision is void and shall have no force or effect.

OLIVIA SHANNON

The act modifies the definition of "qualified student" under the Program to include any resident of this state who is not an illegal alien and who is eligible to enroll in a public school or to receive early childhood special education services. The act repeals requirements relating to students' individualized education plans or household income.

The act specifies that scholarship funds may be used to purchase technological devices such as calculators and personal computers, but not devices used primarily for noneducational purposes, such as televisions and telephones. Additionally, scholarship funds may be used to purchase a commuter pass for a qualified student, rather than covering only mileage costs to and from a qualified school.

Provisions relating to agreements with educational assistance organizations shall not be construed to require a qualified student (a) to withdraw from a public school before applying for a scholarship account if the student withdraws from the school before receiving any moneys in his or her scholarship account, or (b) to prevent a qualified student from applying for a scholarship account to be funded beginning in the following school year.

Finally, the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program shall not be construed to expand the regulatory authority of the state, its officers, or any school district, with respect to the imposition of any additional requirements or restrictions on qualified schools, beyond those necessary to enforce the requirements of the Program.

This act is identical to SB 675 (2025).

OLIVIA SHANNON

This act is identical to SB 802 (2025).

OLIVIA SHANNON

No more than 10%, rather than 20%, of the full-time instructional staff of a charter school may be uncertified to teach in the public schools of this state. School districts are authorized to employ uncertified instructional personnel, as long as no more than 10% of a school district's full-time teaching positions are filled by uncertified personnel and certain other conditions are satisfied. Private schools shall employ only certified instructional staff, except that up to 10% of a private school's full-time teaching positions may be filled by uncertified personnel. (Sections 160.420, 166.706, and 168.011)

Charter schools and private schools, in addition to school districts, shall be eligible for Innovation Waivers exempting them from certain requirements relating to assessments and accreditation. All school districts and charter schools shall be held to the same reporting standards on their Annual Performance Reports. (Sections 160.518, 160.522, and 166.706)

The State Board of Education shall classify and accredit charter schools and private schools in the same manner that school districts are classified and accredited. All public schools, private schools, and charter schools shall be classified using the same assessment systems and accountability measures. (Sections 161.092 and 166.706)

The governing body of a school district, private school, or charter school shall comply with all Missouri Sunshine Law requirements for public meetings, including providing advance public notice, and shall additionally provide online public access to all meeting minutes. (Sections 162.012 and 166.706)

School districts, private schools, and charter schools shall display annual financial reports on their websites, including information about revenues, expenses, contributions, contracts, and personnel salary schedules. (Sections 162.015 and 166.706)

Any charter school that accepts transferring students under any open enrollment program enacted by the General Assembly, as well as any private school, shall set its opening date each school year no earlier than 14 calendar days prior to the first Monday in September. (Sections 171.031 and 166.706)

OLIVIA SHANNON

EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS

(Sections 161.097 and 186.080)

The act requires educator preparation programs to instruct teacher candidates on the selection and use of "high-quality" reading curricula and instructional materials that do not include the three-cueing system, as such term is defined in current law. The act prohibits educator preparation programs from including instruction in, or endorsement of, the three-cueing system.

The act repeals provisions establishing the literacy advisory council and allowing for its recommendations to the Commissioner of Education and the State Board of Education. The act also repeals a requirement for teacher candidates to be instructed on best practices in the field of literacy instruction as recommended by the literacy advisory council.

Beginning July 1, 2027, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shall annually review and publicly report on the compliance of educator preparation programs with literacy and reading instruction requirements of current law and those established in the act. The review shall evaluate whether instruction is grounded in the components of evidence-based reading instruction and whether prohibited practices, such as the three-cueing system, are excluded from coursework. Educator preparation programs not in compliance with these requirements shall not be approved to certify new teachers.

STATE AID FOR READING INSTRUCTION

(Section 161.241)

The act provides that the current Evidence-Based Reading Instruction Program Fund may be used to fund reading tutoring programs inside regular school hours, rather than only outside regular school hours.

