Missouri 2022 Regular Session

Missouri Senate Bill SB681 Latest Draft

Bill / Enrolled Version Filed 05/16/2022

                             
EXPLANATION-Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in this bill is not enacted 
and is intended to be omitted in the law. 
SECOND REGULAR SESSION 
[TRULY AGREED TO AND FINALLY PASSED ] 
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE NO. 2 FOR 
HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR 
SENATE SUBSTITUTE FOR 
SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR 
SENATE BILLS NOS. 681 & 662 
101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
2022 
4133S.14T   
AN ACT 
To repeal sections 160.261, 160.2700, 160.2705, 161.097, 161.700, 162.261, 162.281, 162.291, 
162.471, 162.481, 162.491, 162.720, 162.974, 163.016, 167.151, 167.225, 167.268, 
167.640, 167.645, 168.021, 168.205, 168.500, 168.515, 170.014, 170.018, 170.047, 
170.048, 171.033, 302.010, and 304.060, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof fifty new 
sections relating to elementary and secondary education, with an emergency clause for 
certain sections and an effective date for a certain section. 
 
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows: 
     Section A.  Sections 160.261, 160.2700, 160.2705, 161.097, 1 
161.700, 162.261, 162.281, 162.291, 162.471, 162.481, 162.491, 2 
162.720, 162.974, 163.0 16, 167.151, 167.225, 167.268, 167.640, 3 
167.645, 168.021, 168.205, 168.500, 168.515, 170.014, 170.018, 4 
170.047, 170.048, 171.033, 302.010, and 304.060, RSMo, are 5 
repealed and fifty new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be 6 
known as sections 160.077, 160. 261, 160.560, 160.2700, 7 
160.2705, 161.097, 161.214, 161.241, 161.380, 161.385, 161.700, 8 
162.058, 162.084, 162.261, 162.281, 162.291, 162.471, 162.481, 9 
162.491, 162.563, 162.720, 162.974, 162.1255, 163.016, 167.151, 10 
167.225, 167.268, 167.625, 167.640, 167.6 45, 167.850, 168.021, 11 
168.036, 168.037, 168.205, 168.500, 168.515, 170.014, 170.018, 12    	2 
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170.036, 170.047, 170.048, 170.307, 171.033, 173.831, 173.1352, 13 
178.694, 186.080, 302.010, and 304.060, to read as follows:14 
     160.077.  1.  This section shall be known and may be  1 
cited as the "Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water Act". 2 
     2.  As used in this section, the following terms mean: 3 
     (1)  "Department", the Missouri department of health 4 
and senior services; 5 
     (2)  "Disadvantaged school district" , any school  6 
district that serves students from a county in which at 7 
least twenty-five percent of the households in such county 8 
are below the federal poverty guidelines updated 9 
periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department 10 
of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 11 
U.S.C. Section 9902(2), as amended, or any school district 12 
in which more than seventy percent of students in the 13 
district qualify for a free or reduced price lunch under the 14 
federal Richard B. Russell National S chool Lunch Act, 42 15 
U.S.C. Section 1751 et seq.; 16 
     (3)  "Drinking water outlet", a potable water fixture 17 
that is used for drinking or food preparation. "Drinking 18 
water outlet" includes, but is not limited to: 19 
     (a)  A water fountain, faucet, or ta p that is used or  20 
potentially used for drinking or food preparation; and 21 
     (b)  Ice–making and hot drink machines; 22 
     (4)  "First draw", a two-hundred-fifty-milliliter  23 
sample immediately collected from a drinking water outlet 24 
that has been turned o n after a stagnation period of at 25 
least eight hours; 26 
     (5)  "Parent", a parent, guardian, or other person 27 
having control or custody of a child; 28 
     (6)  "Private school", the same definition as in 29 
section 166.700; 30    	3 
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     (7)  "Public school", the same definition as in section 31 
160.011; 32 
     (8)  "Remediation", decreasing the lead concentration 33 
in water from a drinking water outlet to less than five 34 
parts per billion without relying solely on flushing 35 
practices, or using methods such as the replaceme nt of lead- 36 
containing pipes, solder, fittings, or fixtures with lead - 37 
free components.  Flushing as a stand alone action shall not 38 
be considered remediation; 39 
     (9)  "School", any public school, private school, or 40 
provider of an early childhood educat ion program that  41 
receives state funding. 42 
     3.  Beginning in the 2023 -24 school year and for each 43 
subsequent school year, each school shall provide drinking 44 
water with a lead concentration level below five parts per 45 
billion in sufficient amounts to m eet the drinking water 46 
needs of all students and staff as provided in this section. 47 
     4.  (1)  On or before January 1, 2024, each school 48 
shall: 49 
     (a)  Conduct an inventory of all drinking water outlets 50 
and all outlets that are used for dispensing water for  51 
cooking or for cleaning cooking and eating utensils in each 52 
of the school's buildings; 53 
     (b)  Develop a plan for testing each outlet inventoried 54 
under paragraph (a) of this subdivision and make such plan 55 
available to the public; and 56 
     (c)  Upon request, provide general information on the 57 
health effects of lead contamination and additional 58 
informational resources for employees and parents of 59 
children at each school. 60 
     (2)  Each school shall make buildings housing early 61 
childhood education programs, kindergartens, and elementary 62    	4 
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schools the priority when complying with paragraphs (a) and 63 
(b) of subdivision (1) of this subsection. 64 
     (3)  Before August 1, 2024, or the first day on which 65 
students will be present in the building, w hichever is  66 
later, each school shall: 67 
     (a)  Perform all testing as required by subsection 5 of 68 
this section and within two weeks after receiving test 69 
results, make all testing results and any lead remediation 70 
plans available on the school's website ; 71 
     (b)  Remove and replace any drinking water coolers or 72 
drinking water outlets that the United States Environmental 73 
Protection Agency has determined are not lead -free under the  74 
federal Lead Contamination Control Act of 1988, as amended; 75 
except the school shall not be required to replace those 76 
drinking water outlets or water coolers that tested under 77 
the requirements of this section and have been determined to 78 
be dispensing drinking water with a lead concentration less 79 
than five part per billion ; however, such drinking water 80 
outlet or water cooler shall be subject to all testing 81 
requirements and shall not be excluded from testing under 82 
subsection 10 of this section. 83 
     (4)  If testing indicates that the water source is 84 
causing the contamina tion and until such time that the 85 
source of the contamination has been remediated, the school 86 
shall: 87 
     (a)  Install a filter at each point at which the water 88 
supply enters the building; 89 
     (b)  Install a filter that reduces lead in drinking 90 
water on each water outlet inventoried under paragraph (a) 91 
of subdivision (1) of this subsection to ensure lead 92 
concentrations are below five parts per billion; or 93    	5 
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     (c)  Provide purified water at each water outlet 94 
inventoried under paragraph (a) of subdiv ision (1) of this  95 
subsection. 96 
     (5)  If testing indicates that the internal building 97 
piping is causing the contamination and until such time that 98 
the source of the contamination has been remediated, the 99 
school shall: 100 
     (a)  Install a filter that reduces lead in drinking 101 
water on each water outlet inventoried under paragraph (a) 102 
of subdivision (1) of this subsection to ensure lead 103 
concentrations are below five parts per billion; or 104 
     (b)  Provide purified water at each water outlet 105 
inventoried under paragraph (a) of subdivision (1) of this 106 
subsection. 107 
     (6)  If a pipe, solder, fitting, or fixture is replaced 108 
as part of remediation, the replacement shall be lead -free,  109 
as such term is defined in 40 CFR 143.12, as amended. 110 
     (7)  If a test result exceeds five parts per billion, 111 
the affected school shall: 112 
     (a)  Contact parents and staff via written notification 113 
within seven business days after receiving the test result. 114 
The notification shall include at least: 115 
     a.  The test results and a summary that explains such 116 
results; 117 
     b.  A description of any remedial steps taken; and 118 
     c.  A description of general health effects of lead 119 
contamination and community specific resources; and 120 
     (b)  Provide bottled water if there i s not enough water 121 
to meet the drinking water needs of the students, teachers, 122 
and staff. 123 
     (8)  School districts shall submit such annual testing 124 
results to the department. 125    	6 
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     (9)  This subsection shall not be construed to prevent 126 
a school from conducting more frequent testing than required 127 
under this section. 128 
     5.  (1)  Before August 1, 2024, or the first day on 129 
which students will be present in the building, whichever is 130 
later, and annually thereafter, each school shall conduct 131 
testing for lead by first-draw and follow-up flush samples  132 
of a random sampling of at least twenty -five percent of  133 
remediated drinking water outlets until all remediated 134 
sources have been tested as recommended by the 2018 version 135 
of the United States Environment al Protection Agency's 136 
"Training, Testing, and Taking Action" program. The testing 137 
shall be conducted and the results analyzed for both types 138 
of tests by an entity or entities approved by the department. 139 
     (2)  If, in the ten years prior to the 2023 -24 school  140 
year, a fixture tested above five parts per billion for 141 
lead, such fixture does not need to be repeat tested for 142 
lead, but instead remediation shall begin on such fixture. 143 
     6.  (1)  In addition to the apportionments payable to a 144 
school district under chapter 163, the department of natural 145 
resources, with support from the department of elementary 146 
and secondary education and the department of health and 147 
senior services, is hereby authorized to apportion to any 148 
school additional funding f or the filtration, testing, and 149 
other remediation of drinking water systems required under 150 
this section, subject to appropriation. 151 
     (2)  To the extent permitted by federal law, a school 152 
district may seek reimbursement or other funds for 153 
compliance incurred under this section under any applicable 154 
federal law including, but not limited to, the America's 155 
Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 and the Water 156    	7 
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Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014, 33 U.S.C. 157 
Section 3901 et seq. 158 
     (3)  Disadvantaged school districts shall receive 159 
funding priority under this subsection. 160 
     7.  The department, in conjunction with the department 161 
of elementary and secondary education, shall publish a 162 
report biennially based on the findings from the water 163 
testing conducted under this section. Such report shall be 164 
published on the department of natural resources website. 165 
     8.  For public schools, the department shall ensure 166 
compliance with this section. Each school district shall be 167 
responsible for ensurin g compliance within each school 168 
within the school district's jurisdiction. 169 
     9.  No school building constructed after January 4, 170 
2014, as provided in the federal Reduction of Lead in 171 
Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. Section 300g -6), as amended,  172 
shall be required to install, maintain, or replace filters 173 
under paragraph (c) of subdivision (1) of subsection 4 of 174 
this section. 175 
     10.  A school that tests and does not find a drinking 176 
water source with a lead concentration above the acceptable 177 
level as described in subsection 3 of this section shall be 178 
required to test only every five years. 179 
     11.  The department may promulgate all necessary rules 180 
and regulations for the administration of this section.  Any  181 
rule or portion of a rule, as that term i s defined in  182 
section 536.010, that is created under the authority 183 
delegated in this section shall become effective only if it 184 
complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of 185 
chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.  This  186 
section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the 187 
powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 188    	8 
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536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove 189 
and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, 190 
then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed 191 
or adopted after August 28, 2022, shall be invalid and void. 192 
     160.261.  1.  The local board of education of each 1 
school district shall clearly establish a written policy of 2 
discipline, including the dis trict's determination on the 3 
use of corporal punishment and the procedures in which 4 
punishment will be applied.  A written copy of the 5 
district's discipline policy and corporal punishment 6 
procedures, if applicable, shall be provided to the pupil 7 
and parent or legal guardian of every pupil enrolled in the 8 
district at the beginning of each school year and also made 9 
available in the office of the superintendent of such 10 
district, during normal business hours, for public 11 
inspection.  No pupil shall be subject to corporal 12 
punishment procedures outlined in the discipline and 13 
corporal punishment policy without a parent or guardian 14 
being notified and providing written permission for the 15 
corporal punishment.  All employees of the district shall 16 
annually receive instruction related to the specific 17 
contents of the policy of discipline and any interpretations 18 
necessary to implement the provisions of the policy in the 19 
course of their duties, including but not limited to 20 
approved methods of dealing with ac ts of school violence, 21 
disciplining students with disabilities and instruction in 22 
the necessity and requirements for confidentiality. 23 
     2.  The policy shall require school administrators to 24 
report acts of school violence to all teachers at the 25 
attendance center and, in addition, to other school district 26 
employees with a need to know.  For the purposes of this 27 
chapter or chapter 167, "need to know" is defined as school 28    	9 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
personnel who are directly responsible for the student's 29 
education or who other wise interact with the student on a 30 
professional basis while acting within the scope of their 31 
assigned duties.  As used in this section, the phrase "act 32 
of school violence" or "violent behavior" means the exertion 33 
