Education

in committee · Missouri · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2199: Establishes the Missouri music professional development pilot program

HB 2199 establishes a three-year pilot program to provide professional development workshops for Missouri music educators. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, the program will fund five annual workshops at regional centers, covering topics like arts integration and curriculum development. It includes dedicated funding for substitute teachers, mileage reimbursement (up to $0.38/mile), and presenter honorariums (up to $500), with the program ending in 2029. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must evaluate the pilot and report results to the legislature.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds music educator professional development workshops, substitute coverage, and curriculum training via dedicated budget, directly supporting teacher development and arts integration in schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2393: Provides protections against discrimination and antisemitism in public schools and public postsecondary educational institutions

HB 2393 requires Missouri public schools and postsecondary institutions to treat antisemitic harassment or discrimination identically to racial discrimination. It mandates that schools integrate the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into their codes of conduct, prohibiting conduct that creates a hostile environment for Jewish students or staff. The bill explicitly states that criticism of Israel similar to criticism of other countries is not antisemitic and clarifies that the law does not infringe on First Amendment rights or conflict with existing federal/state discrimination laws. This directly affects all public educational institutions in Missouri by establishing new requirements for addressing antisemitism under their conduct policies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates schools to prohibit antisemitism as racial discrimination, enhancing student safety and inclusive environment per education topic.95% confidence

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signed · Missouri · House Apr 23, 2026

HB 2061: Provides protections against discrimination and antisemitism in public schools and public postsecondary educational institutions

HB 2061 requires Missouri public schools and colleges to prohibit antisemitic harassment and discrimination as rigorously as racial discrimination. It defines antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's 2016 definition and mandates that schools integrate this into their student, faculty, and employee codes of conduct. The bill explicitly states that criticism of Israel is not antisemitic and clarifies that the law does not infringe on First Amendment rights or conflict with existing federal/state discrimination laws. This directly affects all public educational institutions in Missouri, requiring them to address antisemitic conduct that creates fear or impedes access to campus activities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates schools to prohibit antisemitism as rigorously as racial discrimination, strengthening safe learning environments in education through policy integration.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

in committee · Missouri · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 1273: Establishes provisions relating to school property

SB 1273 prevents local governments from blocking charter schools from using properties for education by banning restrictions that prohibit such use. It requires school districts to offer unused school buildings to public entities (like other schools or government agencies) first, with a 60-day notice period and fair market pricing determined through mediation. The bill defines "unused facilities" as buildings not used for education within two years of a school board-approved plan. This directly affects charter schools, school districts, and public entities by changing how empty school properties can be sold or leased.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands charter school access by removing local government property restrictions and repurposing unused school facilities for educational use.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2074: Creates the "Missouri Disabled Veterans' Dependents Tuition Waiver" to provide college tuition waivers for the children, stepchildren, and spouses of certain veterans

HB 2074 creates the "Missouri Disabled Veterans' Dependents Tuition Waiver," providing public college tuition waivers for dependents of veterans who died in service, died from service-connected disabilities, or were certified as permanently and totally disabled by the VA. Eligible dependents include children, stepchildren, and spouses who are Missouri residents and meet age requirements (under 26, or up to 31 if they served in the military). The waiver covers remaining tuition after federal/state aid, administered by the Missouri Veterans' Commission, and applies to one community college degree followed by one bachelor's degree. It excludes concurrent use with other state veteran-dependent tuition programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition waivers for veterans' dependents in public higher education, expanding access and funding for eligible students.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransCreates tuition waiver for dependents of veterans who died in service, died from service-connected disabilities, or are permanently disabled, expanding educational benefits for veterans' families.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Military Families Veteran Education

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in committee · Missouri · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2303: Requires the department of elementary and secondary education to develop a curriculum on personal finance to be used by school districts

HB 2303 requires Missouri public school districts to implement a personal finance course as a half-unit graduation requirement starting in the 2027-28 school year. The bill mandates the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to form a work group - including educators, banking representatives, and financial industry experts - to develop course standards. Students must complete this course after ninth grade to earn a high school diploma, with limited exemptions for transfer students or those with approved academic plans. The course content must cover money management, budgeting, and financial tools needed for adulthood. School districts will have until 2027 to adopt these standards, which must be reviewed every seven years.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates personal finance curriculum as graduation requirement, enhancing student financial literacy and curriculum standards in K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2091: Modifies provisions relating to school employee retirement systems

HB 2091 allows retired classroom teachers and support staff to return to full-time work in Missouri public schools for up to four years without losing their retirement benefits, but only if the school district has a verified shortage of certified staff or noncertified support staff. School districts must first demonstrate they tried to hire non-retired staff (e.g., by posting vacancies for a month and showing insufficient applicants) and declare a critical shortage. The bill limits the number of returning retirees to either 1% of a district’s total staff or five people, whichever is greater. Districts hiring retirees must pay the employer’s retirement contribution rate and include these hires in the State Directory of New Hires for federal verification.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables retired teachers to return without losing retirement benefits during verified staffing shortages, directly addressing K-12 teacher retention and support.95% confidence

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in committee · Missouri · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 1792: Establishes the Media Literacy and Critical Thinking Act

HB 1792 establishes a two-year pilot program (2027-2029) to integrate media literacy into K-12 public schools across 5-7 diverse districts. The program requires schools to teach students to analyze news, identify misinformation, understand algorithms, practice digital safety, and recognize bias in media - including social media and online content - while connecting these skills to First Amendment rights. The Department of Education will study pilot outcomes and develop statewide guidelines and potential standards by 2030, focusing on practical classroom strategies for critical media evaluation. This bill directly affects public school districts, educators, and students in the participating schools during the pilot period.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIntegrates media literacy into K-12 curriculum, teaching critical analysis of media and bias, enhancing student skills per First Amendment rights.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyTeaches digital safety, algorithm analysis, and critical media literacy for online content - directly advancing responsible technology use and digital rights education in schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education School Safety Social Media

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2533: Modifies provisions governing absences from school

HB 2533 requires school districts to schedule a meeting with parents/guardians and counselors when a student accumulates 15 or more unexcused absences in a school year without a physician's note. If the parent misses the meeting or the student has additional unexcused absences after the meeting, the school must report detailed student information (including name, address, grades, and absence dates) to the state children's division within 10 business days. The children's division then conducts a home visit to notify families about potential educational neglect charges under existing law if absences continue. This bill directly affects students with chronic absenteeism, their families, school districts, and child welfare agencies, creating a formal reporting pathway for unexcused absences.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnforces attendance protocols to address absenteeism, supporting student engagement and educational access within K-12 systems.85% confidence

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in committee · Missouri · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2158: Modifies provisions of the "Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program" tax credit

This bill modifies Missouri's tax credit program for contributions to educational assistance organizations (EAOs). It allows taxpayers to claim a 100% credit for donations made after August 2021, capped at 50% of their state tax liability, with an annual $75 million limit adjusted yearly based on school district funding changes. Credits are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and taxpayers cannot designate specific students for scholarships. The law directly affects donors to EAOs and the organizations themselves, ensuring credits are used within the annual cap without transferability or refunds.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax credit for education donations, reducing state tax revenue via 100% credit capped at 50% of liability with $75M annual limit.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by creating tax credits for donations to EAOs funding scholarships, directly increasing private school choice options for students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

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