Subject to appropriation, DESE shall remit to each school district and charter school $500 for each fourth grade student who exhibited a substantial reading deficiency in any of grades kindergarten to grade three, or who was identified as dyslexic, and who subsequently scores at the proficient level or higher in reading on the annual summative English language arts assessment administered to fourth grade students.

IDENTIFICATION OF READING DEFICIENCIES

(Sections 167.268, 167.340, and 167.645)

The act establishes the "Missouri Universal Reading Screener", a uniform, universal, literacy-based reading assessment administered to students in grades 1-3 three times per year in every school district and charter school in the state. The screener shall score each student in one of the following categories: "below basic", "basic", "grade-level", "proficient", or "advanced". Proficiency benchmarks associated with these categories shall be determined by DESE.

School districts and charter schools shall assess all students in grades 1-3 on the Missouri Universal Reading Screener during three annual administration windows established by DESE. DESE shall provide the screener to school districts and charter schools at no cost. The screener may also be used to comply with dyslexia screening requirements established in current law. Student results on the screener shall not be used to make decisions concerning the accreditation of a public school or school district.

The act repeals a provision requiring school districts and charter schools to assess newly enrolled students in grades 1-5 on a reading assessment selected from a state-approved list.

A student who scores "basic" on the Missouri Universal Reading Screener shall be identified as having a reading deficiency. A student who scores "below basic" on the screener shall be identified as having a substantial reading deficiency.

A school district or charter school shall notify the parent of a student with a substantial reading deficiency that if the child's substantial reading deficiency is not corrected by the end of third grade, the child shall not be promoted to fourth grade unless the child qualifies for a good cause exemption. Retention of a third-grade student with a substantial reading deficiency is mandatory unless the unless the child qualifies for a good cause exemption or scores "basic" or higher on a retest opportunity through the Missouri Universal Reading Screener, as provided in the act.

A good cause exemption may be granted to students who are English language learners or who have individualized education plans or 504 plans developed under federal law. A good cause exemption may also be granted to a student who has already been retained at least once in kindergarten to third grade.

To request a good cause exemption, a student's teacher shall submit documentation to the school principal recommending the student's promotion, including the type of exemption being requested and the child's existing reading improvement plan or individualized education plan, as appropriate. The school principal shall discuss the recommendation with the teacher and determine whether the student qualifies for a good cause exemption. If the school principal determines that the student qualifies for the good cause exemption, the school principal shall make such recommendation in writing to the superintendent, who shall accept or reject the school principal's recommendation in writing.

The school district shall assist schools with notifying parents of students who are retained of the reasons for the retention, along with a description of the proposed interventions and supports that will be provided to the child to remedy the identified area or areas of reading deficiency in the following school year.

Intensive reading instruction provided to students exhibiting a reading deficiency or substantial reading deficiency shall not include the three-cueing system, as defined in current law, to teach word reading.

By October 1 annually, each school board shall report in writing to DESE certain information regarding reading instruction, such as the board's policies regarding student retention and promotion, the number and percentage of students identified as having reading deficiencies or substantial reading deficiencies, the number and percentage of all students retained in kindergarten to third grade due to substantial reading deficiencies, and the total number and percentage of third-grade students who were promoted with good cause exemptions, as provided in the act.

THREE-CUEING SYSTEM MODEL OF READING INSTRUCTION

(Section 170.014)

Current law provides that instruction in word reading shall not rely primarily on the "three-cueing system", defined as any model of reading instruction based on meaning, structure and syntax, and visual cues, also be known as "MSV". The act repeals this provision and instead provides that instruction in word reading shall not use the three-cueing system in any form.