of physical force by a student with th e intent to do serious 34 
physical injury as defined in section 556.061 to another 35 
person while on school property, including a school bus in 36 
service on behalf of the district, or while involved in 37 
school activities.  The policy shall at a minimum require  38 
school administrators to report, as soon as reasonably 39 
practical, to the appropriate law enforcement agency any of 40 
the following crimes, or any act which if committed by an 41 
adult would be one of the following crimes: 42 
     (1)  First degree murder unde r section 565.020; 43 
     (2)  Second degree murder under section 565.021; 44 
     (3)  Kidnapping under section 565.110 as it existed 45 
prior to January 1, 2017, or kidnapping in the first degree 46 
under section 565.110; 47 
     (4)  First degree assault under sect ion 565.050; 48 
     (5)  Rape in the first degree under section 566.030; 49 
     (6)  Sodomy in the first degree under section 566.060; 50 
     (7)  Burglary in the first degree under section 569.160; 51 
     (8)  Burglary in the second degree under section 52 
569.170; 53 
     (9)  Robbery in the first degree under section 569.020 54 
as it existed prior to January 1, 2017, or robbery in the 55 
first degree under section 570.023; 56 
     (10)  Distribution of drugs under section 195.211 as it 57 
existed prior to January 1, 2017, or manufacture of a  58 
controlled substance under section 579.055; 59    	10 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (11)  Distribution of drugs to a minor under section 60 
195.212 as it existed prior to January 1, 2017, or delivery 61 
of a controlled substance under section 579.020; 62 
     (12)  Arson in the first degree under section 569.040; 63 
     (13)  Voluntary manslaughter under section 565.023; 64 
     (14)  Involuntary manslaughter under section 565.024 as 65 
it existed prior to January 1, 2017, involuntary 66 
manslaughter in the first degree under section 565.0 24, or  67 
involuntary manslaughter in the second degree under section 68 
565.027; 69 
     (15)  Second degree assault under section 565.060 as it 70 
existed prior to January 1, 2017, or second degree assault 71 
under section 565.052; 72 
     (16)  Rape in the second deg ree under section 566.031; 73 
     (17)  Felonious restraint under section 565.120 as it 74 
existed prior to January 1, 2017, or kidnapping in the 75 
second degree under section 565.120; 76 
     (18)  Property damage in the first degree under section 77 
569.100; 78 
     (19)  The possession of a weapon under chapter 571; 79 
     (20)  Child molestation in the first degree pursuant to 80 
section 566.067 as it existed prior to January 1, 2017, or 81 
child molestation in the first, second, or third degree 82 
pursuant to section 566.0 67, 566.068, or 566.069; 83 
     (21)  Sodomy in the second degree pursuant to section 84 
566.061; 85 
     (22)  Sexual misconduct involving a child pursuant to 86 
section 566.083; 87 
     (23)  Sexual abuse in the first degree pursuant to 88 
section 566.100; 89    	11 
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     (24)  Harassment under section 565.090 as it existed 90 
prior to January 1, 2017, or harassment in the first degree 91 
under section 565.090; or 92 
     (25)  Stalking under section 565.225 as it existed 93 
prior to January 1, 2017, or stalking in the first degree 94 
under section 565.225; 95 
committed on school property, including but not limited to 96 
actions on any school bus in service on behalf of the 97 
district or while involved in school activities.  The policy  98 
shall require that any portion of a student's individualized 99 
education program that is related to demonstrated or 100 
potentially violent behavior shall be provided to any 101 
teacher and other school district employees who are directly 102 
responsible for the student's education or who otherwise 103 
interact with the student on an educational basis while 104 
acting within the scope of their assigned duties.  The  105 
policy shall also contain the consequences of failure to 106 
obey standards of conduct set by the local board of 107 
education, and the importance of the standards to the 108 
maintenance of an atmosphere where orderly learning is 109 
possible and encouraged. 110 
     3.  The policy shall provide that any student who is on 111 
suspension for any of the offenses listed in subsection 2 of 112 
this section or any act of violence or drug -related activity  113 
defined by school district policy as a serious violation of 114 
school discipline pursuant to subsection 9 of this section 115 
shall have as a condition of his or her suspension the 116 
requirement that such student is not allowed, while on such 117 
suspension, to be within one thousand feet of any school 118 
property in the school district where such student attended 119 
school or any activity of that district, regardless of 120    	12 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
whether or not the activity takes place on district property 121 
unless: 122 
     (1)  Such student is under the direct supervision of 123 
the student's parent, legal guardian, or custodian and the 124 
superintendent or the superintendent's designee has 125 
authorized the student to be on school property; 126 
     (2)  Such student is under the direct supervision o f  127 
another adult designated by the student's parent, legal 128 
guardian, or custodian, in advance, in writing, to the 129 
principal of the school which suspended the student and the 130 
superintendent or the superintendent's designee has 131 
authorized the student to be on school property; 132 
     (3)  Such student is enrolled in and attending an 133 
alternative school that is located within one thousand feet 134 
of a public school in the school district where such student 135 
attended school; or 136 
     (4)  Such student resides wit hin one thousand feet of 137 
any public school in the school district where such student 138 
attended school in which case such student may be on the 139 
property of his or her residence without direct adult 140 
supervision. 141 
     4.  Any student who violates the condi tion of  142 
suspension required pursuant to subsection 3 of this section 143 
may be subject to expulsion or further suspension pursuant 144 
to the provisions of sections 167.161, 167.164, and 145 
167.171.  In making this determination consideration shall 146 
be given to whether the student poses a threat to the safety 147 
of any child or school employee and whether such student's 148 
unsupervised presence within one thousand feet of the school 149 
is disruptive to the educational process or undermines the 150 
effectiveness of the sch ool's disciplinary policy.  Removal  151 
of any pupil who is a student with a disability is subject 152    	13 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
to state and federal procedural rights.  This section shall 153 
not limit a school district's ability to: 154 
     (1)  Prohibit all students who are suspended from b eing  155 
on school property or attending an activity while on 156 
suspension; 157 
     (2)  Discipline students for off -campus conduct that 158 
negatively affects the educational environment to the extent 159 
allowed by law. 160 
     5.  The policy shall provide for a suspens ion for a  161 
period of not less than one year, or expulsion, for a 162 
student who is determined to have brought a weapon to 163 
school, including but not limited to the school playground 164 
or the school parking lot, brought a weapon on a school bus 165 
or brought a weapon to a school activity whether on or off 166 
of the school property in violation of district policy, 167 
except that: 168 
     (1)  The superintendent or, in a school district with 169 
no high school, the principal of the school which such child 170 
attends may modify such suspension on a case -by-case basis;  171 
and 172 
     (2)  This section shall not prevent the school district 173 
from providing educational services in an alternative 174 
setting to a student suspended under the provisions of this 175 
section. 176 
     6.  For the purpose of this section, the term "weapon" 177 
shall mean a firearm as defined under 18 U.S.C. Section 921 178 
and the following items, as defined in section 571.010:  a  179 
blackjack, a concealable firearm, an explosive weapon, a 180 
firearm, a firearm silencer, a gas gun , a knife, knuckles, a 181 
machine gun, a projectile weapon, a rifle, a shotgun, a 182 
spring gun or a switchblade knife; except that this section 183 
shall not be construed to prohibit a school board from 184    	14 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
adopting a policy to allow a Civil War reenactor to carry a  185 
Civil War era weapon on school property for educational 186 
purposes so long as the firearm is unloaded.  The local  187 
board of education shall define weapon in the discipline 188 
policy.  Such definition shall include the weapons defined 189 
in this subsection bu t may also include other weapons. 190 
     7.  All school district personnel responsible for the 191 
care and supervision of students are authorized to hold 192 
every pupil strictly accountable for any disorderly conduct 193 
in school or on any property of the school, on any school  194 
bus going to or returning from school, during school - 195 
sponsored activities, or during intermission or recess 196 
periods. 197 
     8.  Teachers and other authorized district personnel in 198 
public schools responsible for the care, supervision, and 199 
discipline of schoolchildren, including volunteers selected 200 
with reasonable care by the school district, shall not be 201 
civilly liable when acting in conformity with the 202 
established policies developed by each board, including but 203 
not limited to policies o f student discipline or when 204 
reporting to his or her supervisor or other person as 205 
mandated by state law acts of school violence or threatened 206 
acts of school violence, within the course and scope of the 207 
duties of the teacher, authorized district person nel or  208 
volunteer, when such individual is acting in conformity with 209 
the established policies developed by the board.  Nothing in  210 
this section shall be construed to create a new cause of 211 
action against such school district, or to relieve the 212 
school district from liability for the negligent acts of 213 
such persons. 214 
     9.  Each school board shall define in its discipline 215 
policy acts of violence and any other acts that constitute a 216    	15 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
serious violation of that policy.  "Acts of violence" as 217 
defined by school boards shall include but not be limited to 218 
exertion of physical force by a student with the intent to 219 
do serious bodily harm to another person while on school 220 
property, including a school bus in service on behalf of the 221 
district, or while involved i n school activities.  School  222 
districts shall for each student enrolled in the school 223 
district compile and maintain records of any serious 224 
violation of the district's discipline policy.  Such records  225 
shall be made available to teachers and other school 226 
district employees with a need to know while acting within 227 
the scope of their assigned duties, and shall be provided as 228 
required in section 167.020 to any school district in which 229 
the student subsequently attempts to enroll. 230 
     10.  Spanking, when administered by certificated 231 
personnel and in the presence of a witness who is an 232 
employee of the school district, or the use of reasonable 233 
force to protect persons or property, when administered by 234 
personnel of a school district in a reasonable manner i n  235 
accordance with the local board of education's written 236 
policy of discipline, is not abuse within the meaning of 237 
chapter 210.  [The provisions of sections 210.110 to 210.165 238 
notwithstanding, the children's division shall not have 239 
jurisdiction over or investigate any report of alleged child 240 
abuse arising out of or related to the use of reasonable 241 
force to protect persons or property when administered by 242 
personnel of a school district or any spanking administered 243 
in a reasonable manner by any certif icated school personnel 244 
in the presence of a witness who is an employee of the 245 
school district pursuant to a written policy of discipline 246 
established by the board of education of the school 247    	16 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
district, as long as no allegation of sexual misconduct 248 
arises from the spanking or use of force. 249 
     11.  If a student reports alleged sexual misconduct on 250 
the part of a teacher or other school employee to a person 251 
employed in a school facility who is required to report such 252 
misconduct to the children's divisio n under section 210.115, 253 
such person and the superintendent of the school district 254 
shall report the allegation to the children's division as 255 
set forth in section 210.115.  Reports made to the 256 
children's division under this subsection shall be 257 
investigated by the division in accordance with the 258 
provisions of sections 210.145 to 210.153 and shall not be 259 
investigated by the school district under subsections 12 to 260 
20 of this section for purposes of determining whether the 261 
allegations should or should n ot be substantiated.  The  262 
district may investigate the allegations for the purpose of 263 
making any decision regarding the employment of the accused 264 
employee. 265 
     12.] 11.  Upon receipt of any reports of child abuse by 266 
the children's division [other than reports provided under 267 
subsection 11 of this section, ] pursuant to sections 210.110 268 
to 210.165 which allegedly involve personnel of a school 269 
district, the children's division shall notify the 270 
superintendent of schools of the district or, if the person  271 
named in the alleged incident is the superintendent of 272 
schools, the president of the school board of the school 273 
district where the alleged incident occurred. 274 
     [13.  If, after an initial investigation, the 275 
superintendent of schools or the president of the school  276 
board finds that the report involves an alleged incident of 277 
child abuse other than the administration of a spanking by 278 
certificated school personnel or the use of reasonable force 279    	17 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
to protect persons or property when administered by schoo l  280 
personnel pursuant to a written policy of discipline or that 281 
the report was made for the sole purpose of harassing a 282 
public school employee, the superintendent of schools or the 283 
president of the school board shall immediately refer the 284 
matter back to the children's division and take no further 285 
action.  In all matters referred back to the children's 286 
division, the division shall treat the report in the same 287 
manner as other reports of alleged child abuse received by 288 
the division. 289 
     14.  If the report pertains to an alleged incident 290 
which arose out of or is related to a spanking administered 291 
by certificated personnel or the use of reasonable force to 292 
protect persons or property when administered by personnel 293 
