Education (Curriculum)

in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 1704: Creates the Education Freedom Act and modifies provisions relating to the assessment of public elementary and secondary schools

HB 1704, the Education Freedom Act, changes how public schools in Missouri are assessed by requiring a statewide system focused on practical skills like problem-solving and creativity (not rote memorization). It mandates that school districts create their own local assessment systems tied to their curriculum, developed with community input, and used for meaningful academic feedback. The bill also allows schools meeting high performance standards for three years to receive "Outstanding Schools Waivers," exempting them from certain state testing and classification rules. Test results from the statewide system may only be used for federal compliance and school performance ratings, not for classifying school districts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationShifts assessments to practical skills/creativity, mandates local curriculum control with community input, and incentivizes high performance - enhancing educational quality without restrictions.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Testing & Assessment

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passed · Missouri · Senate May 15, 2026

SB 1383: Authorizes the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to establish an agricultural education program for elementary schools

SB 1383 requires all elementary schools in the state to implement an agricultural education program that was previously tested as a pilot. This bill directly affects every public elementary school and its students by mandating the inclusion of agricultural education in their curriculum. The key provision is the statewide expansion of the pilot program, moving it from a limited trial to a required statewide standard. The bill does not specify curriculum details or funding mechanisms, only the requirement for implementation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates agricultural education in all elementary schools, expanding a pilot program to all schools and enhancing curriculum offerings for students95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Teachers Tags Agriculture

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in committee · Missouri · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SB 1045: Requires certain topics in Native American and African American history to be included in the seventh through twelfth grade history curriculum in public schools

SB 1045 - Under this act, the State Board of Education shall require that the history curriculum taught in the 7th through 12th grades include certain topics relating to Native American and African American history, as described in the act. This act is similar to SB 209 (2025), SB 1103 (2024), HB 1645 (2024), SB 273 (2023), HB 66 (2023), SB 950 (2022), and HB 1776 (2022). OLIVIA SHANNON

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates inclusion of specific historical topics in curriculum, enhancing educational content and historical representation in K-12 schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

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in committee · Missouri · Senate Jan 27, 2026

SJR 69: Amends the Constitution to assert the right of parents to participate in and direct the education of their children free from government interference

SJR 69 proposes amending the state constitution to explicitly guarantee parents the right to participate in and direct their children's education without government interference. This constitutional change would directly affect parents and students in public schools by establishing a fundamental right to educational decisions. The key mechanism is adding this parental right to the state constitution, requiring voter approval after legislative passage. It does not create new school policies but would alter the constitutional framework governing education. (Procedural bill; summary limited to 3 sentences as requested.)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly protects parental rights in education decision-making, aligning with 'protect' indicator under support for educational access and family involvement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Choice

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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 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 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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