The Children’s Education Council of Missouri (CECM) hailed the passage today of Senate Bill 291 by both chambers of the State Legislature. The bill, originally pertaining only to virtual school provisions, was turned into the omnibus education bill for the 2009 session.

“This bill includes several important provisions to move education reform forward in the state of Missouri,” said CECM State Director Earl Simms. “The winners today, if the bill is signed by Governor Nixon, are the children of the state.”

Among the highlights of the bill are studies to be conducted by the Joint Committee on Education regarding the issue of open enrollment and a study comparing the performance of charter school students with a group of district students representing an equivalent demographic and geographic population. The bill also establishes the Teacher Choice Compensation Package for the St. Louis City School District to allow for performance-based salary stipends upon the decision of a teacher. Teachers would have to leave the tenure program to be eligible and could receive stipends up to $15,000 for entering the program.

“The members of both the House and the Senate, especially the chairman of both chamber’s education committees, Senator Mayer and Representative Wallace, should be commended for their hard work on this bipartisan bill,” added Simms. The bill now heads to Governor Jay Nixon’s desk to be signed into law.

Other provisions of the bill include legislation that:

• Prohibits any school discipline policy which confines an unattended student in a locked space, except when awaiting law enforcement personnel.
• Establishes the Missouri Senior Cadet Program to provide opportunities for twelfth graders in public school to mentor kindergarten through eighth grade students.
• Allows the Governor to establish the P-20 Council as a private not-for-profit corporation to coordinate the preparation of students for entering the workforce.
• Requires the State Board of Education to provide seven days’ written notice of board meetings to members. The number of members needed to request a meeting of the board is reduced from four to three. Any business before the board must be made available by free electronic record at least seven business days before the meeting. All records must be available by free electronic media within 48 hours after a meeting. Any materials prepared for board members must be delivered to the members at least five days before the meeting.
• Requires public schools to develop teaching standards by June 30, 2010.
• Establishes a bill of rights for the parents of children with individualized education programs and requires the department to publish a guide in clear concise language that includes, but is not limited to, the parents’ rights to participate in meetings, to obtain copies of records, to have an advocate present, and to receive a nonexclusive list of services to which a child may be entitled.
• Specifies that school districts offering virtual courses to resident-enrolled students will receive state school funding for those students.
• Establishes physical education standards for elementary schools as of the 2010-2011 school year that include moderate physical activity for an average of 30 minutes per day.

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