of a school district pursuant to a w ritten policy of  294 
discipline or a report made for the sole purpose of 295 
harassing a public school employee, a notification of the 296 
reported child abuse shall be sent by the superintendent of 297 
schools or the president of the school board to the law 298 
enforcement in the county in which the alleged incident 299 
occurred. 300 
     15.  The report shall be jointly investigated by the 301 
law enforcement officer and the superintendent of schools 302 
or, if the subject of the report is the superintendent of 303 
schools, by a law en forcement officer and the president of 304 
the school board or such president's designee. 305 
     16.  The investigation shall begin no later than forty - 306 
eight hours after notification from the children's division 307 
is received, and shall consist of, but need not be limited  308 
to, interviewing and recording statements of the child and 309 
the child's parents or guardian within two working days 310 
after the start of the investigation, of the school district 311    	18 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
personnel allegedly involved in the report, and of any 312 
witnesses to the alleged incident. 313 
     17.  The law enforcement officer and the investigating 314 
school district personnel shall issue separate reports of 315 
their findings and recommendations after the conclusion of 316 
the investigation to the school board of the scho ol district  317 
within seven days after receiving notice from the children's 318 
division. 319 
     18.  The reports shall contain a statement of 320 
conclusion as to whether the report of alleged child abuse 321 
is substantiated or is unsubstantiated. 322 
     19.  The school board shall consider the separate 323 
reports referred to in subsection 17 of this section and 324 
shall issue its findings and conclusions and the action to 325 
be taken, if any, within seven days after receiving the last 326 
of the two reports.  The findings and conclusions shall be 327 
made in substantially the following form: 328 
     (1)  The report of the alleged child abuse is 329 
unsubstantiated.  The law enforcement officer and the 330 
investigating school board personnel agree that there was 331 
not a preponderance of evid ence to substantiate that abuse 332 
occurred; 333 
     (2)  The report of the alleged child abuse is 334 
substantiated.  The law enforcement officer and the 335 
investigating school district personnel agree that the 336 
preponderance of evidence is sufficient to support a finding  337 
that the alleged incident of child abuse did occur; 338 
     (3)  The issue involved in the alleged incident of 339 
child abuse is unresolved.  The law enforcement officer and 340 
the investigating school personnel are unable to agree on 341 
their findings and conclusions on the alleged incident. 342    	19 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     20.  The findings and conclusions of the school board 343 
under subsection 19 of this section shall be sent to the 344 
children's division.  If the findings and conclusions of the 345 
school board are that the report of t he alleged child abuse 346 
is unsubstantiated, the investigation shall be terminated, 347 
the case closed, and no record shall be entered in the 348 
children's division central registry.  If the findings and 349 
conclusions of the school board are that the report of t he  350 
alleged child abuse is substantiated, the children's 351 
division shall report the incident to the prosecuting 352 
attorney of the appropriate county along with the findings 353 
and conclusions of the school district and shall include the 354 
information in the di vision's central registry.  If the  355 
findings and conclusions of the school board are that the 356 
issue involved in the alleged incident of child abuse is 357 
unresolved, the children's division shall report the 358 
incident to the prosecuting attorney of the appro priate  359 
county along with the findings and conclusions of the school 360 
board, however, the incident and the names of the parties 361 
allegedly involved shall not be entered into the central 362 
registry of the children's division unless and until the 363 
alleged child abuse is substantiated by a court of competent 364 
jurisdiction. 365 
     21.  Any superintendent of schools, president of a 366 
school board or such person's designee or law enforcement 367 
officer who knowingly falsifies any report of any matter 368 
pursuant to this section or who knowingly withholds any 369 
information relative to any investigation or report pursuant 370 
to this section is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. 371 
     22.] 12.  In order to ensure the safety of all 372 
students, should a student be expelled for bringi ng a weapon  373 
to school, violent behavior, or for an act of school 374    	20 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
violence, that student shall not, for the purposes of the 375 
accreditation process of the Missouri school improvement 376 
plan, be considered a dropout or be included in the 377 
calculation of that district's educational persistence ratio. 378 
     160.560.  1.  The department of elementary and 1 
secondary education shall establish the "Show -Me Success  2 
Diploma Program". 3 
     2.  Under the show-me success diploma program, the 4 
department of elementary and secondary education shall 5 
develop the "Show-Me Success Diploma" as an alternative 6 
pathway to graduation for high school students that may be 7 
earned at any point between the end of a student's tenth 8 
grade year and the conclusion of the s tudent's twelfth grade 9 
year. 10 
     3.  Before July 1, 2023, the department of elementary 11 
and secondary education shall develop detailed requirements 12 
for students to become eligible for the show -me success  13 
diploma that include at least the following: 14 
    (1)  Demonstrated skills and knowledge in English, 15 
science, and mathematical literacy to be successful in 16 
college-level courses offered by the community colleges in 17 
this state that count toward a degree or certificate without 18 
taking remedial or devel opmental coursework; and 19 
     (2)  Satisfactory grades on approved examinations in 20 
subjects determined to be necessary to prepare a student to 21 
enter postsecondary education without taking remedial or 22 
developmental coursework. 23 
     4.  School districts and charter schools may offer a 24 
course of study designed to meet the requirements to obtain 25 
a show-me success diploma to students entering the ninth 26 
grade.  Students who elect to pursue a show -me success  27 
diploma shall participate in a course of study de signed by  28    	21 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
the school district to meet the requirements established 29 
under subsection 3 of this section.  The show-me success  30 
diploma shall be available to any such student until the end 31 
of that student's twelfth grade year. 32 
     5.  Students who earn a show-me success diploma may 33 
remain in high school and participate in programs of study 34 
available through the school district or charter school 35 
until that student would otherwise have graduated at the end 36 
of grade twelve.  For purposes of calculation an d  37 
distribution of state aid, the school district or charter 38 
school of a pupil having earned a show -me success diploma 39 
who remains enrolled in the school district or charter 40 
school shall continue to include the pupil in the pupil 41 
enrollment of each suc h school district or charter school 42 
and shall continue to receive funding for a pupil who earns 43 
a show-me success diploma until that pupil would otherwise 44 
have graduated at the end of grade twelve.  Students who  45 
elect to remain in high school under thi s subsection shall 46 
be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities, 47 
including interscholastic sports, through the end of grade 48 
twelve. 49 
     6.  Students who pursue but do not meet the eligibility 50 
requirements for a show -me success diploma at t he end of  51 
grade ten or eleven shall receive a customized program of 52 
assistance during the next school year that addresses areas 53 
in which the student demonstrated deficiencies in the course 54 
requirements.  Students may choose to return to a 55 
traditional academic program without completing the show -me  56 
success diploma. 57 
     7.  The department of elementary and secondary 58 
education shall provide training, guidance, and assistance 59 
to teachers and administrators of the schools offering the 60    	22 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
show-me success diploma and shall closely monitor the 61 
progress of the schools in the development of the program. 62 
     8.  Pupils who earn a show -me success diploma and do 63 
not remain enrolled in the district or charter school and 64 
instead enroll, or show proof that they w ill enroll, in a  65 
postsecondary educational institution eligible to 66 
participate in a student aid program administered by the 67 
U.S. Department of Education shall be included in the 68 
district's or charter school's state aid calculation under 69 
section 163.031, until such time that the pupil would have 70 
completed the pupil's twelfth grade year had the pupil not 71 
earned a show-me success diploma.  The funding assigned to a 72 
pupil under this subsection shall be calculated as if the 73 
pupil's attendance percentage equaled the district's or 74 
charter school's prior year average attendance percentage.   75 
For a pupil who, as provided in this subsection, is included 76 
in the district's or charter school's state aid calculation 77 
but who is not enrolled in the district or c harter school,  78 
an amount equal to ninety percent of the pupil's 79 
proportionate share of the state, local, and federal aid 80 
that the district or charter school receives for the pupil 81 
under this subsection shall be deposited into an account 82 
established under sections 166.400 to 166.455 that lists the 83 
pupil as the beneficiary.  The state treasurer shall provide 84 
guidance and assist school districts, charter schools, 85 
pupils, and parents or guardians of pupils with the 86 
creation, maintenance, and use of an account that has been 87 
established under sections 166.400 to 166.455. 88 
     9.  The department of elementary and secondary 89 
education shall promulgate all necessary rules and 90 
regulations for the administration of this section.  Any  91 
rule or portion of a ru le, as that term is defined in 92    	23 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
section 536.010, that is created under the authority 93 
delegated in this section shall become effective only if it 94 
complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of 95 
chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.  This  96 
section and chapter 536 are nonseverable, and if any of the 97 
powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 98 
536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove 99 
and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, 100 
then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed 101 
or adopted after August 28, 2022, shall be invalid and void. 102 
     160.2700.  For purposes of sections 160.2700 to 1 
160.2725, "adult high school" means a school that: 2 
     (1)  Is for individuals who do not have a high school 3 
diploma and who are twenty -one years of age or older; 4 
     (2)  Offers an industry certification program or 5 
programs and a high school diploma in a manner that allows 6 
students to earn a diploma at the same time that t hey earn  7 
an industry certification; 8 
     (3)  Offers [on-site] child care for children of 9 
enrolled students attending the school; and 10 
     (4)  Is not eligible to receive funding under section 11 
160.415 or 163.031. 12 
     160.2705.  1.  The department of elementary and 1 
secondary education shall authorize before January 1, 2018, 2 
a Missouri-based nonprofit organization meeting the criteria 3 
under subsection 2 of this section to establish and operate 4 
four adult high schools, with: 5 
     (1)  One adult high school to be located in a city not 6 
within a county; 7 
     (2)  One adult high school to be located in a county of 8 
the third classification without a township form of 9 
government and with more than forty -one thousand but fewer 10    	24 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
than forty-five thousand inhabitants or a county contiguous 11 
to that county; 12 
     (3)  One adult high school to be located in a county of 13 
the first classification with more than two hundred sixty 14 
thousand but fewer than three hundred thousand inhabitants 15 
or a county contiguous to that county; and 16 
     (4)  One adult high school to be located in a county of 17 
the first classification with more than one hundred fifty 18 
thousand but fewer than two hundred thousand inhabitants. 19 
     2.  The department of elementary and second ary  20 
education shall grant the authorization described under 21 
subsection 1 of this section based on a bid process 22 
conducted in accordance with the rules and regulations 23 
governing purchasing through the office of administration.   24 
The successful bidder sh all: 25 
     (1)  Demonstrate the ability to establish, within 26 
twenty-one months of the receipt of the authorization, four 27 
adult high schools offering high school diplomas, an 28 
industry certification program or programs, and [on-site]  29 
child care for childr en of the students attending the high 30 
schools; 31 
     (2)  Commit at least two million dollars in investment 32 
for the purpose of establishing the necessary infrastructure 33 
to operate four adult high schools; 34 
     (3)  Demonstrate substantial and positive ex perience in  35 
providing services, including industry certifications and 36 
job placement services, to adults twenty -one years of age or 37 
older whose educational and training opportunities have been 38 
limited by educational disadvantages, disabilities, 39 
homelessness, criminal history, or similar circumstances; 40 
     (4)  Establish a partnership with a state -supported  41 
postsecondary education institution or more than one such 42    	25 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
partnership, if a partnership or partnerships are necessary 43 
in order to meet the requir ements for an adult high school; 44 
     (5)  Establish a comprehensive plan that sets forth how 45 
the adult high schools will help address the need for a 46 
sufficiently trained workforce in the surrounding region for 47 
each adult high school; 48 
     (6)  Establish partnerships and strategies for engaging 49 
the community and business leaders in carrying out the goals 50 
of each adult high school; 51 
     (7)  Establish the ability to meet quality standards 52 
through certified teachers and programs that support each 53 
student in [his or her] such student's goal to find a more 54 
rewarding job; 55 
     (8)  Establish a plan for assisting students in 56 
overcoming barriers to educational success including, but 57 
not limited to, educational disadvantages, homelessness, 58 
criminal history, disability, including learning disability 59 
such as dyslexia, and similar circumstances; 60 
