This bill is a resolution from the Missouri House of Representatives that urges the U.S. Congress to work toward eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. It argues that education is a state responsibility and claims the federal department has caused overreach through regulations and mandates without improving student reading scores. The text supports returning control of education to states and local communities, asserting this would allow for more efficient use of taxpayer money and policies that better reflect local values. Because this is a non-binding resolution expressing support for a federal goal rather than creating new laws, it does not directly change policy or affect specific groups immediately.
HB 3228 provides legal protection for teachers who intervene in school violence to protect themselves or students. It shields teachers and their school districts from lawsuits if they follow school procedures or act in good faith with a reasonable belief the intervention was justified. The bill explicitly excludes protection for cases involving willful misconduct or gross negligence. It also prohibits schools from creating policies that prevent teachers from intervening in such incidents. This bill directly affects educators and school districts by changing liability rules for on-the-ground safety responses.
HB 3275 reorganizes how school districts manage four specific funds: Teachers', Incidental, Capital Projects, and Debt Service. It specifies where revenue sources (like property taxes, tuition, bond proceeds, and energy savings contracts) must be deposited and sets strict rules for transferring balances between funds - such as limiting incidental fund transfers to teachers' funds to no more than 25% of annual teacher costs, and requiring excess incidental fund balances over 50% of prior-year combined fund spending to be transferred. The bill directly affects all public school districts by changing their financial management procedures for these designated funds, including new requirements for energy savings contract payments only after realized energy savings.
SS/SB 948 - This act provides that a parent has a fundamental right to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of such parent's child free from government interference. A governmental authority shall not restrict parental rights unless such authority demonstrates that the restriction is essential to further a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling interest. This provision applies to all state and local laws, resolutions, and ordinances and to the implementation of such laws, resolutions, and ordinances. (Section 1.390) The act outlines certain parental rights that are exclusively reserved to a parent without obstruction by or interference from this state, any political subdivision of the state, any governmental entity, or any other institution. Under the act, parents shall have the right to: (1) Direct the education of the child; (2) Access and review all written and electronic educational records of the child; (3) Direct the child's upbringing; (4) Direct the child's moral or religious training; (5) Consent in writing to all physical and mental health care decisions for the child; (6) Access and review all health and medical records of the child; (7) Consent in writing before a biometric scan of the child is made, shared, or stored; (8) Consent in writing before any record of the child's blood or DNA is created, stored, or shared, unless authorized pursuant to a court order; (9) Consent in writing before any governmental authority makes a video or voice recording of the child, unless, without abrogating rights secured under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution, such recording is made as part of an event or circumstance described in the act; (10) Be notified promptly if a governmental authority suspects that abuse, neglect, or a criminal offense has been committed against the child, unless such notification is reasonably believed to be likely to endanger the life or physical safety of the child; (11) Opt the child out of any personal analysis, evaluation, survey, or data collection by a school district except what is necessary and essential for establishing a student's educational record for a student of the school district; (12) Excuse a child from school attendance for religious purposes; (13) Participate in parent-teacher organizations and other school organizations that are sanctioned by the board of education of a school district; (14) Receive, upon first contact with a representative of the Department of Social Services, an accurate written itemization containing all details of allegations of child abuse or neglect of the child, excluding only the name of the person who made the allegations; and (15) View a publicly available, easily accessible accounting of all financial transactions conducted with school district funds without being required to submit a formal request or otherwise make direct contact with the school district to access such information. Except for law enforcement personnel, a governmental authority shall not encourage or coerce a child to withhold information from the child's parent; nor shall a governmental authority withhold from a child's parent information that is relevant to the physical, emotional, or mental health of the child. A parent who believes his or her rights have been violated under this act may assert that violation as a claim or defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding, regardless of whether the government is a party to the proceeding, and obtain appropriate relief against the government, including declaratory relief, injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and reasonable attorney's fees and costs. (Section 1.391) Additionally, each school district shall maintain an easily accessible online record of all money the district receives and spends. Each public school within a school district shall prominently link to the district's financial ledger on the school's own website. (Section 162.192) The act additionally repeals provisions authorizing minors to consent to medical treatment or procedures involving venereal disease and drug or substance abuse. (Section 431.061) This act is similar to HB 2426 (2026). OLIVIA SHANNON
HB 2773 requires all public elementary schools in the state to teach cursive writing, ensuring students can produce legible cursive handwriting by the end of fifth grade. Students must pass a teacher-created test demonstrating proficiency in both reading and writing cursive. The law directly affects elementary students and school districts, mandating this instruction as part of their curriculum. It does not specify teaching methods but sets a clear proficiency standard for fifth-grade students.
SB 1600 requires Missouri school districts to screen all students at least once before third grade to identify gifted students. The bill mandates universal screening using multiple measures - including academic achievement, creativity, and teacher referrals - and requires review by at least three trained staff members. It also prohibits identifying gifted students solely based on advanced course participation and sets standards for teacher certification in gifted education for larger districts. The policy directly affects all K-2 students and school districts statewide, with screening requirements taking effect for the 2027-28 school year.
HB 2776 creates a new pathway for teachers holding temporary teaching certificates in Missouri to earn full certification. It requires completing an approved 18-hour online training program (developed by the state or eligible charitable organizations) and either passing a teaching exam or meeting specific evaluation criteria through school district assessments. This change directly affects current temporary certificate holders seeking to teach in Missouri public schools, streamlining their transition to full certification without requiring additional degree programs. The bill also updates existing certification rules but focuses on simplifying the process for temporary certificate holders to qualify for permanent teaching roles.
HB 2913 provides legal immunity to teachers who intervene in school violence to protect themselves or students. Teachers gain immunity if they follow school procedures or act in good faith with a reasonable belief their actions are justified under self-defense law. Schools also receive immunity for teachers' actions when following this law, but immunity does not cover willful misconduct or gross negligence. The bill prohibits school districts from creating policies that prevent teachers from intervening in violent incidents.
HB 2704 requires school districts to establish state-approved gifted education programs if 3% or more of students are identified as gifted. It mandates universal screenings for all students before third grade using valid methods and multiple evidence areas (like creativity, problem-solving, and teacher referrals), while prohibiting identification based solely on advanced course enrollment. Districts with over 350 students must have teachers certified in gifted education, while smaller districts require annual professional development for those teachers. The bill also sets standards for program approval, requires parental notification about screening, and outlines appeal processes for denied referrals. These changes apply starting the 2024-25 school year for program requirements and 2026-27 for screenings.
HB 2872 requires Missouri teacher preparation programs to train future educators in evidence-based reading instruction methods, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and vocabulary. It prohibits the use of the "three-cueing system" in coursework and mandates that programs align with specific literacy components. The bill establishes a new Missouri Advisory Board for Educator Preparation (MABEP) to advise on teacher training and creates an Office of Literacy within the state education department. It also funds school districts through a new "Evidence-based Reading Instruction Program Fund" for tutoring, teacher training, and evidence-based reading materials, with compliance reviews starting in 2027. This directly affects teacher training institutions, new educators, and public school districts.