OLIVIA SHANNON

CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENT ELIGIBILITY FOR PREKINDERGARTEN, KINDERGARTEN, AND FIRST GRADE

(Sections 160.054 and 160.055)

The act adds charter schools to provisions authorizing school districts to require children to have attained the age of three years old by August 1 to be eligible for prekindergarten, five years old by August 1 to be eligible for kindergarten and summer school prior to a kindergarten school term, or six years old on or before any date between August first and October first of that school year for entrance into first grade. A child who completes kindergarten in a charter school shall not be required to meet the minimum age requirements of another school district for entrance into first grade. (Sections 160.054 and 160.055)

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES PROVIDED TO CHARTER SCHOOL STUDENTS

(Sections 160.415, 162.700, 162.890, and 163.011)

Under this act, charter school students served in a special school district in St. Louis County shall be included in the calculation of the special school district's weighted membership and weighted average daily attendance, as such terms are defined in current law, in the same manner that students of the component school districts of the special school district are currently calculated. The definition of "special education pupil count" as used in the foundation formula is modified by specifying that students who are enrolled in a charter school but receiving services from a special school district in St. Louis County shall be included in the pupil count of the special school district instead of that of the charter school. (Sections 160.415 and 163.011)

Charter schools shall be responsible for early childhood special educational services, except for charter schools that are part of special school districts. (Section 162.700)

The act adds charter schools located within a special school district to a provision that neither the State Board of Education nor any school district within a special school district shall be obligated to establish schools or classes for children with disabilities under any other law that might otherwise impose such requirements. Following the formation of a new special school district, charter schools, in addition to the component districts of the special district and the State Board of Education, shall be required to continue providing whatever services they had previously furnished to children residing in the special district, but only until the special district has adequate resources to assume those responsibilities or for no more than one school term after the special district's formation, whichever comes first. (Section 162.890)

SCHOOL BOARD ORGANIZATION AND FINANCES

(Sections 162.301, 162.411, and 162.511)

The act requires newly elected school boards in seven-director districts to meet within 14 days after the certification of the election results, rather than within 14 days after the election. The act repeals a provision that no compensation shall be granted to the school board secretary or treasurer until their reports and settlements are made and filed or published. (Section 162.301)

A majority of all members of a school board of a seven-director or urban school district may vote to delegate to the superintendent decision-making authority regarding contracts, employment, bills, and payments. If such authority is so delegated, the superintendent shall report to the board monthly regarding all decisions made on such items. (Sections 162.301 and 162.511)

The act repeals a provision allowing school boards in school districts containing at least one city with a total population of over 30,000 inhabitants to employ an attorney on a retainer basis. (Section 162.411)

SCHOOL DISTRICT BONDS

(Sections 162.531, 164.131, 164.161, 164.191, 164.201, 164.221, 164.261, 164.301, and 165.141)

The act repeals a requirement for the secretary of the school board of an urban school district to keep a register of the bonded indebtedness of the school district. (Section 162.531)

The act repeals provisions requiring notice of an urban school district's submission of a loan question at a public election to include the amount of the loan required, and for what purpose. Instead, the notice shall contain certain information required for election notices under state law governing public elections. (Section 164.131)

The interest rate on school district bonds shall, in no case, exceed 10% per annum, rather than the highest legal rate allowed by contract. (Section 164.161)

Funding and refunding bonds for any school district shall be signed by the "manual or facsimile signature" of the school board president and countersigned by the "manual or facsimile signature" of the school board clerk. The act repeals a provision requiring such bonds to be attested by the clerk of the county commission, as well as a provision requiring the clerk of the school board to keep a record of all renewal bonds issued. (Section 164.191)

The act provides that no refunding or renewal bond shall be sold at a price less than 95% of the par value rather than 90%. All sums of money realized from such sales shall be used to redeem, retire, or provide for an escrow account for the redemption or payment of outstanding bonds of the school district and for the payment of costs of issuance, rather than being used only in the redemption of outstanding bonds. (Section 164.201)

The act repeals a provision that, whenever school district bonds are redeemed or paid off, such bonds shall be burned or shredded in the presence of two members of the school board and two other credible witnesses. (Section 164.221)

Revenue bonds issued by seven-director school districts to pay for dormitories or athletic stadiums shall not bear interest exceeding 10% per annum, rather than 4% per annum. Such bonds may be refunded in whole or in part as provided in current law governing bonds issued by political subdivisions. No refunding of such bonds shall bear interest at a rate exceeding 10% per annum, rather than 6% per annum. (Sections 164.261 and 164.301)