     (9)  Establish a process for determining outcomes of 61 
the adult high school, including outcomes related to a 62 
student's ability to find a more rewarding job thr ough the  63 
attainment of a high school diploma and job training and 64 
certification; and 65 
     (10)  Bids shall not include an administrative fee 66 
greater than ten percent. 67 
     3.  (1)  The department of elementary and secondary 68 
education shall establish ac ademic requirements for students 69 
to obtain high school diplomas. 70 
     (2)  Requirements for a high school diploma shall be 71 
based on an adult student's prior high school achievement 72 
and the remaining credits and coursework that would be 73 
necessary for the student to receive a high school diploma 74    	26 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
if [he or she] such student were in a traditional high 75 
school setting.  The adult student shall meet the 76 
requirements with the same level of academic rigor as would 77 
otherwise be necessary to attain such credit s. 78 
     (3)  The adult high school authorized under this 79 
section shall award high school diplomas to students who 80 
successfully meet the established academic requirements.   81 
The adult high school authorized under this section shall 82 
confer the diploma as though the student earned the diploma 83 
at a traditional high school.  The diploma shall have no 84 
differentiating marks, titles, or other symbols. 85 
     (4)  Students at adult high schools may complete 86 
required coursework at their own pace and as available 87 
through the adult high school.  They shall not be required 88 
to satisfy any specific number of class minutes.  The adult  89 
high school may also make classes available to students 90 
online as may be appropriate.  However, students shall not 91 
complete the majority of instruction of the school's 92 
curriculum online or through remote instruction.  For the  93 
purposes of this subsection, synchronous instruction 94 
connecting students to a live class conducted in a Missouri 95 
adult high school shall be treated the same a s in-person  96 
instruction. 97 
     (5)  The department of elementary and secondary 98 
education shall not create additional regulations or burdens 99 
on the adult high school or the students attending the adult 100 
high schools beyond certifying necessary credits and  101 
ensuring that students have sufficiently mastered the 102 
subject matter to make them eligible for credit. 103 
     4.  An adult high school shall be deemed a "secondary 104 
school system" for the purposes of subdivision (15) of 105 
subsection 1 of section 210.211. 106    	27 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     161.097.  1.  The state board of education shall 1 
establish standards and procedures by which it will evaluate 2 
all teacher training institutions in this state for the 3 
approval of teacher education programs.  The state board of 4 
education shall not require teacher training institutions to 5 
meet national or regional accreditation as a part of its 6 
standards and procedures in making those evaluations, but it 7 
may accept such accreditations in lieu of such approval if 8 
standards and proced ures set thereby are at least as 9 
stringent as those set by the board.  The state board of 10 
education's standards and procedures for evaluating teacher 11 
training institutions shall equal or exceed those of 12 
national or regional accrediting associations. 13 
    2.  There is hereby established within the department 14 
of elementary and secondary education the "Missouri Advisory 15 
Board for Educator Preparation", hereinafter referred to as 16 
"MABEP".  The MABEP shall advise the state board of 17 
education and the coor dinating board for higher education 18 
regarding matters of mutual interest in the area of quality 19 
educator preparation programs in Missouri.  The advisory  20 
board shall include at least three active elementary or 21 
secondary classroom teachers and at least t hree faculty  22 
members within approved educator preparation programs.  The  23 
classroom teacher members shall be selected to represent 24 
various regions of the state and districts of different 25 
sizes.  The faculty representatives shall represent 26 
institutions from various regions of the state and sizes of 27 
programs.  The advisory board shall hold regular meetings 28 
that allow members to share needs and concerns and plan 29 
strategies to enhance teacher preparation. 30 
     3.  Upon approval by the state board of educ ation of  31 
the teacher education program at a particular teacher 32    	28 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
training institution, any person who graduates from that 33 
program, and who meets other requirements which the state 34 
board of education shall prescribe by rule, regulation and 35 
statute shall be granted a certificate or license to teach 36 
in the public schools of this state.  However, no such rule 37 
or regulation shall require that the program from which the 38 
person graduates be accredited by any national or regional 39 
accreditation association. 40 
    4.  The state board of education shall, in consultation 41 
with MABEP, align literacy and reading instruction 42 
coursework for teacher education programs in early 43 
childhood, kindergarten to fifth grade elementary teacher 44 
certification, middle school com munication arts, high school 45 
communication arts, and all reading and special education 46 
certificates to include the following: 47 
     (1)  Teacher candidates shall receive classroom and 48 
clinical training in: 49 
     (a)  The core components of reading, includ ing phonemic  50 
awareness, phonics, fluency, comprehension, morphology, 51 
syntax, and vocabulary; 52 
     (b)  Oral and written language development; and 53 
     (c)  Identification of reading deficiencies, dyslexia, 54 
and other language difficulties; 55 
     (2)  Teacher candidates shall also have training on: 56 
     (a)  The selection and use of reading curricula and 57 
instructional materials; 58 
     (b)  The administration and interpretation of 59 
assessments; 60 
     (c)  How to translate assessment results into effective 61 
practice in the classroom specific to the needs of students; 62 
and 63    	29 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (d)  Additional best practices in the field of literacy 64 
instruction as recommended by the literacy advisory council 65 
pursuant to section 186.080. 66 
     5.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is  67 
defined in section 536.010, that is created under the 68 
authority delegated in this section shall become effective 69 
only if it complies with and is subject to all of the 70 
provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 71 
536.028.  This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and 72 
if any of the powers vested with the general assembly 73 
pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective 74 
date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently 75 
held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking  76 
authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 77 
2014, shall be invalid and void. 78 
     161.214.  1.  For purposes of this section, the 1 
following terms shall mean: 2 
     (1)  "Board", the state board of education; 3 
    (2)  "Department", the department of elementary and 4 
secondary education; 5 
     (3)  "School innovation team", a group of natural 6 
persons officially authorized by: 7 
     (a)  A single elementary or secondary school; 8 
     (b)  A group of two or more elem entary or secondary 9 
schools within the same school district that share common 10 
interests, such as geographical location or educational 11 
focus, or that sequentially serve classes of students as 12 
they progress through elementary and secondary education; 13 
    (c)  A group of two or more elementary or secondary 14 
schools not within the same school district that share 15 
common interests, such as geographical location or 16 
educational focus, or that sequentially serve classes of 17    	30 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
students as they progress through e lementary and secondary 18 
education; 19 
     (d)  A single school district; or 20 
     (e)  A group of two or more school districts that share 21 
common interests, such as geographical location or 22 
educational focus, or that sequentially serve classes of 23 
students as they progress through elementary and secondary 24 
education; 25 
     (4)  "School innovation waiver", a waiver granted by 26 
the board to a single school, group of schools, single 27 
school district, or group of school districts pursuant to 28 
this section, in whi ch the school, group of schools, school 29 
district, or group of school districts is exempt from a 30 
specific requirement imposed by chapter 160, chapter 161, 31 
chapter 162, chapter 167, chapter 170, or chapter 171, or 32 
any regulations promulgated thereunder b y the board or the 33 
department.  Any school innovation waiver granted to a 34 
school district or group of school districts shall be 35 
applicable to every elementary and secondary school within 36 
the school district or group of school districts unless the 37 
plan specifically provides otherwise. 38 
     2.  Any school innovation team seeking a school 39 
innovation waiver may submit a plan to the board for one or 40 
more of the following purposes: 41 
     (1)  Improving student readiness for employment, higher 42 
education, vocational training, technical training, or any 43 
other form of career and job training; 44 
     (2)  Increasing the compensation of teachers; or 45 
     (3)  Improving the recruitment, retention, training, 46 
preparation, or professional development of teachers. 47 
    3.  Any plan for a school innovation waiver shall: 48    	31 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (1)  Identify the specific provision of law for which a 49 
waiver is being requested and provide an explanation for why 50 
the specific provision of law inhibits the ability of the 51 
school or school dis trict to accomplish the goal stated in 52 
the plan; 53 
     (2)  Demonstrate that the intent of the specific 54 
provision of law can be addressed in a more effective, 55 
efficient, or economical manner and that the waiver or 56 
modification is necessary to implement the plan; 57 
     (3)  Include measurable annual performance targets and 58 
goals for the implementation of the plan; 59 
     (4)  Specify the innovations to be pursued in meeting 60 
one or more of the goals listed in subsection 2 of this 61 
section; 62 
     (5)  Demonstrate parental, school employee, and 63 
community and business support for, and engagement with, the 64 
plan; and 65 
     (6)  Be approved by at least the minimum number of 66 
people required to be on the school innovation team prior to 67 
submitting the plan for appr oval. 68 
     4.  (1)  In evaluating a plan submitted by a school 69 
innovation team under subsection 2 of this section, the 70 
board shall consider whether the plan will: 71 
     (a)  Improve the preparation, counseling, and overall 72 
readiness of students for posts econdary life; 73 
     (b)  Increase teacher salaries in a financially 74 
sustainable and prudent manner; or 75 
     (c)  Increase the attractiveness of the teaching 76 
profession for prospective teachers and active teachers 77 
alike. 78 
     (2)  The board may approve a ny plan submitted under 79 
subsection 2 of this section if it determines that: 80    	32 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (a)  The plan successfully demonstrates the ability to 81 
address the intent of the provision of law to be waived in a 82 
more effective, efficient, or economical manner; 83 
     (b)  The waivers or modifications are demonstrated to 84 
be necessary to stimulate improved student readiness for 85 
postsecondary life, increase teacher salaries, or increase 86 
the attractiveness of the teaching profession for 87 
prospective teachers and active te achers; 88 
     (c)  The plan has demonstrated sufficient participation 89 
from among the teachers, principals, superintendent, 90 
faculty, school board, parents, and the community at large; 91 
and 92 
     (d)  The plan is based upon sound educational 93 
practices, does not endanger the health and safety of 94 
students or staff, and does not compromise equal opportunity 95 
for learning. 96 
     (3)  The board may propose modifications to the plan in 97 
cooperation with the school innovation team. 98 
     5.  Any waiver granted under this section shall be 99 
effective for a period of no longer than three school years 100 
beginning the school year following the school year in which 101 
the waiver is approved.  Any waiver may be renewed.  No more  102 
than one school innovation waiver shall be in e ffect with  103 
respect to any one elementary or secondary school at one 104 
time. 105 
     6.  This section shall not be construed to allow the 106 
state board of education to authorize the waiver of any 107 
statutory requirements relating to teacher certification, 108 
teacher tenure, or any requirement imposed by federal law. 109 
     7.  The department shall publish an annual report based 110 
on the school innovation waivers considered by the state 111 
board.  The report shall document the waivers submitted and 112    	33 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
waivers approved, at the statewide, district, and school 113 
building levels, and provide data at the statewide, 114 
district, and school building levels of sufficient detail to 115 
allow analysis of trends regarding the purposes for waiver 116 
requests, the statutes waived or requested t o be waived, any  117 
modifications approved by the state board, and the state 118 
board's actions to approve or deny waiver requests. 119 
     8.  The board may promulgate rules implementing the 120 
provisions of this section.  Any rule or portion of a rule, 121 
as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created 122 
under the authority delegated in this section shall become 123 
effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of 124 
the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 125 
536.028.  This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and 126 
if any of the powers vested with the general assembly 127 
pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective 128 
date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently 129 
held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulema king  130 
authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 131 
2022, shall be invalid and void. 132 
     161.241.  1.  The state board of education, in 1 
collaboration with the coordinating board for higher 2 
education and the commissioner's ad visory council under 3 
section 186.080, shall develop a plan to establish a 4 
comprehensive system of services for reading instruction. 5 
     2.  The state board of education shall establish and 6 
periodically update a statewide literacy plan that supports 7 
high quality, evidence -based reading instruction for all 8 
students. 9 
     3.  The state board of education shall create an office 10 
of literacy.  The commissioner of education shall coordinate 11    	34 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
