HB 2710 requires all Missouri public schools and districts to publish standardized annual report cards showing student performance, finances, and staff data in an accessible format. It establishes a new A-F rating system based on student achievement (40% for elementary/middle schools, 25% for high schools), academic growth metrics (30% for elementary/middle, 25% for high schools), and high school "Success Ready Graduate" measures (15% for high schools). Top-performing schools in the top 5% for achievement or growth will receive $100 per student in performance-based funding starting in 2026-27, while those in the top 10% but not top 5% get $50 per student. The bill directly affects every public school, district, and charter school by linking their ratings and funding eligibility to specific student outcome metrics.
HB 2900 expands Missouri's scholarship program to allow eligible students with disabilities or from low-income families to use state funds for private school tuition. It defines "qualified students" as those with IEPs/504 plans or from households earning under 300% of free lunch income, and requires participating schools (including private, charter, and virtual schools) to not discriminate based on protected characteristics. The bill ensures public schools retain state funding for students who leave for scholarship programs for up to five years. This maintains public school funding stability while expanding school choice options under specific eligibility criteria.
SB 971 updates Missouri's charter school enrollment rules for nonresident students. It allows charter schools to admit nonresident students under specific conditions, such as those transferring from unaccredited districts, participating in urban transfer programs, or residing in residential care facilities. The bill requires charter schools to use non-discriminatory admissions processes (prohibiting bias based on race, income, or disability), while permitting limited preferences for siblings, workplace connections, high-risk students, or those eligible for free lunch. These changes apply directly to Missouri charter schools and students seeking enrollment outside their home school district.
SB 1097 prohibits the establishment of new charter schools in St. Louis City starting August 28, 2026. This directly affects organizations seeking to open new charter schools in St. Louis City after that date, though it allows renewal of existing charter contracts and transfers of sponsorship. The bill amends Missouri law to restrict new charter school operations in St. Louis City while maintaining exceptions for current charter school renewals and sponsorship changes. The key mechanism is a specific cutoff date (August 28, 2026) for new charter school authorization in that city.
HB 2500 repeals Missouri's current charter school laws and replaces them with new restrictions on where charter schools may operate statewide. The bill limits charter schools to specific districts - such as unaccredited districts, large urban areas (>350,000 population), or districts with prolonged provisional accreditation - and restricts enrollment in larger districts to 35% of total students. It also changes who can sponsor charters, allowing only school boards, certain colleges, or the Missouri charter commission, while removing previous exceptions for counties like Boone. The bill does not specifically target Boone County (the title is misleading), as the changes apply uniformly across all Missouri school districts.
HB 2448 modifies Missouri law to allow charter schools in school districts located within counties having 150,000-200,000 residents, specifically adding this population range to the existing eligibility criteria. The bill directly affects school districts in counties like Cass County (which falls within this population range), expanding opportunities for charter school establishment beyond current boundaries. Key provisions include repealing prior sections and enacting new rules that permit charter schools in these districts without applying certain restrictions from other subsections. This change enables local school boards or approved sponsors to operate charter schools in qualifying districts, subject to enrollment limits for larger districts. The policy shift aims to provide additional educational options in specific county-sized districts under defined conditions.
HB 2420 authorizes charter schools in specific Missouri school districts under defined conditions, directly affecting districts classified as unaccredited, provisionally accredited, or meeting population size criteria. The bill establishes six eligibility scenarios for charter schools, including districts with financial hardship or those in counties with 150,000-200,000 residents, while limiting local school board sponsorship to districts with under 1,550 students or allowing broader sponsorship in certain cases. It permits eligible sponsors like local school boards, colleges, or nonprofits to operate charter schools, and imposes a 35% enrollment cap on charter schools within large districts (over 1,550 students). The law also prohibits sponsors from charging fees for charter applications and outlines transition rules for districts changing accreditation status.
HB 1748 establishes rules for private scholarship organizations that provide education funding to Missouri students. It requires these organizations to be tax-exempt (501(c)(3)), distribute scholarships in a specific priority order (favoring students with IEPs, military families, low-income status, or unaccredited district enrollment), and spend at least 90% of funds on scholarships while capping administrative costs. The bill mandates reporting test results, parent satisfaction surveys, and graduation data to state education officials, with scholarship amounts limited to 100-175% of the state's education funding target based on student need. This directly affects private scholarship programs, participating students, and Missouri public schools receiving these funds.
SS/SCS/SB 1085 - This act prohibits public school and charter school staff members from encouraging minor students in their "social transition", defined as the process of a minor student changing his or her gender presentation or expression, with the goal of being perceived and treated as a gender different from the student's biological sex. The act defines a "staff member" as a teacher, school employee, volunteer, contractor, or other individual authorized to provide services at a public school or charter school, including, but not limited to, any individual in a position of authority or responsibility, such as a counselor or health care worker. School staff members shall neither encourage a minor student to withhold information from his or her parent nor withhold certain health information from a student's parent. A staff member shall notify a minor student's parent by phone or email within 24 hours of receiving a request by the student to participate in the student's social transition. The act outlines certain actions that trigger this parental notification requirement, including a minor student's request to be referred to by a pronoun that does not correspond to the student's biological sex; a request to use a name that does not correspond to the student's legal name; a request to use a restroom designated for the opposite biological sex; or a request to participate on an athletic team designated for the opposite biological sex. No staff member shall engage in any conduct that facilitates the social transition of any minor student; deliver any presentation or lesson to any minor student regarding gender transition or social transition; or refer to a minor student by a title or pronoun that does not correspond to the student's biological sex, or by a name other than the student's legal name or a nickname or derivative thereof. A staff member or student shall not be subject to any disciplinary action for declining to address a person using a name that does not correspond to the person's legal name or a pronoun that is inconsistent with the person's biological sex. A staff member who discloses a violation of this act by another staff member shall be protected from any manner of retaliation as set forth in current law. If a school district discovers that a licensed educator has knowingly violated any provision of this act, the school district shall initiate disciplinary proceedings against that staff member, up to and including suspension or revocation of the individual's teaching license and suspension or termination of employment, as appropriate. A licensed educator at a charter school shall also be subject to disciplinary proceedings for violations of the act, up to and including suspension or revocation of the individual's teaching license and suspension or termination of employment, as provided in the act. The Attorney General may bring a civil action, including an action for injunctive relief, against a school district, public school, charter school, or staff member for any violation of this act. Any parent of a minor student may bring a civil action, including an action for injunctive relief or for damages, against the staff member or against the school district, public school, or charter school in which such minor student is enrolled for any violation of this act. If the parent prevails, the court shall award to such parent court costs and reasonable attorney's fees and any other damages or remedy which in the judgment of the court shall be appropriate. Any staff member may bring a civil action, including an action for injunctive relief or for damages, against the school district, public school, or charter school that employs such staff member for any violation of the act's prohibitions on certain disciplinary or retaliatory actions against school staff members. This act is similar to HB 2580 (2026). OLIVIA SHANNON
HB 2449 creates a tax credit for Missouri residents who pay for eligible educational expenses for their children attending qualifying schools. It directly affects parents or guardians of students enrolled in private, parochial, home, or family-paced schools (excluding public schools). The credit covers tuition, textbooks, curriculum materials, tutoring, technology, and educational therapies, but excludes basic supplies like paper/pens and costs tied to public school activities. The credit amount is limited to 100% of eligible expenses or Missouri’s state funding target for education, whichever is lower, and becomes available starting tax year 2027. Taxpayers must submit itemized expense lists and documentation with their state income tax return.