The act repeals a requirement for all tax anticipation notes of a school district to be registered, without fee, before delivery in the office of the county treasurer. Rather than showing the name of the purchaser if payable to bearer, tax anticipation notes shall show the name of the district treasurer or bank or trust company acting as a paying agent and note registrar. The act repeals a requirement for such notes to be cancelled once paid, as well as a requirement for the notes, once paid and cancelled, to be submitted to the county treasurer for recording. (Section 165.141)

READING INSTRUCTION

(Section 170.014)

The act repeals a provision allowing reading instruction in public schools to include visual information and strategies that improve background and experiential knowledge, add context, and increase oral language and vocabulary to support comprehension, as long as such information and strategies are not used to teach word reading.

SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY

(Sections 177.073, 177.086, and 177.091)

Currently, school districts may select and purchase sites for construction of certain facilities by an affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of all the members of the school board. This act requires only a majority vote to approve such selections and purchases. The act repeals limits on the types of facilities a school district may purchase.

School boards may currently direct the sale or lease of real or personal property belonging to the school district if the property is not required for operation of the school program. Under this act, such property may be sold or leased only if the superintendent determines the property has reasonable value after factoring in the time and costs associated with advertising and processing the sale or lease. All property the superintendent determines does not have reasonable value shall be recycled, destroyed, or disposed of. The school board may, by an affirmative vote of a majority of all board members, transfer district personal property to students or to another school district, with or without compensation. Personal property shall not otherwise be transferred without compensation unless the district has first attempted to sell the property and has not received any bids. District personal property shall be sold or leased to the highest bidder, and all proceeds shall be placed to the credit of the incidental fund.

A district may sell real or personal property to a community group or a city, state agency, municipal corporation, or any other political subdivision of the state, rather than any political subdivision located wholly or partially within the boundaries of the district. Public notice of the proposed sale and the agreed-upon purchase price of the property shall be posted at the primary offices of the school district and the governmental entity and on the websites of the school district and the governmental entity, if such websites exist. The district may also use other methods of advertisement it determines are effective.

Advertisements for bids on the construction of facilities exceeding an expenditure of $50,000 shall include, or direct potential bidders to, the complete invitation for bids including the project specifications and terms and conditions established for the project. Current law requirements for the advertisements of such bids shall not apply if the district utilizes a cooperative procurement service, state procurement service, or design-build service, as such services are described in current law, or any other procurement mechanism or source selection process authorized under state or federal law that implements an approach to competitive bidding that differs from the provisions of the act. Current law concerning wage rates on public works shall apply to all construction projects governed by any such state or federal law.

OLIVIA SHANNON

MISSOURI EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS PROGRAM

(Sections 135.712, 135.713, 135.715, 135.716, 160.410, 160.415, 166.700, and 166.720)

The act authorizes the General Assembly to fund student scholarships through the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program by appropriating funds to the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts fund. Such scholarships shall be awarded in an order and in amounts established in current law and shall be governed through parent agreements with educational assistance organizations as provided in current law. No provision of law relating to the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program shall be construed to limit the appropriation authority of the General Assembly. (Sections 135.712 and 135.716)

The cumulative amount of tax credits that may be allocated in any one calendar year is doubled, increasing from $75 million to $150 million. (Section 135.713)

There shall be a maximum of 15 educational assistance organizations, rather than 10, in any school year. No more than 11 of such organizations, rather than 7, shall have their principal place of business in Greene County, Jackson County, St. Charles County, St. Louis County, or the City of St. Louis. (Section 135.715)

Where capacity is available, a charter school shall enroll all students who transfer under the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program. A charter school may receive tuition payments from such students. (Sections 160.410 and 160.415)

The definition of "qualified student" is modified by repealing provisions requiring students to have an individualized education plan developed under federal law or to be a member of a household with a total annual income that does not exceed 300% of the income standard used to qualify for free and reduced price lunches. (Section 166.700)

