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