Missouri HB 1956: Establishes the Competency-based Education Grant Program and Competency-based Education Task Force

Bill Text

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
[CORRECTED]
HOUSE BILL NO. 1956
101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE RICHEY.
4381H.01I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapters 160, 161, and 162, RSMo, by adding thereto four new sections relating to
educational alternatives in elementary and secondary schools.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapters 160, 161, and 162, RSMo, are amended by adding thereto four
2 new sections, to be known as sections 160.560, 161.380, 161.385, and 162.1255, to read as
3 follows:
160.560. 1. The department of elementary and secondary education shall
2 establish the "Show-Me Success Diploma Program".
3 2. Under the show-me success diploma program, the department of elementary
4 and secondary education shall develop the "Show-Me Success Diploma" as an
5 alternative pathway to graduation for high school students that may be earned at any
6 point between the end of a student's tenth grade year and the conclusion of the student's
7 twelfth grade year.
8 3. Before July 1, 2023, the department of elementary and secondary education
9 shall develop detailed requirements for students to become eligible for the show-me
10 success diploma that include at least the following:
11 (1) Demonstrated skills and knowledge in English, science, and mathematical
12 literacy to be successful in college-level courses offered by the community colleges in this
13 state that count toward a degree or certificate without taking remedial or developmental
14 coursework; and
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.

15 (2) Satisfactory grades on approved examinations in subjects determined to be
16 necessary to prepare a student to enter postsecondary education without taking
17 remedial or developmental coursework.
18 4. School districts and charter schools may offer a course of study designed to
19 meet the requirements to obtain a show-me success diploma to students entering the
20 ninth grade. Students who elect to pursue a show-me success diploma shall participate
21 in a course of study designed by the school district to meet the requirements established
22 under subsection 3 of this section. The show-me success diploma shall be available to
23 any such student until the end of that student's twelfth grade year.
24 5. Students who earn a show-me success diploma may remain in high school and
25 participate in programs of study available through the school district or charter school
26 until that student would otherwise have graduated at the end of grade twelve. For
27 purposesof calculationand distributionof stateaid,the schooldistrict orcharter school
28 of a pupil having earned a show-me success diploma who remains enrolled in the school
29 district or charter school shall continue to include the pupil in the pupil enrollment of
30 each such school district or charter school and shall continue to receive funding for a
31 pupil who earns a show-me success diploma until that pupil would otherwise have
32 graduatedattheendofgradetwelve. Studentswhoelecttoremaininhighschoolunder
33 this subsection shall be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities, including
34 interscholastic sports, through the end of grade twelve.
35 6. Students who pursue but do not meet the eligibility requirements for a show-
36 mesuccessdiplomaattheendofgradetenorelevenshallreceiveacustomizedprogram
37 of assistance during the next school year that addresses areas in which the student
38 demonstrateddeficienciesin thecourse requirements. Students may choose toreturn to
39 a traditional academic program without completing the show-me success diploma.
40 7. The department of elementary and secondary education shall provide
41 training, guidance, and assistance to teachers and administrators of the schools offering
42 the show-me success diploma and shall closely monitor the progress of the schools in the
43 development of the program.
44 8. Pupils whoearn a show-mesuccess diploma anddo not remainenrolled in the
45 district or charter school and instead enroll, or show proof that they will enroll, in a
46 postsecondary educational institution eligible to participate in a student aid program
47 administered by the U.S. Department of Education shall be included in the district's or
48 charter school's state aid calculation under section 163.031, until such time that the
49 pupil would have completed the pupil's twelfth grade year had the pupil not earned a
50 show-me success diploma. The funding assigned to a pupil under this subsection shall
51 be calculated as if the pupil's attendance percentage equaled the district's or charter
HB 1956 2

52 school's prior year average attendance percentage. For a pupil who, as provided in this
53 subsection, is included in the district's or charter school's state aid c