The act repeals a provision allowing school districts and charter schools to continue including students in the calculation of the district's or school's weighted average daily attendance for up to five years after the student receives an empowerment scholarship and leaves the school district or charter school. (Section 166.720)

CHARTER SCHOOLS

(Sections 160.400, 160.405, 160.410, and 160.415)

Under this act, charter schools may be operated in any school district in the state. The act repeals provisions limiting charter schools to certain school districts and provisions relating to the accreditation status of school districts in which a charter school may operate. (Section 160.400)

The proposed charter of a charter school sponsored and approved by the Missouri Charter Public School Commission shall not require the approval of the State Board of Education. (Section 160.405)

The act repeals provisions restricting certain state aid payments only to those charter schools in certain school districts. (Section 160.415)

Where capacity is available, a charter school shall enroll all students who transfer under the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program or who enroll under provisions of the act authorizing student transfers among school districts and charter schools. A charter school may receive tuition payments from such students. (Sections 160.410 and 160.415)

SCHOOL PROPERTY

(Sections 160.422 and 162.092)

Under this act, cities, counties, and school districts (defined as "political subdivisions") shall not adopt or enforce any ordinance, policy, or resolution that prevents property they sell, lease, or transfer from being used by a charter school for any lawful educational purpose.

The act also prohibits any deed restriction, property use restriction, or other such restriction that limits property to specific uses that exclude use by a charter public school for any lawful educational purpose. Any existing restriction that bars property previously used for educational purposes from being used for future educational purposes by a charter school is void.

Any ordinance, policy, regulation, deed, use restriction, or contract made in violation of this act is void from its inception. (Section 160.422)

This provision is substantially similar to a provision in SB 1273 (2026) and is similar to provisions in SB 398 (2025), HB 447 (2025), HB 1044 (2025), SB 1006 (2024), SB 1123 (2024), HB 2088 (2024), HB 2178 (2024), SB 304 (2023), SB 650 (2022), HB 2087 (2022), SCS/SB 55, 25, & 23 (2021), SB 315 (2021), HCS/HB 137 (2021), HB 322 (2021), HB 729 (2021), SB 649 (2020), SB 603 (2020), HB 1917 (2020), SB 51 (2019), SCS/SB 271 (2019), SS#2/SCS/SB 292 (2019), SCS/HB 485 (2019), HCS/SS/SB 218 (2019), HCS/HB 581 (2019), and HCS/HB 924 (2019).

Additionally, when a school district offers to sell or lease an unused school building or facility that is not being used for academic, extracurricular, administrative, or athletic purposes, and that either has no approved plan for future use or has a plan that has not been carried out within two years, the contract shall include a right of first refusal allowing a public entity to purchase or lease the property first. The term "public entity" includes the state of Missouri and any of its political subdivisions, such as cities, counties, boards, agencies, or authorities.

If the school district accepts an offer to sell or lease the unused building or facility to a non-public entity, such district shall post a public notice on its website stating that the property is available. The public notice shall include the property's square footage, the district's contact information, and a statement that the right of first refusal expires 60 days after this notification.

If multiple public entities express interest in the unused building or facility, the school district shall decide which entity shall purchase or lease the property.

During negotiations, the school district may choose whether to sell or lease the property, at fair market value or less. A lease shall allow reasonable access and use of shared common areas. If a public entity leases the entire facility and incurs debt to make improvements, the school district shall subordinate its lease interest to that debt.

The public entity shall have six months from the date of its written offer to complete the purchase or lease. While leasing, the public entity shall be responsible for all direct expenses, including utilities, insurance, maintenance, property taxes, and repairs.

If a public entity later decides to sell a facility it purchased from a school district, such public entity shall first offer the property back to that district, following the same procedures set forth in the act. (Section 162.092)

This provision is similar to a provision in SB 1273 (2026).

STUDENT TRANSFERS

(Sections 160.410, 160.415, 167.241, 167.895, and 167.898)

Current law authorizes students who reside in an unaccredited school district to transfer to an accredited school district in the same or an adjoining county under certain conditions. This act repeals and modifies provisions limiting these transfers to students in unaccredited school districts. Under the act, any student may transfer to another public school or charter school, including transfers from a student's district of residence ("sending district") to a public school in a nonresident district ("receiving district"), beginning in the 2027-28 school year and in all subsequent school years.

