Missouri SB 285: Provides for school innovation waivers to exempt schools from specific requirements imposed by law or regulation

Bill Text

FIRST REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 285
101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ARTHUR.
1255S.01I ADRIANE D. CROUSE, Secretary
AN ACT
To amend chapter 161, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to school innovation
waivers.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 161, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto 1
one new section, to be known as section 161.214, to read as 2
follows:3
161.214. 1. For purposes of this section, the 1
following terms shall mean: 2
(1) "Board", the state board of education; 3
(2) "Department", the department of elementary and 4
secondary education; 5
(3) "School innovation team", a group of natural 6
persons representing: 7
(a) A single elementary or secondary school; 8
(b) A group of two or more elementary or secondary 9
schools within the same school district that share common 10
interests, such as geographical location or educational 11
focus, or that sequentially serve classes of students as 12
they progress through elementary and secondary education; 13
(c) A group of two or more elementary or secondary 14
schools not within the same school district that share 15
common interests, such as geographical location or 16
educational focus, or that sequentially serve classes of 17

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students as they progress through elementary and secondary 18
education; 19
(d) A single school district; or 20
(e) A group of two or more school districts that share 21
common interests, such as geographical location or 22
educational focus, or that sequentially serve classes of 23
students as they progress through elementary and secondary 24
education; 25
(4) "School innovation waiver", a waiver granted by 26
the board to a single school, group of schools, single 27
school district, or group of school districts pursuant to 28
this section, in which the school, group of schools, school 29
district, or group of school districts is exempt from a 30
specific requirement imposed by chapter 160, chapter 161, 31
chapter 162, chapter 167, chapter 170, or chapter 171, or 32
any regulations promulgated thereunder by the board or the 33
department. Any school innovation waiver granted to a 34
school district or group of school districts shall be 35
applicable to every elementary and secondary school within 36
the school district or group of school districts unless the 37
plan specifically provides otherwise. 38
2. Any school innovation team seeking a school 39
innovation waiver may submit a plan to the board for one or 40
more of the following purposes: 41
(1) Improving student readiness for employment, higher 42
education, vocational training, technical training, or any 43
other form of career and job training; 44
(2) Increasing the compensation of teachers; or 45
(3) Improving the recruitment, retention, training, 46
preparation, or professional development of teachers. 47
3. Any plan for a school innovation waiver shall: 48

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(1) Identify the specific provision of law for which a 49
waiver is being requested and provide an explanation for why 50
the specific provision of law inhibits the ability of the 51
school or school district to accomplish the goal stated in 52
the plan; 53
(2) Demonstrate that the intent of the specific 54
provision of law can be addressed in a more effective, 55
efficient or economical manner and that the waiver or 56
modification is necessary to implement the plan; 57
(3) Include measurable annual performance targets and 58
goals for the implementation of the plan; 59
(4) Specify the innovations to be pursued in meeting 60
one or more of the goals listed in subsection 2 of this 61
section; 62
(5) Demonstrate parental, school employee, and 63
community and business support for, and engagement with, the 64
plan; and 65
(6) Be approved by at least the minimum number of 66
people required to be on the school innovation team prior to 67
submitting the plan for approval. 68
4. (1) In evaluating a plan submitted by a school 69
innovation team under subsection 2 of this section, the 70
board shall consider whether the plan will: 71
(a) Improve the preparation, counseling, and overall 72
readiness of students for postsecondary life; 73
(b) Increase teacher salaries in a financially 74
sustainable and prudent manner; or 75
(c) Increase the attractiveness of the teaching 76
profession for prospective teachers and active teachers 77
alike. 78
(2) The board may approve any plan submitted under 79
subsection 2 of this section if it determines that: 80

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(a) The plan successfully demonstrates the ability to 81
address the intent of the provision of law to be waived in a 82
more effective, efficient or economical manner; 83
(b) The waivers or modifications are demonstrated to 84
be necessary to stimulate improved student readiness for 85
postsecondary life, increase teacher salaries, or increase 86
the attractiveness of the teaching profession for 87
prospective teachers and active teachers; 88
(c) The plan has