HB 3322 improves educational stability for children in foster care by requiring foster care placements to prioritize the child's school attendance area. It ensures children can remain in their school of origin until placement disputes are resolved, and if a "best interest" decision isn't made within 30 days (60 days in summer), the child's current school district enrollment is automatically considered best - provided the previous school is more than 30 miles away (35 miles for special education). The bill also mandates school districts to accept credits from any school, issue diplomas when graduation requirements are met under juvenile court, and prevent grade reductions for absences tied to foster care changes or court activities.
HB 3238 requires school boards to publicly disclose financial conflicts of interest involving members, employees, and related parties for transactions over $500 annually, including business dealings with the school district. It mandates detailed written disclosures from school superintendents, administrators, and legal staff about their outside income, business ownership, and corporate ties. The bill also shifts the burden of proof to school districts in special education due process hearings under IDEA, requiring them to justify decisions about student evaluations or placements. Additionally, it prohibits school districts from hiring attorneys who employ school board members or employees for special education disputes.
SB 1155 - This act creates the "Missouri Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower (RISE) Act". Under this act, a public institution of higher education shall adopt a policy that specifies the types of documentation the institution shall accept to determine a student's eligibility for disability accommodations. The act lists the types of documentation that shall be accepted, including documentation related to Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans developed under federal law, provided that any IEP or 504 plan documentation shall represent an ongoing need for disability accommodations that has not ended. An institution may set simpler criteria than those specified in the act to determine whether a student qualifies as an individual with a disability. The policy shall clearly outline the process for determining eligibility for disability accommodations. This information shall be shared with students, parents, and faculty in accessible formats and made available on the institution's website. OLIVIA SHANNON
HB 2933 allows school districts to vote on withdrawing from a special school district that provides specialized education services. If approved by voters, the school district can replace the special district’s tax levy with its own local tax (capped at the district’s proportional share) to fund special, vocational, and technical education programs within its boundaries. The district must continue providing these services after withdrawal, return special district assets, and assume proportional debt, with the change taking effect July 1 of the following school year. This process requires a school board resolution, county election authority involvement, and a 12-month waiting period if withdrawal is rejected.
HB 2014 is a fiscal appropriations bill that allocates state funds for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It directs $20 million to the Special Education Program, $35.1 million to Early Childhood Special Education, $10.4 million for school safety and career readiness initiatives, and $7.1 million for highway maintenance under the Department of Transportation. The bill specifies exact funding sources (like General Revenue Fund and Federal Funds) for each program but does not create new policies or change existing laws.
HB 2697 modifies the definition of "qualified student" for Missouri's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program. It excludes students who are "illegal aliens" and adds two eligibility pathways: (1) students with an IEP under federal special education law, or (2) students from households earning ≤300% of the free/reduced lunch income threshold who attended public school recently or meet specific grade-level/sibling criteria. The bill directly affects students seeking scholarship funds to attend participating private, charter, or virtual schools. It does not create new funding but changes who qualifies for existing scholarship accounts under Section 166.700.
SB 1040 would allow metropolitan school districts to seek voter approval for a 0.25% sales tax specifically to fund special educational services. The tax would be listed separately on receipts and require a majority "yes" vote in a general election. If approved, revenue would go into a dedicated trust fund, with 1% covering collection costs, and all funds must stay separate from state money. The tax cannot be imposed without voter consent and can only be used for special education programs within the district.
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.
HB 2183 bans the use of seclusion (involuntary confinement of a student alone in a room they cannot leave) in public schools, charter schools, and publicly contracted private providers, except when there is imminent danger of physical harm to the student or others. The bill also prohibits specific dangerous restraint techniques, such as those obstructing breathing, causing pain, restricting communication, or compressing the body. Schools must adopt written policies by 2022 defining restraint and seclusion, requiring annual staff training, and mandating detailed incident reports for every use, including documentation of time, location, methods, and injuries. These policies must ensure students are removed from seclusion or restraint as soon as the danger passes and prohibit all non-essential use.
HB 2584 establishes detailed requirements for charter schools in Missouri, directly affecting charter school applicants, sponsors (like school boards or the state board), and students. It mandates comprehensive applications including mission statements, financial plans, academic performance standards, student admission policies, and closure procedures. Key provisions require charter schools to submit legally binding performance contracts outlining academic goals, student discipline policies, special education services, and procedures for transitioning students if a school closes. The bill also prioritizes charter schools serving high-risk students and dropouts, requiring at least one-third of new charters (if a sponsor approves three or more) to focus on these populations. This bill, currently pending in the legislature, would reshape how charter schools are authorized and operated in Missouri.