Each school board shall adopt a policy to determine its transfer capacity for each grade level and school no later than October 27, 2026. The policy shall be publicly posted on the school district's website. By July 15, 2027, and by the first of each month thereafter, each school district shall report to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) the number of available enrollment slots by grade level and school and the school district's average per pupil expenditure. This information shall also be published in a prominent and publicly accessible place on the school district's website. DESE shall publish and update each school district's transfer capacity on an online portal accessible via the DESE website. The portal shall be updated at least monthly and shall include a search function for users to identify schools with capacity to accept transfer students near their home address.

Parents of students who wish to transfer shall notify DESE by August 1, 2027, and by the first day of each month thereafter, and DESE shall assign students to a receiving district or charter school as provided in the act. A receiving district shall accept all students who apply and are assigned to the district, so long as there is capacity for each student. School board policies shall not discriminate against any transfer student on the basis of such student's residential address, academic performance, athletic ability, disability, race, ethnicity, sex, or free and reduced price lunch status.

If a request for transfer is denied, an appeal may be taken to the State Board of Education by sending the appeal by certified mail to the superintendent of the receiving school district and to the State Board of Education. Any appeal not heard by the State Board of Education within 60 calendar days shall be deemed granted with immediate effect. DESE shall develop forms for filing appeals, and the State Board of Education shall promulgate rules to establish the appeals process.

The act repeals provisions requiring sending districts to make tuition payments to receiving districts. Instead, for purposes of calculating state and federal aid, each transfer student shall be counted as a resident of the receiving district in which the student is enrolled. Tuition shall not be charged to any student or to his or her parent or legal guardian.

If the receiving district is part of a special school district, the sending district shall contract with the special school district for the entirety of the costs to provide special education and related services, excluding transportation. The special school district may contract with a sending district for transportation, or the sending district may provide transportation on its own.

The act outlines school districts' responsibilities for the provision of special education and related services to students with disabilities. A special school district shall continue to provide special education and related services, excluding transportation, to students with disabilities who transfer to another school within the special school district. If the sending district is a metropolitan school district, it shall remain responsible for providing special education and related services, including transportation, to students with disabilities who transfer to a receiving district. A special school district in an adjoining county to a metropolitan school district may contract with the metropolitan school district for the reimbursement of special education and related services provided by the special school district for transfer students. A receiving district that is not part of a special school district shall not be responsible for providing transportation to transfer students, regardless of whether transportation is identified as a related service within a student's individualized education program. A sending district may contract with a receiving district that is not part of a special school district for transportation of students with disabilities. A seven-director or urban school district may contract with a receiving district that is not part of a special school district in the same or an adjoining county for the reimbursement of special education and related services provided by the receiving district. (Sections 167.895 and 167.898)

Where capacity is available, a charter school shall enroll all students who transfer under these provisions. A charter school may receive tuition payments from such students. (Sections 160.410 and 160.415)

DESE shall designate at least one receiving district or charter school to which each sending district shall provide transportation. A sending district shall be required to provide transportation only to the school district or charter school designated by DESE. (Section 167.241)

These provisions are similar to SCS/SBs 215 & 70 (2025).

ADMINISTRATOR CERTIFICATION

(Section 168.189)

Under this act, a school district may consider, but may not require, any criteria greater than that which is necessary to obtain a Missouri initial administrator certificate under rules promulgated by the State Board of Education. A school district may employ such an individual if the individual holds a master's degree or its equivalent and has at least eight years of experience in an executive role with responsibilities described in the act, and if a waiver specific to the applicant has been granted to the school district for this purpose. Such a waiver shall be valid for no longer than three years and eligible for renewal once. Upon conclusion of the maximum six year waiver period, the State Board of Education may grant the applicant a permanent certificate to serve as an administrator in any school district in the state.

OLIVIA SHANNON