staff with roles relating to literacy and align staff work 12 
around supporting best practices in reading instruction. 13 
     4.  The state board of education shall align literacy 14 
and reading instruction coursework for teacher education 15 
programs as required under subsection 4 of section 161.097. 16 
     5.  Subject to appropriation, the department of 17 
elementary and secondary education shall recruit and employ 18 
quality teacher trainers with expertise in reading 19 
instruction and provide opportunities for evidence -based  20 
professional development in reading instruction available 21 
for all active teachers. 22 
     6.  The department shall maintain and publish data on 23 
reading outcomes, provided that the report shall not include 24 
individually identifiable student data. 25 
     7.  The department shall publish criteria and examples 26 
to help districts and schools select and use evidence -based  27 
reading curricula and instructional materials.   28 
Additionally, the department shall publish a list of 29 
curricula that ensure instruction is explicit, systematic, 30 
diagnostic, and based on phonological a wareness, phonics, 31 
fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, morphology, syntax, and 32 
semantics.  This shall be a resource to districts. 33 
     8.  The department shall provide online tools and 34 
training for active teachers on evidence -based reading  35 
instruction. 36 
     9.  There is hereby created in the state treasury the 37 
"Evidence-based Reading Instruction Program Fund".  The fund  38 
shall be administered by the department and used to 39 
reimburse school districts and charter schools for efforts 40 
to improve student l iteracy, including, but not limited to:   41 
initiatives that provide optional training and materials to 42 
teachers regarding best practices in reading pedagogies; 43    	35 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
resources for parents and guardians to assist them in 44 
teaching their children to read; funding for reading  45 
tutoring programs outside of regular school hours; stipends 46 
for teachers who undergo additional training in reading 47 
instruction, which may also count toward professional 48 
development requirements; and funding for summer reading 49 
programs.  The fund shall consist of moneys appropriated 50 
annually by the general assembly from general revenue to 51 
such fund, any moneys paid into the state treasury and 52 
required by law to be credited to such fund, and any gifts, 53 
bequests, or donations to such fun d.  The fund shall be kept 54 
separate and apart from all other moneys in the state 55 
treasury and shall be paid out by the state treasurer 56 
pursuant to chapter 33.  Notwithstanding the provisions of 57 
section 33.080 to the contrary, moneys in the fund at the 58 
end of the biennium shall not be transferred to the credit 59 
of the general revenue fund.  All interest and moneys earned 60 
on the fund shall be credited to the fund. 61 
     161.380.  1.  Subject to appropriations, the department 1 
of elementary and secondary education shall establish the 2 
"Competency-Based Education Grant Program". 3 
     2.  (1)  There is hereby created in the state treasury 4 
the "Competency-Based Education Grant Program Fund".  The  5 
fund shall consist of any appropriations to suc h fund and  6 
any gifts, contributions, grants, or bequests received from 7 
private or other sources for the purpose of providing 8 
competency-based education programs.  The state treasurer 9 
shall be custodian of the fund.  In accordance with sections 10 
30.170 and 30.180, the state treasurer may approve 11 
disbursements of public moneys in accordance with 12 
distribution requirements and procedures developed by the 13 
department of elementary and secondary education.  The fund  14    	36 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
shall be a dedicated fund and, upon appr opriation, moneys in 15 
the fund shall be used solely for the administration of this 16 
section. 17 
     (2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 18 
to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end 19 
of the biennium shall not revert to the c redit of the  20 
general revenue fund. 21 
     (3)  The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the 22 
fund in the same manner as other funds are invested.  Any  23 
interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be 24 
credited to the fund. 25 
     3.  The department of elementary and secondary 26 
education shall award grants from the competency -based  27 
education grant program fund to eligible school districts 28 
for the purpose of providing competency -based education  29 
programs.  A school district wishing to receive such a grant  30 
shall submit an application to the department of elementary 31 
and secondary education addressing: 32 
     (1)  A core mission that competency -based education  33 
courses will help achieve; 34 
     (2)  A plan that outlines competency -based education  35 
courses and key metrics that will show success; 36 
     (3)  Resources available to the school and in the 37 
community that will assist in creating successful competency - 38 
based outcomes; and 39 
     (4)  Resources and support needed to help the school 40 
succeed in implementing competency-based education courses. 41 
     4.  The department of elementary and secondary 42 
education shall facilitate the creation, sharing, and 43 
development of course assessments; curriculum; training and 44 
guidance for teachers; and best practices for the school  45 
districts that offer competency -based education courses. 46    	37 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     5.  For purposes of this section, the term "competency - 47 
based education program" means an educational program that: 48 
     (1)  Affords students flexibility to progress and earn 49 
course credit upon demonstration of mastery, including 50 
through early high school graduation; 51 
     (2)  Provides individual learning and assessment 52 
options, including through experiential and project -based  53 
learning, online or blended learning, additional reme dial  54 
education time, and accelerated -pace curricula; 55 
     (3)  Assesses student proficiency based on graduate 56 
profiles describing meaningful and critical knowledge and 57 
skills that students should have upon graduation; or 58 
     (4)  Assesses student profi ciency through tasks 59 
developed both locally and at the state level, performance 60 
of which demonstrates mastery. 61 
     6.  The department of elementary and secondary 62 
education shall promulgate all necessary rules and 63 
regulations for the administration of this section.  Any  64 
rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in 65 
section 536.010, that is created under the authority 66 
delegated in this section shall become effective only if it 67 
complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of 68 
chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.  This  69 
section and chapter 536 are nonseverable, and if any of the 70 
powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 71 
536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove 72 
and annul a rule are sub sequently held unconstitutional, 73 
then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed 74 
or adopted after August 28, 2022, shall be invalid and void. 75 
     161.385.  1.  There is hereby established the 1 
"Competency-Based Education Task Force" to study and develop 2 
competency-based education programs in public schools.  Task  3    	38 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
force members shall be chosen to represent the geographic 4 
diversity of the state.  Task force members shall be 5 
appointed for a term of two years and may be reappoi nted.   6 
All task force members shall be appointed before December 7 
31, 2022, and every other year thereafter by December thirty - 8 
first of that year.  The task force members shall be 9 
appointed as follows: 10 
     (1)  Two members of the house of representativ es  11 
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 12 
     (2)  Two members of the senate appointed by the 13 
president pro tempore of the senate; 14 
     (3)  The commissioner of the department of elementary 15 
and secondary education or the commissioner 's designee; and 16 
     (4)  Four members appointed by the governor.  Two  17 
members shall each represent a separate school district that 18 
offers competency-based education courses. 19 
     2.  The members of the task force established under 20 
subsection 1 of this section shall elect a chair from among 21 
the membership of the task force.  The task force shall meet 22 
as needed to complete its consideration of its objectives as 23 
established in subsections 4 and 5 of this section.  Any  24 
vacancy on the task force shall b e filled in the same manner 25 
as the original appointment.  Members of the task force 26 
shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to 27 
reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in 28 
the performance of official duties. 29 
     3.  The department of elementary and secondary 30 
education shall provide such legal, research, clerical, and 31 
technical services as the task force may require in the 32 
performance of official duties. 33 
     4.  The task force shall: 34    	39 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (1)  Work toward implementing competency-based  35 
education courses statewide and devising a plan for Missouri 36 
to lead the way in competency -based education courses; 37 
     (2)  Solicit input from individuals and organizations 38 
with information or expertise relevant to the task force's 39 
objective, including experts and educators with experience 40 
related to competency -based education programs; 41 
     (3)  Hold at least three public hearings to provide an 42 
opportunity to receive public testimony including, but not 43 
limited to, testimony from e ducators, local school boards, 44 
parents, representatives from business and industry, labor 45 
and community leaders, members of the general assembly, and 46 
the general public; 47 
     (4)  Identify promising competency -based education  48 
programs, including progra ms that: 49 
     (a)  Afford students flexibility to progress and earn 50 
course credit upon demonstration of mastery, including 51 
through early high school graduation; 52 
     (b)  Provide individual learning and assessment 53 
options, including through experiential and project-based  54 
learning, online or blended learning, additional remedial 55 
education time, and accelerated -pace curricula; or 56 
     (c)  Assess student proficiency through tasks developed 57 
both locally and at the state level, performance of which 58 
demonstrates mastery; 59 
     (5)  Identify obstacles to implementing competency - 60 
based education programs in Missouri public schools; 61 
     (6)  Develop comprehensive graduate profiles that 62 
describe meaningful and critical knowledge skills that 63 
students should have upon graduation that can be implemented 64 
into a diploma designation; 65    	40 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (7)  Develop findings and recommendations for 66 
implementing competency -based education models and practices 67 
in Missouri public schools, including recommending changes 68 
to existing legislation, rules, and regulations; and 69 
     (8)  Develop findings and recommendations for 70 
implementing a competency -based performance assessment that: 71 
     (a)  Is consistent with the most effective competency - 72 
based education programs identified by the task force under 73 
subdivision (4) of this subsection; 74 
     (b)  Assesses students based on both locally developed 75 
and common statewide performance tasks tied to grade and 76 
course competencies aligned with state content standards; and 77 
     (c)  Complies with all applicable federal law, 78 
including 20 U.S.C. Section 6311(b)(1)(B), as amended.  To  79 
the extent that implementing a competency -based performance  80 
assessment would require the department of elementary and 81 
secondary education to obtain innovative assessment and  82 
accountability demonstration authority under 20 U.S.C. 83 
Section 6364, as amended, the task force shall develop 84 
findings and recommendations for obtaining such authority. 85 
     5.  Beginning in 2023, the task force shall present its 86 
findings and recommendations to the speaker of the house of 87 
representatives, the president pro tempore of the senate, 88 
the joint committee on education, and the state board of 89 
education by December first annually. 90 
     161.700.  1.  This section shall be known as the 1 
"Holocaust Education and Awareness Commission Act". 2 
     2.  There is hereby created a permanent state 3 
commission known as the "Holocaust Education and Awareness 4 
Commission".  The commission shall be housed in the 5 
department of elementary and secondary education and shall 6 
promote implementation of [holocaust] Holocaust education  7    	41 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
and awareness programs in Missouri in order to encourage 8 
understanding of the [holocaust] Holocaust and discourage  9 
bigotry. 10 
     3.  The commission shall be composed of twelve members 11 
to be appointed by the governor with advice and consent of 12 
the senate.  The makeup of the commission shall be: 13 
     (1)  The commissioner of higher education; 14 
     (2)  The commissioner of elementary and secondary 15 
education; 16 
     (3)  The president of the University of Missouri 17 
system; and 18 
     (4)  Nine members of the public, representative of the 19 
diverse religious and ethnic heritage groups populating 20 
Missouri. 21 
     4.  The [holocaust] Holocaust education and awarene ss  22 
commission may receive such funds as appropriated from 23 
public moneys or contributed to it by private sources.  [It]  24 
The commission may sponsor programs or publications to 25 
educate the public about the crimes of genocide in an effort 26 
to deter indifference to crimes against humanity and human 27 
suffering wherever they occur. 28 
     5.  The term ["holocaust"] "Holocaust" shall be defined  29 
as the [period from 1933 through 1945 when ] systematic,  30 
state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews  31 
[and millions of others were murdered ] by the Nazi [Germany]  32 
regime and its allies and collaborators [as part of a  33 
structured, state-sanctioned program of genocide ] during the  34 
period from 1933 through 1945 . 35 
     6.  The commission may employ an executive director and  36 
such other persons to carry out its functions. 37 
     7.  (1)  To educate students about the Holocaust and 38 
inspire in students a sense of responsibility to recognize 39    	42 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
and uphold human value and to prevent future atrocities, the 40 
second week in April shall be designated as "Holocaust 41 
Education Week". 42 
     (2)  Holocaust education shall be taught during a week 43 
as determined by each school district and shall include age - 44 
appropriate instruction to elementary school students not 45 
lower than the sixth grade and high school students as 46 
determined by each school district.  Such instruction shall 47 
include, but not be limited to: 48 
