SECOND REGULAR SESSION SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 1856 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY 3790S.02C ADRIANE D. CROUSE, Secretary AN ACT To amend chapter 160, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the extended learning opportunities act. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows: Section A. Chapter 160, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto 1 one new section, to be known as section 160.565, to read as 2 follows:3 160.565. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited 1 as the "Extended Learning Opportunities Act". 2 2. As used in this section, the following terms mean: 3 (1) "Extended learning opportunity", an out -of- 4 classroom learning experience that is approved by a local 5 school board or a charter school and that provides a student 6 with: 7 (a) Enrichment opportunities; 8 (b) Career readiness or employability skills 9 opportunities including, but not limited to, internships; 10 preapprenticeships; or apprenticeships; or 11 (c) Any other approved educational opportunity; 12 (2) "Parent", a student's parent, g uardian, or other 13 person having control or custody of such student; 14 (3) "Student", any child attending an elementary or 15 secondary public school in grades kindergarten through 16 twelve. 17 SCS HB 1856 2 3. Beginning with the 2023 -24 school year, each local 18 school board or charter school shall routinely inform 19 students and parents of the ability for students to earn 20 credit for participating in extended learning 21 opportunities. Public schools and charter schools may 22 assist students and parents in completing e nrollment 23 processes required for participating in approved extended 24 learning opportunities. No student or parent shall be 25 required to obtain permission from the student's school 26 district or charter school to enroll in an approved extended 27 learning opportunity. Before participating in any extended 28 learning opportunity, the student and at least one parent 29 shall sign an agreement detailing all program requirements 30 in a form developed by the department of elementary and 31 secondary education and approv ed by the state board of 32 education. 33 4. An extended learning opportunity shall count as a 34 credit toward graduation requirements and the achievement of 35 applicable state standards for students. To receive credit, 36 a student shall submit a written re quest for credit and 37 proof of successful completion of the extended learning 38 opportunity to a designated administrator of the school the 39 student attends. 40 5. Each local school district and charter school shall 41 adopt, distribute, and implement exte nded learning 42 opportunities policies that provide all of the following: 43 (1) An application process for accepting and approving 44 extended learning opportunities offered for credit from 45 outside entities; 46 (2) A list of entities that are eligible to submit 47 applications to offer extended learning opportunities 48 including, but not limited to: 49 SCS HB 1856 3 (a) Nonprofit organizations; 50 (b) Businesses with established locations; 51 (c) Trade associations; and 52 (d) The Armed Forces of the United States, subject to 53 applicable age requirements; 54 (3) A process for students and parents to request 55 credit; 56 (4) Criteria that school districts and charter schools 57 shall use to determine whether a proposed extended learning 58 opportunity shall be approved; and 59 (5) Criteria that school districts and charter schools 60 shall use to award a certificate of completion and credit 61 for completing an extended learning opportunity including, 62 but not limited to, allowing a student to demonstrate 63 competencies through performance -based assessments and other 64 methods independent of instructional time and credit hours. 65 6. An entity approved by the state board of education 66 to offer an extended learning opportunity shall be 67 automatically qualified to offer that extended learning 68 opportunity to all school districts and charter schools. 69 7. A student who successfully completes an approved 70 extended learning opportunity and satisfies criteria for the 71 award of a certification of completion and cr edit under 72 subdivision (5) of subsection 5 of this section shall be 73 considered to have completed all required coursework for the 74 particular course. In an extended learning opportunity that 75 satisfies all required coursework for a high school course, 76 the student shall also be considered to have satisfied the 77 equivalent number of credits toward the student's graduation 78 requirements. 79 8. Any policy or procedure adopted by the state board 80 of education, a school board, or a charter school for 81 SCS HB 1856 4 participating in an extended learning opportunity shall 82 provide every student an equal opportunity to participate 83 and shall satisfy established timelines and requirements for 84 purposes of transcribing credits and state reporting. 85 9. The state board of e ducation may promulgate rules 86 to implement the provisions of this section. Any rule or 87 portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 88 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in 89 this section shall become effective only if it compl ies with 90 and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, 91 if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 92 are nonseverable, and if any of the powers vested with the 93 general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay 94 the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are 95 subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of 96 rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after 97 August 28, 2022, shall be invalid and void. 98