Education (School Choice)

in committee · Missouri · House Jan 22, 2026

HB 1784: Changes the definition of "qualified student" for the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program

HB 1784 amends Missouri's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program by changing the definition of "qualified student" to expand eligibility. It allows students with a special education plan under federal law (IDEA) or those from households earning below 300% of the income standard for free/reduced-price lunches to qualify. To qualify under the income rule, students must have recently attended public school, be kindergarten-eligible, or have a sibling already receiving a scholarship. The bill directly affects Missouri students seeking scholarship funds for private, charter, or virtual schools. This change modifies existing eligibility criteria without altering the program's core structure.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands scholarship access to students with special needs and low-income families, increasing educational opportunity under the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Special Education Student Financial Aid

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passed · Missouri · House Apr 30, 2026

HB 2426: Establishes provisions relating to parental rights

HB 2426 establishes that parents have fundamental rights to direct their child's education, healthcare, and upbringing without government interference. It grants specific rights including choosing schools (public, private, homeschool, or faith-based), accessing educational and medical records, consenting to medical treatments (except abortions, which require parental consent), and opting children out of school data collection. The bill prohibits government restrictions unless necessary to serve a compelling interest, with explicit exceptions for life-threatening medical care and child safety. It applies to all state and local laws and allows parents to seek legal remedies if their rights are violated.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access through parental school choice (public/private/homeschool) and record access, aligning with support indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 1612: Requires school districts to display the Ten Commandments in each building and classroom in the school district

HB 1612 requires all public school districts and charter schools to display the full text of the Ten Commandments in every classroom and school building starting January 1, 2027. School boards must ensure the display is at least 11x14 inches, with the text as the central focus in a large, readable font, though they may use existing funds or accept donations without mandatory spending. The bill applies directly to school district governing boards and charter school boards, mandating the physical placement of the religious text in educational spaces. It does not specify exemptions for secular content or address religious diversity within schools. The state board of education will develop implementing rules, but the bill itself focuses solely on the display requirement.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationMandates religious text display in classrooms, restricting secular curriculum and academic freedom per education topic indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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in committee · Missouri · Senate Jan 8, 2026

SB 923: Repeals provisions authorizing the establishment of charter schools in Boone County

SB 923 repeals the legal permission allowing new charter schools to be established in Boone County, Indiana. This bill directly affects Boone County by ending the ability to create new charter schools under current law. The key provision removes the specific authorization from state statutes, meaning no new charter schools could be formed in the county without new legislation. This is a procedural change focused solely on eliminating the existing legal pathway for new charter school openings.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRepeals legal authorization for new charter schools in Boone County, restricting educational alternatives and limiting school program expansion per bill's direct action.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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in committee · Missouri · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SB 1090: Requires charter schools to obtain a certificate of need issued by the State Board of Education in order to be eligible to operate

SB 1090 requires charter schools to obtain a certificate of need from the State Board of Education before they can operate. This directly affects all charter schools seeking to open or continue operations in the state, as they would no longer be eligible without this approval. The key mechanism is the State Board of Education issuing these certificates, which would serve as a mandatory prerequisite for charter school authorization. The bill aims to establish a formal review process for new charter school proposals before they can begin serving students.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRequires charter school authorization approval, adding regulatory barrier that limits new charter operations and restricts educational access options within K-12 education.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Teachers

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2573: Repeals provisions authorizing the establishment of charter schools in Boone County

HB 2573 repeals Missouri's existing charter school laws and replaces them with new restrictions on where and how charter schools can operate. The bill limits charter school establishment to specific school districts (e.g., unaccredited districts, districts in cities over 350,000 population, or districts with three years of provisional accreditation) and restricts enrollment in larger districts to 35% of total students. It also narrows eligible sponsors to school boards, specific colleges/universities, and the Missouri charter public school commission. This bill directly affects all Missouri school districts considering charter schools by tightening eligibility rules and operational limits.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRepeals charter school laws and imposes strict operational limits, restricting educational access options and limiting school choice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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in committee · Missouri · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2502: Modifies provisions governing the transfer and archive of student records

HB 2502 modifies Missouri's charter school regulations, primarily focusing on operational requirements and closure procedures for charter schools. It requires charter schools to include detailed performance contracts covering academic standards, financial planning, organizational structure, and student discipline policies. Crucially, the bill specifies that during school closures, all student records must be transferred to the local school district for archival, and outlines procedures for handling business records, financial obligations, and asset disposition. The bill also mandates that at least one-third of new charters must serve high-risk students or dropouts, with specific reporting requirements for sponsors and the state board of education. This legislation directly affects charter school operators, sponsors, and local school districts managing charter school transitions.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires charter schools to include academic standards in performance contracts, ensuring educational quality and accountability per bill's operational requirements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Choice

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in committee · Missouri · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 978: Requires school districts and charter schools to provide instruction on human growth and development

SB 978 requires all public school districts and charter schools to provide instruction on human growth and development to students. This mandate directly affects K-12 schools and their curricula, though the bill does not specify exact content or grade levels. The bill's key provision is a new requirement for schools to incorporate this topic into their instructional programs. As of now, the bill is pending review by the Senate Education Committee after being prefaced and read for the first time in early 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates K-12 curriculum inclusion of human growth education, directly advancing educational content standards per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education School Choice

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in committee · Missouri · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 1271: Creates and modifies provisions relating to lactation accommodations in public schools and charter schools

SB 1271 creates and modifies rules for providing lactation accommodations in public and charter schools. It directly affects school staff who are nursing parents, ensuring they have access to appropriate facilities and time during the school day. The bill establishes specific requirements for schools to provide private, non-bathroom spaces and flexible scheduling for nursing needs. However, the provided context does not include specific details about the exact accommodations, timeline, or enforcement mechanisms. As a new bill (prefiled January 2026), no concrete policy changes have been enacted yet.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides lactation accommodations for school staff, supporting educators' workplace needs and accessibility within K-12 school environment.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides lactation accommodations for nursing parents in schools, directly supporting maternal health access and aligning with public health recommendations for breastfeeding support.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates lactation accommodations for nursing school staff, protecting workplace rights and safety for nursing parents.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Health Labor Standards Paid Leave

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in committee · Missouri · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SB 1270: Requires public schools and charter schools to provide free feminine hygiene products to female students in grades 4-12

SB 1270 requires all public and charter schools to provide free feminine hygiene products to female students in grades 4 through 12. The bill mandates that schools make these products readily available in restrooms and health offices at no cost to students. It directly affects female students in those grade levels and school districts operating public or charter institutions. The key provision is the obligation on schools to supply these products, aiming to address accessibility needs during menstruation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates free feminine hygiene products in K-12 schools to ensure accessibility for female students, directly supporting educational access and attendance needs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates free feminine hygiene products in schools for female students, improving access to essential health supplies and addressing a public health need for menstrual health management.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice School Safety Student Health

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