     (a)  Information providing a historical understanding 49 
of the Holocaust to offer context for the discussion of how 50 
and why the Holocaust happened; 51 
     (b)  Participation, in person or using technology, in 52 
learning projects about the Holocaust; and 53 
     (c)  The use of materials developed or supported by the 54 
Holocaust education and awareness commission, the United 55 
States Holocaust Memorial Museum, or the St. Louis Kaplan 56 
Feldman Holocaust Museum. 57 
     (3)  Based on the instructional materials provided 58 
under paragraph (c) of subdivision (2) of this subsection, 59 
the department of elementary and secondary education shal l  60 
develop a curriculum framework of instruction for studying 61 
the Holocaust.  The department shall make such curriculum 62 
framework available to up to twenty -five school districts or 63 
schools within a district, with at least one district or 64 
school within each of the nine regional professional 65 
development centers, as defined by the department, as a 66 
pilot program in consultation with the Holocaust education 67 
and awareness commission beginning in the 2023 -24 school  68 
year. 69 
     (4)  Each school district part icipating in the pilot 70 
program shall adopt the curriculum framework provided by the 71    	43 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
department under subdivision (3) of this subsection in the 72 
2023-24 school year.  Each school district shall determine 73 
the minimum amount of instruction time that qualif ies as a  74 
unit of instruction satisfying the requirements of this 75 
subsection. 76 
     (5)  Each participating school district shall provide a 77 
plan of professional development for teachers to ensure such 78 
teachers are adequately prepared to provide the instr uction  79 
required under this subsection. 80 
     (6)  This subsection shall apply to schools 81 
participating in the pilot program starting in the 2023 -24  82 
school year and the program shall be expanded in all 83 
subsequent school years, with all school districts 84 
participating by the 2025 -26 school year. 85 
     (7)  The department shall provide for a program 86 
evaluation regarding the success and impact of the pilot 87 
program upon completion of the first year of the pilot 88 
program and shall report the results of such e valuation to  89 
the general assembly.  The department may consult with 90 
organizations including, but not limited to, the Holocaust 91 
education and awareness commission, the United States 92 
Holocaust Museum, or the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust 93 
Museum to develop the evaluation. 94 
     162.058.  1.  Before July 1, 2023, each school district 1 
and charter school shall, after receiving community input, 2 
implement a community engagement policy that provides 3 
residents of the school district methods of communicating  4 
with the school board or the governing board of a charter 5 
school located in the school district and with the 6 
administration of the school district or charter school. 7 
     2.  The community engagement policy shall create a 8 
process allowing any resident of a school district to have 9    	44 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
an item placed on the agenda of a school board meeting, or a 10 
meeting of the governing board of a charter school located 11 
in the school district, if the resident follows the process 12 
described in the policy.  Such policy shall contain at least 13 
the following components: 14 
     (1)  No item shall be placed on a meeting agenda under 15 
this section unless the item is directly related to the 16 
governance or operation of the school district or charter 17 
school; 18 
     (2)  The school district or charter school may require 19 
the resident to first meet with the superintendent or the 20 
superintendent's designee to attempt a resolution of the 21 
issue.  The superintendent or the superintendent's designee 22 
shall meet with the reside nt within twenty business days of 23 
a written request to meet.  After such meeting, or if the 24 
superintendent or the superintendent's designee does not 25 
meet with the resident within twenty business days, the 26 
resident may submit a written request to the bo ard secretary  27 
to have the issue brought before the school board or the 28 
governing board as a meeting agenda item.  If the secretary  29 
receives the request at least five business days prior to 30 
the next regularly scheduled board meeting, the issue shall 31 
be placed as an item on the agenda for such meeting.  If the  32 
secretary receives the request less than five days before 33 
the next regularly scheduled board meeting, the issue shall 34 
be placed as an item on the agenda for the next subsequent 35 
regular board meeting.  An agenda item may be moved to a 36 
different board meeting with the consent of the resident 37 
requesting the agenda item; 38 
     (3)  The school board or governing board may establish 39 
reasonable rules governing agenda items including, but not 40 
limited to, time limits for presentation or discussion of 41    	45 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
the agenda item and limits on the number of speakers to a 42 
single individual or to individuals who met with the 43 
superintendent or the superintendent's designee before the 44 
issue was brought before the bo ard as a meeting agenda item; 45 
     (4)  The school board or governing board may refuse to 46 
hear or delay hearing an agenda item if the school board or 47 
governing board has heard an identical or substantially 48 
similar issue in the previous three calendar mo nths or if  49 
the resident has previously violated district rules 50 
regarding conduct at meetings or on school property; and 51 
     (5)  The school board or governing board may delay 52 
hearing an agenda item if more than three resident -initiated  53 
agenda items are scheduled for the same board meeting.  If  54 
the hearing of a resident's agenda item is delayed, the 55 
school board or governing board shall provide the resident 56 
with an alternate method of communicating to the school 57 
board or governing board regarding th e agenda item. 58 
     162.084.  1.  If any individual public elementary or 1 
secondary school, any charter school, or any school district 2 
is determined to be in the bottom five percent of scores on 3 
the annual performance report, such school, c harter school,  4 
or district shall mail a letter to the parents and guardians 5 
of each student in such school, charter school, or district 6 
informing such parents and guardians: 7 
     (1)  That the individual public elementary or secondary 8 
school, charter school, or school district has been 9 
determined to be in the bottom five percent of scores on the 10 
annual performance report; and 11 
     (2)  What options are available to such students as a 12 
result of the school's, charter school's, or district's 13 
current status. 14    	46 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     2.  (1)  Rules relating to the annual performance 15 
report rating shall require the department of elementary and 16 
secondary education to display, in a clear and easily 17 
accessible manner on the department's website, the annual 18 
performance report rating and ranking percentage for each 19 
local education agency and each attendance center within the 20 
local education agency, the accreditation status for each 21 
school district, and a list of the bottom five percent of 22 
scores for all schools and for all local education agencies. 23 
     (2)  Each local education agency shall display the same 24 
information outlined in subdivision (1) of this subsection 25 
for the local education agency and each attendance center 26 
within the local education agency in a clear and easily  27 
accessible manner on the local education agency's website.   28 
Information required to be posted on websites under this 29 
subdivision shall be included in the annual school 30 
accountability report card information required under 31 
section 160.522. 32 
     3.  The requirements to mail a letter under subsection 33 
1 of this section and display information on the local 34 
education agency's website under subdivision (2) of 35 
subsection 2 of this section shall not apply to any special 36 
school district or state opera ted school in which all of the 37 
students enrolled are students with disabilities. 38 
     162.261.  1.  The government and control of a seven - 1 
director school district, other than an urban district, is 2 
vested in a board of education of seven me mbers, who hold  3 
their office for three years, except as provided in 4 
[section] sections 162.241 and 162.563, and until their  5 
successors are duly elected and qualified.  Any vacancy  6 
occurring in the board shall be filled by the remaining 7 
members of the board; except that if there are more than two 8    	47 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
vacancies at any one time, the county commission upon 9 
receiving written notice of the vacancies shall fill the 10 
vacancies by appointment.  If there are more than two 11 
vacancies at any one time in a county wit hout a county  12 
commission, the county executive upon receiving written 13 
notice of the vacancies shall fill the vacancies, with the 14 
advice and consent of the county council, by appointment.   15 
The person appointed shall hold office until the next 16 
municipal election, when a director shall be elected for the 17 
unexpired term. 18 
     2.  No seven-director, urban, or metropolitan school 19 
district board of education shall hire a spouse of any 20 
member of such board for a vacant or newly created position 21 
unless the position has been advertised pursuant to board 22 
policy and the superintendent of schools submits a written 23 
recommendation for the employment of the spouse to the board 24 
of education.  The names of all applicants as well as the 25 
name of the applicant hired for the position [are to] shall  26 
be included in the board minutes. 27 
     3.  The provisions of Article VII, Section 6 of the 28 
Missouri Constitution apply to school districts. 29 
     162.281.  Except as provided in section 162.563, in all  1 
seven-director districts, including urban districts, when 2 
directors are to be elected for terms of different lengths, 3 
each candidate shall declare for a term of a specific number 4 
of years and the different terms shall be voted upon as 5 
separate propositions. 6 
     162.291.  Except as provided in section 162.563, the  1 
voters of each seven -director district other than urban 2 
districts shall, at municipal elections, elect two directors 3 
who are citizens of the United States and resident taxpayers 4 
of the district, who have resided in [this state] the  5    	48 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
district for one year next preceding their election or 6 
appointment, and who are at least twenty -four years of age. 7 
     162.471.  1.  The government and control of an urban 1 
school district is vested in a board of seven directors.   2 
     2.  Except as provided in section 162.563, each  3 
director shall be a voter of the district who has resided 4 
within this state for one year next preceding [his] the  5 
director's election or appointment and w ho is at least  6 
twenty-four years of age.  All directors, except as 7 
otherwise provided in [section] sections 162.481 [and  8 
section], 162.492, and 162.563, shall hold their offices for 9 
six years and until their successors are duly elected and 10 
qualified.  All vacancies occurring in the board, except as 11 
provided in section 162.492, shall be filled by appointment 12 
by the board as soon as practicable, and the person 13 
appointed shall hold [his] office until the next school 14 
board election, when [his] a successor shall be elected for 15 
the remainder of the unexpired term.  The power of the board 16 
to perform any official duty during the existence of a 17 
vacancy continues unimpaired thereby. 18 
     162.481.  1.  Except as otherwise provided in this 1 
section and [in section] sections 162.492 and 162.563, all  2 
elections of school directors in urban school districts 3 
shall be held biennially at the same times and places as 4 
municipal elections. 5 
     2.  Except as otherwise provided in subsections 3, 4, 6 
and 5 of this section, hereafter when a seven -director  7 
district becomes an urban school district, the directors of 8 
the prior seven-director district shall continue as 9 
directors of the urban school district until the expiration 10 
of the terms for which they were elected and until their 11 
successors are elected as provided in this subsection.  The  12    	49 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
first biennial school election for directors shall be held 13 
in the urban school district at the time provided in 14 
subsection 1 which is on the date of or subsequent to the  15 
expiration of the terms of the directors of the prior 16 
district which are first to expire, and directors shall be 17 
elected to succeed the directors of the prior district whose 18 
terms have expired.  If the terms of two directors only have 19 
expired, the directors elected at the first biennial school 20 
election in the urban school district shall be elected for 21 
terms of six years.  If the terms of four directors have 22 
expired, two directors shall be elected for terms of six 23 
years and two shall be elect ed for terms of four years.  At  24 
the next succeeding biennial election held in the urban 25 
school district, successors for the remaining directors of 26 
the prior seven-director district shall be elected.  If only  27 
two directors are to be elected they shall b e elected for  28 
terms of six years each.  If four directors are to be 29 
elected, two shall be elected for terms of six years and two 30 
shall be elected for terms of two years.  After seven  31 
directors of the urban school district have been elected 32 
under this subsection, their successors shall be elected for 33 
terms of six years. 34 
     3.  In any school district in which a majority of the 35 
district is located in any home rule city with more than one 36 
hundred fifty-five thousand but fewer than two hundred 37 
thousand inhabitants, elections shall be held annually at 38 
the same times and places as general municipal elections for 39 
all years where one or more terms expire, and the terms 40 
shall be for three years and until their successors are duly 41 
elected and qualified f or all directors elected on and after 42 
August 28, 1998. 43    	50 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     4.  For any school district which becomes an urban 44 
school district by reason of the 2000 federal decennial 45 
census, elections shall be held annually at the same times 46 
and places as general muni cipal elections for all years 47 
where one or more terms expire, and the terms shall be for 48 
three years and until their successors are duly elected and 49 
qualified for all directors elected on and after August 28, 50 
2001. 51 
     5.  In any school district in an y county with a charter 52 
form of government and with more than three hundred thousand 53 
but fewer than four hundred fifty thousand inhabitants which 54 
becomes an urban school district by reason of the 2010 55 
