Missouri HB 1323: Modifies provisions relating to the "A+ Schools Program."

Bill Text

FIRST REGULAR SESSION
HOUSE BILL NO. 1323
102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE WINDHAM.
1543H.01I DANA RADEMAN MILLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
Torepealsection160.545,RSMo,andtoenactinlieuthereofonenewsectionrelatingtostate
funding for higher education costs.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Section 160.545, RSMo, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu
2 thereof, to be known as section 160.545, to read as follows:
160.545. 1. There is hereby established within the department of elementary and
2 secondary education the "A+ Schools Program" to be administered by the commissioner of
3 education. The program shall consist of grant awards made to public secondary schools that
4 demonstrate a commitment to ensure that:
5 (1) All students be graduated from school;
6 (2) Allstudentscompleteaselectionofhighschoolstudiesthatischallengingandfor
7 which there are identified learning expectations; and
8 (3) All students:
9 (a) Earn credits toward any type of college degree while in high school; or
10 (b) Proceed from high school graduation to a college or postsecondary vocational or
11 technical school or high-wage job with work place skill development opportunities.
12 2. The state board of education shall promulgate rules and regulations for the
13 approval of grants made under the program to schools that:
14 (1) Establish measurable districtwide performance standards for the goals of the
15 program outlined in subsection 1 of this section; and
16 (2) Specify the knowledge, skills and competencies, in measurable terms, that
17 students must demonstrate to successfully complete any individual course offered by the
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.

18 school, and any course of studies which will qualify a student forgraduation from the school;
19 and
20 (3) Do not offer a general track of courses that, upon completion, can lead to a high
21 school diploma; and
22 (4) Require rigorous coursework with standards of competency in basic academic
23 subjects for students pursuing vocational and technical education as prescribed by rule and
24 regulation of the state board of education; and
25 (5) Have a partnership plan developed in cooperation and with the advice of local
26 business persons, labor leaders, parents, and representatives of college and postsecondary
27 vocational and technical school representatives, with the plan then approved by the local
28 board of education. The plan shall specify a mechanism to receive information on an annual
29 basis from those who developed the plan in addition to senior citizens, community leaders,
30 and teachers to update the plan in order to best meet the goals of the program as provided in
31 subsection 1 of this section. Further, the plan shall detail the procedures used in the school to
32 identify students that may drop out of school and the intervention services to be used to meet
33 the needs of such students. The plan shall outline counseling and mentoring services
34 providedtostudentswhowillentertheworkforceupongraduationfromhighschool,address
35 apprenticeship and intern programs, and shall contain procedures for the recruitment of
36 volunteers from the community of the school to serve in schools receiving program grants.
37 3. Any nonpublic school in this state may apply to the state board of education for
38 certificationthatitmeetstherequirementsofthissectionsubjecttothesamecriteriaaspublic
39 high schools. Every nonpublic school that applies and has met the requirements of this
40 section shall have its students eligible for reimbursement of postsecondary education under
41 subsection 8 of this section on an equal basis to students who graduate from public schools
42 that meet the requirements of this section. Any nonpublic school that applies shall not be
43 eligible for any grants under this section. Students of certified nonpublic schools shall be
44 eligible for reimbursement of postsecondary education under subsection 8 of this section so
45 long as they meet the other requirements of such subsection. For purposes of subdivision (5)
46 of subsection 2 of this section, the nonpublic school shall be included in the partnership plan
47 developed by the public school district in which the nonpublic school is located. For
48 purposes of subdivision (1) of subsection 2 of this section, the nonpublic school shall
49 establishmeasurableperformancestandards forthegoals oftheprogramforeveryschooland
50 grade level over which the nonpublic school maintains control.
51 4. A school district may participate in the program irrespective of its accreditation
52 classification by the state board of education, provided it meets all other requirements.
53 5. By rule and regulation, the state board of education may determine a local school
54 di