federal decennial census, elections shall be held a nnually  56 
at the same times and places as general municipal elections 57 
for all years where one or more terms expire, and the terms 58 
shall be for three years and until their successors are duly 59 
elected and qualified for all directors elected on and after 60 
April 2, 2012. 61 
     6.  In any urban school district in a county of the 62 
first classification with more than eighty -three thousand  63 
but fewer than ninety -two thousand inhabitants and with a 64 
home rule city with more than seventy -six thousand but fewer 65 
than ninety-one thousand inhabitants as the county seat, 66 
elections shall be held annually at the same times and 67 
places as general municipal elections for all years where 68 
one or more terms expire, and upon  expiration of any term 69 
after August 28, 2015, the term of office shall be for three 70 
years and until their successors are duly elected and 71 
qualified. 72 
     162.491.  1.  Directors for urban school districts, 1 
other than those districts containing the greater part of a 2 
city of over one hundr ed thirty thousand inhabitants, may be 3    	51 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
nominated by petition to be filed with the secretary of the 4 
board and signed by a number of voters in the district equal 5 
to ten percent of the total number of votes cast for the 6 
director receiving the highest numb er of votes cast at the 7 
next preceding biennial election, except as provided in 8 
subsection 4 of this section. 9 
     2.  This section shall not be construed as providing 10 
the sole method of nominating candidates for the office of 11 
school director in urban school districts [which] that do  12 
not contain the greater part of a city of over three hundred 13 
thousand inhabitants. 14 
     3.  A director for any urban school district containing 15 
a city of greater than one hundred thirty thousand 16 
inhabitants and less tha n three hundred thousand inhabitants 17 
may be nominated as an independent candidate by filing with 18 
the secretary of the board a petition signed by five hundred 19 
registered voters of such school district. 20 
     4.  In any urban school district located in a c ounty of  21 
the first classification with more than eighty -three  22 
thousand but fewer than ninety -two thousand inhabitants and 23 
with a home rule city with more than seventy -six thousand  24 
but fewer than ninety -one thousand inhabitants as the county 25 
seat, a candidate for director shall file a declaration of 26 
candidacy with the secretary of the board and shall not be 27 
required to submit a petition. 28 
     5.  No candidate for election as a school board 29 
director representing a subdistrict as provided in section 30 
162.563 shall be required to file a declaration of candidacy 31 
as provided in this section as the sole method of filing for 32 
candidacy. 33 
     162.563.  1.  As used in this section, the following 1 
terms mean: 2    	52 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (1)  "School board", the board v ested with the  3 
government and control of a school district as described in 4 
section 162.261 or section 162.471; 5 
     (2)  "School district", a seven -director school  6 
district or an urban school district established in this 7 
chapter. 8 
     2.  A school board may divide the school district into 9 
seven subdistricts or a combination of subdistricts and at - 10 
large districts and establish the election of school board 11 
members as provided in this section. 12 
     3.  (1)  A school board desiring to divide a school 13 
district as provided in this section shall vote on the 14 
question of dividing the district as provided in this 15 
section.  Upon the approval of the question by at least four 16 
members of the school board, the school board shall develop 17 
a proposed plan as descr ibed in subdivision (2) of this 18 
subsection. 19 
     (2)  A school board dividing a school district as 20 
provided in this section shall develop and adopt a proposed 21 
plan for the division of the school district.  Such proposed  22 
plan shall be adopted upon the a pproval of at least four 23 
members of the school board and shall contain at least the 24 
following information: 25 
     (a)  A summary of the proposed plan for dividing the 26 
school district; 27 
     (b)  A statement indicating whether the school district 28 
will be divided into seven subdistricts or a combination of 29 
subdistricts and at-large districts; 30 
     (c)  A description of the areas of the school district 31 
each newly elected school board member will represent, with 32 
each subdistrict and at -large district repres ented by a  33 
number; 34    	53 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (d)  A statement indicating whether the existing school 35 
board members will be replaced by the newly elected school 36 
board members at one election or in succeeding elections to 37 
provide for staggered terms of the members; and 38 
     (e)  Any other information deemed necessary by the 39 
school board. 40 
     (3)  After the school board develops such proposed 41 
plan, the school board shall immediately notify the election 42 
authority of the county in which the school district is 43 
located.  Upon receiving such notification, the election 44 
authority shall submit the question of whether to divide the 45 
school district as described in the proposed plan to the 46 
voters of the school district on the next available day for 47 
any municipal election.  If a majority of the registered 48 
voters of the school district voting on the question approve 49 
the division of the school district, the school board shall 50 
follow the procedures described in subsection 4 of this 51 
section.  If a majority of the registered voters of the  52 
school district voting on the question reject the division 53 
of the school district, no division, as described in this 54 
section shall occur. 55 
     4.  (1)  After approval of a question submitted under 56 
subdivision (3) of subsection 3 of this section, a school  57 
board dividing a school district as provided in this section 58 
shall adopt a final plan for the division of the school 59 
district based on the proposed plan developed under 60 
subsection 3 of this section.  Such final plan shall contain 61 
at least the following information: 62 
     (a)  A summary of the proposed plan for dividing the 63 
school district; 64 
     (b)  The time and place of at least two public hearings 65 
to be held to consider the proposed plan; 66    	54 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (c)  A statement indicating whether the school district  67 
will be divided into seven subdistricts or a combination of 68 
subdistricts and at-large districts; 69 
     (d)  A description of the areas of the school district 70 
each newly elected school board member will represent, with 71 
each subdistrict and at -large district represented by a 72 
number; 73 
     (e)  A statement indicating whether the existing school 74 
board members will be replaced by the newly elected school 75 
board members at one election or in succeeding elections to 76 
provide for staggered terms of th e members; and 77 
     (f)  Any other information deemed necessary by the 78 
school board. 79 
     (2)  For each hearing held as provided in this 80 
subsection, the school board shall: 81 
     (a)  Publish notice of the hearing, the proposed plan, 82 
and any amendments t o the proposed plan adopted at a 83 
previous hearing on the school district's website and by any 84 
other method allowed by law, with the first publication to 85 
occur no more than thirty days before the hearing and the 86 
second publication to occur no earlier th an fifteen days and 87 
no later than ten days before the hearing; 88 
     (b)  Hear all alternate proposals for division of the 89 
school district and receive evidence for or against such 90 
alternate proposals; 91 
     (c)  Hear all protests and receive evidence for or  92 
against such proposed division; 93 
     (d)  Vote on each alternate proposal and protest, which 94 
vote shall be the final determination of such alternate 95 
proposal or protest; 96 
     (e)  Adopt any amendments to the proposed plan; and 97    	55 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (f)  Perform any other actions related to the proposed 98 
plan deemed necessary by the school board. 99 
     (3)  (a)  After the conclusion of the final hearing 100 
proceedings but before adjourning such hearing, the school 101 
board shall adopt the final plan to divide the school 102 
district developed as a result of the hearings. 103 
     (b)  After the school board adopts the final plan, the 104 
school board shall present the final plan to the election 105 
authority of the county in which the school district is 106 
located for actions required unde r subdivision (4) of this 107 
subsection and publish the final plan in the same manner as 108 
the initial proposed plan was published under paragraph (a) 109 
of subdivision (2) of this subsection.  The final plan shall 110 
contain at least the following information: 111 
    a.  A summary of the final plan for dividing the school 112 
district; 113 
     b.  A statement indicating whether the school district 114 
will be divided into seven subdistricts or a combination of 115 
subdistricts and at-large districts; 116 
     c.  A description of the areas of the school district 117 
each newly elected school board member will represent, with 118 
each subdistrict and at -large district represented by a 119 
number; 120 
     d.  The date of the election of each new school board 121 
member as provided in the final plan ; 122 
     e.  A statement indicating whether the existing school 123 
board members will be replaced by the newly elected school 124 
board members at one election or in succeeding elections to 125 
provide for staggered terms of the members; and 126 
     f.  Any other information deemed necessary by the 127 
school board. 128    	56 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (4)  (a)  After a final plan is adopted as provided in 129 
subdivision (3) of this subsection, before December first of 130 
the calendar year immediately preceding the general 131 
municipal election day in the cale ndar year in which the 132 
residents of the school district will vote to elect new 133 
school board members as provided in the final plan, the 134 
school board shall divide the school district into seven 135 
subdistricts or a combination of subdistricts and at -large  136 
districts as directed in the final plan.  All subdistricts  137 
required by the final plan shall be of contiguous and 138 
compact territory and as nearly equal in population as 139 
practicable in accordance with the final plan.  Within six  140 
months after each decenni al census is reported to the 141 
President of the United States, the school board shall 142 
reapportion the subdistricts to be as nearly equal in 143 
population as practicable.  After the school board divides 144 
the school district or reapportions the subdistricts, t he  145 
school board shall notify the residents of the school 146 
district as provided by law. 147 
     (b)  Any resident of the school district who believes 148 
the school board has divided the school district or 149 
reapportioned subdistricts in violation of paragraph (a ) of  150 
this subdivision may petition the circuit court of the 151 
county in which the school district exists for an order 152 
directing the school board to divide the school district or 153 
reapportion the subdistricts as provided in paragraph (a) of 154 
this subdivision.  The petition shall be submitted to the 155 
circuit court within ten business days of the school board's 156 
notice required in paragraph (a) of this subdivision. 157 
     (5)  On the first day available for candidate filing 158 
for the first general municipal elec tion occurring after the 159 
school district is divided as provided in this subsection, 160    	57 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
any qualified resident who has or will have resided in a 161 
subdistrict or at-large district for the year immediately 162 
preceding the general municipal election day may file as a  163 
candidate for election to the school board as a member 164 
representing such subdistrict or at -large district.  At the  165 
end of the time available for candidate filing, if no 166 
qualified resident of a subdistrict has filed as a candidate 167 
in that subdistrict, the election authority shall extend the 168 
time for candidate filing by seven additional days, and any 169 
qualified resident of the school district who has or will 170 
have resided in the school district for the year immediately 171 
preceding the general munic ipal election day may file as a 172 
candidate for election to the school board as a member 173 
representing that subdistrict.  No school district shall 174 
require a candidate to submit a petition signed by the 175 
registered voters of the school district as a method of  176 
filing a declaration of candidacy.  The election authority 177 
shall determine the validity of all declarations of 178 
candidacy. 179 
     (6)  When the election is held on the general municipal 180 
election day, the seven candidates, one from each of the 181 
subdistricts or at-large districts, who receive a plurality 182 
of the votes cast by the voters of that subdistrict or at - 183 
large district shall be elected.  Any candidate who is not a 184 
subdistrict resident but qualifies as a candidate as a 185 
school district resident a s provided in subdivision (5) of 186 
this subsection shall be elected by the voters of the school 187 
district.  Each member shall be elected to a term as 188 
provided in the final plan adopted as provided in 189 
subdivision (3) of this subsection. 190 
     (7)  Each member shall serve until a successor is 191 
elected or the member vacates the office.  Any vacancy that  192    	58 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
occurs before the end of the member's term shall be filled 193 
as provided in section 162.261 or 162.471. 194 
     (8)  Except for a member who is not a subdistrict 195 
resident but is elected as a school district resident to 196 
represent a subdistrict as provided in subdivision (5) of 197 
this subsection, each member shall reside in the subdistrict 198 
the member represents during the member's term. 199 
     (9)  All other provisions applicable to school 200 
districts that are not in conflict with this subsection 201 
shall apply to school districts divided as provided in this 202 
subsection. 203 
     5.  (1)  If any school district receives a petition, 204 
signed by at least ten percent of the numb er of registered  205 
voters of the school district voting in the last school 206 
board election, calling for the school district to divide 207 
into seven subdistricts or a combination of subdistricts and 208 
at-large districts and establish the election of school 209 
board members as provided in this subsection, the school 210 
district shall immediately notify the election authority of 211 
the county in which the school district is located.  Upon  212 
receiving such notification, the election authority shall 213 
submit the question of whether to divide the school district 214 
as provided by the petition to the voters of the school 215 
district on the next available day for any municipal 216 
election.  If a majority of the registered voters of the 217 
school district voting on the question approve the division  218 
of the school district, the school board shall begin the 219 
process of adopting the plan as described in this 220 
subsection.  If a majority of the registered voters of the 221 
school district voting on the question reject the division 222 
of the school district, no division as described in the 223 
petition shall occur. 224    	59 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (2)  (a)  Any such petition submitted to the school 225 
district as provided in this subsection shall contain a 226 
proposed plan for the division of the school district.  Such  227 
proposed plan shall contain at least the following 228 
information: 229 
     a.  A summary of the proposed plan for dividing the 230 
school district; 231 
     b.  A statement indicating whether the school district 232 
will be divided into seven subdistricts or a combination of 233 
subdistricts and at-large districts; 234 
     c.  A description of the areas of the school district 235 
each newly elected school board member will represent, with 236 
each subdistrict and at -large district represented by a 237 
number; 238 
     d.  The proposed date of the electi on of each new  239 
school board member as provided in the proposed plan; 240 
     e.  A statement indicating whether the existing school 241 
board members will be replaced by the newly elected school 242 
board members at one election or in succeeding elections to 243 
provide for staggered terms of the members; and 244 
     f.  Any other information deemed necessary by the 245 
school board. 246 
     (b)  If a division of the school district is approved 247 
by the voters as provided in subdivision (1) of this 248 
subsection, the school board shall create a school district 249 
division commission to develop a final plan for division of 250 
the school district.  The commission shall: 251 
     a.  Be composed of nine members as follows: 252 
     (i)  Three members appointed by the superintendent of 253 
the school district; 254 
     (ii)  Three members appointed by the county commission; 255 
and 256    	60 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (iii)  Three members appointed by the organizers of the 257 
petition to divide the school district; and 258 
     b.  Set the time and place of at least two hearings to 259 
be held to consider the proposed plan.  For each hearing  260 
held, the commission shall: 261 
     (i)  Publish notice of the hearing, the proposed plan, 262 
and any amendments to the proposed plan adopted at a 263 
previous hearing on the school district's website and by any 264 
other method allowed by law, with the first publication to 265 
occur no more than thirty days before the hearing and the 266 
second publication to occur no earlier than fifteen days and 267 
no later than ten days before the hearing; 268 
     (ii)  Conduct the hearing on th e proposal for division 269 
of the district on behalf of the petitioners; 270 
     (iii)  Hear all protests and receive evidence for or 271 
against such proposed division; and 272 
     (iv)  Vote to adopt any proposed plan amendments agreed 273 
to by the petitioners as a r esult of the hearings. 274 
     (c)  Within ninety days after the adjournment of the 275 
final hearing conducted as provided in this subdivision, the 276 
commission shall submit the final plan to the election 277 
authority of the county in which the school district is 278 
located for actions required in subdivision (3) of this 279 
subsection and publish the final plan in the same manner as 280 
the initial proposed plan was published as provided in item 281 
(i) of subparagraph b. of paragraph (b) of this 282 
subdivision.  The final plan shall contain at least the 283 
following information: 284 
     a.  A summary of the final plan for dividing the school 285 
district; 286    	61 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     b.  A statement indicating whether the school district 287 
will be divided into seven subdistricts or a combination of 288 
subdistricts and at-large districts; 289 
     c.  A description of the areas of the school district 290 
each newly elected school board member will represent, with 291 
each subdistrict and at -large district represented by a 292 
number; 293 
     d.  The date of the election of each new school board  294 
member as provided in the final plan; 295 
     e.  A statement indicating whether the existing school 296 
board members will be replaced by the newly elected school 297 
board members at one election or in succeeding elections to 298 
provide for staggered terms of the members; and 299 
     f.  Any other information deemed necessary by the 300 
commission. 301 
     (3)  (a)  After a final plan is submitted to the 302 
election authority as provided in subdivision (2) of this 303 
subsection, before December first of the cal endar year  304 
immediately preceding the general municipal election day in 305 
the calendar year in which the residents of the school 306 
district will vote to elect new school board members as 307 
provided in the final plan, the school district division 308 
commission shall divide the school district into seven 309 
subdistricts or a combination of subdistricts and at -large  310 
districts as directed in the final plan.  All subdistricts  311 
required by the final plan shall be of contiguous and 312 
compact territory and as nearly equal in population as  313 
practicable in accordance with the final plan.  Within six  314 
months after each decennial census is reported to the 315 
President of the United States, the commission shall 316 
reapportion the subdistricts to be as nearly equal in 317 
population as practicable.  After the commission divides the 318    	62 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
school district or reapportions the subdistricts, the 319 
commission shall notify the residents of the school district 320 
as provided by law. 321 
     (b)  Any resident of the school district who believes 322 
the school district division commission has divided the 323 
school district or reapportioned subdistricts in violation 324 
of paragraph (a) of this subdivision may petition the 325 
circuit court of the county in which the school district 326 
exists for an order directing the co mmission to divide the 327 
school district or reapportion the subdistricts as provided 328 
in paragraph (a) of this subdivision.  The petition shall be 329 
submitted to the circuit court within ten business days of 330 
the commission's notice provided in paragraph (a) of this  331 
subdivision. 332 
     (4)  On the first day available for candidate filing 333 
for the first general municipal election occurring after the 334 
school district is divided as provided in this subsection, 335 
any qualified resident who has or will have resided in a  336 
subdistrict or at-large district for the year immediately 337 
preceding the general municipal election day may file as a 338 
candidate for election to the school board as a member 339 
representing such subdistrict or at -large district.  At the  340 
end of the time available for candidate filing, if no 341 
qualified resident of a subdistrict has filed as a candidate 342 
in that subdistrict, the election authority shall extend the 343 
time for candidate filing by seven additional days, and any 344 
qualified resident of the scho ol district who has or will 345 
have resided in the school district for the year immediately 346 
preceding the general municipal election day may file as a 347 
candidate for election to the school board as a member 348 
representing that subdistrict.  No school district shall  349 
require a candidate to submit a petition signed by the 350    	63 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
registered voters of the school district as a method of 351 
filing a declaration of candidacy.  The election authority 352 
shall determine the validity of all declarations of 353 
candidacy. 354 
     (5)  When the election is held on the general municipal 355 
election day, the seven candidates, one from each of the 356 
subdistricts or at-large districts, who receive a plurality 357 
of the votes cast by the voters of that subdistrict shall be 358 
elected.  Any candidate who is not a subdistrict resident 359 
but qualifies as a candidate as a school district resident 360 
as provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection shall be 361 
elected by the voters of the school district.  Each member  362 
shall be elected to a term as provided i n the final plan  363 
approved as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection. 364 
     (6)  Each member shall serve until a successor is 365 
elected or the member vacates the office.  Any vacancy that  366 
occurs before the end of the member's term shall be filled 367 
as provided in section 162.261 or 162.471. 368 
     (7)  Except for a member who is not a subdistrict 369 
resident but is elected as a school district resident to 370 
represent a subdistrict as provided in subdivision (4) of 371 
this subsection, each member shall reside in the subdistrict 372 
the member represents during the member's term. 373 
     (8)  All other provisions applicable to school 374 
districts that are not in conflict with this subsection 375 
shall apply to school districts divided as provided in this 376 
subsection. 377 
     6.  No new plan for division of the school district 378 
shall be proposed or adopted as provided in this section 379 
sooner than five years after a division of the school 380 
district as provided in this section. 381    	64 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     162.720.  1.  (1)  This subdivision shall apply to all 1 
school years ending before July 1, 2024.  Where a sufficient 2 
number of children are [determined to be] identified as  3 
gifted and their development requires programs or services 4 
beyond the level of those ordinarily provided in regu lar  5 
public school programs, districts may establish special 6 
programs for such gifted children. 7 
     (2)  For school year 2024 -25 and all subsequent school 8 
years, if three percent or more of students enrolled in a 9 
school district are identified as gifte d and their  10 
development requires programs or services beyond the level 11 
of those ordinarily provided in regular public school 12 
programs, the district shall establish a state -approved  13 
gifted program for gifted children. 14 
     2.  For school year 2024 -25 and all subsequent school 15 
years, any teacher providing gifted services to students in 16 
districts with an average daily attendance of more than 17 
three hundred fifty students shall be certificated in gifted 18 
education.  In districts with an average daily atte ndance of  19 
three hundred fifty students or fewer, any teacher providing 20 
gifted services shall not be required to be certificated to 21 
teach gifted education but such teacher shall annually 22 
participate in at least six clock hours of professional 23 
development focused on gifted services.  The school district 24 
shall pay for such professional development focused on 25 
gifted services. 26 
     3.  The state board of education shall determine 27 
standards for such gifted programs and gifted services.   28 
Approval of [such] gifted programs shall be made by the 29 
state department of elementary and secondary education based 30 
upon project applications submitted [by July fifteenth of 31    	65 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
each year] at a time and in a form determined by the 32 
department of elementary and secondary ed ucation. 33 
     [3.] 4.  No district shall [make a determination as to 34 
whether] identify a child [is] as gifted based on the 35 
child's participation in an advanced placement course or 36 
international baccalaureate course.  Districts shall  37 
[determine] identify a child [is] as gifted only if the 38 
child meets the definition of gifted children as provided in 39 
section 162.675. 40 
     [4.] 5.  Any district with a gifted education program 41 
approved under subsection [2] 3 of this section shall have a 42 
policy, approved by the board of education of the district, 43 
that establishes a process that outlines the procedures and 44 
conditions under which parents or guardians may request a 45 
review of the decision [that determined] that their child  46 
did not qualify to receive servic es through the district's 47 
gifted education program. 48 
     [5.] 6.  School districts and school district employees 49 
shall be immune from liability for any and all acts or 50 
omissions relating to the decision that a child did not 51 
qualify to receive services through the district's gifted 52 
education program. 53 
     7.  The department of elementary and secondary 54 
education may promulgate all necessary rules and regulations 55 
for the implementation and administration of this section.   56 
Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in 57 
section 536.010, that is created under the authority 58 
delegated in this section shall become effective only if it 59 
complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of 60 
chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028.  This  61 
section and chapter 536 are nonseverable, and if any of the 62 
powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 63    	66 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove 64 
and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, 65 
then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed 66 
or adopted after August 28, 2022, shall be invalid and void. 67 
     162.974.  1.  The state department of elementary and 1 
secondary education shall reimburse school districts, 2 
including special school districts, for the special  3 
educational costs of high -need children with an 4 
individualized education program exceeding three times the 5 
current expenditure per average daily attendance as 6 
calculated on the district annual secretary of the board 7 
report for the year in which expenditures are claimed.  For  8 
any school district with an average daily attendance of five 9 
hundred students or fewer, the calculation of three times 10 
the current expenditure per average daily attendance shall 11 
not include any moneys reimbursed to a school district under 12 
this section. 13 
     2.  A school district shall submit, through timely 14 
application, as determined by the state department of 15 
elementary and secondary education, the cost of serving any 16 
high-needs student with an individualized education program ,  17 
as provided in subsection 1 of this section. 18 
     162.1255.  1.  As used in this section, the following 1 
terms mean: 2 
     (1)  "Competency-based credit", credit awarded by 3 
school districts and charter schools to high school students 4 
upon demonstration of competency as determined by a school 5 
district.  Such credit shall be awarded upon receipt of 6 
"proficient" or "advanced" on an end -of-course assessment; 7 
     (2)  "Prior year average attendance perce ntage", the  8 
quotient of the district or charter school's prior year 9    	67 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
average daily attendance divided by the district or charter 10 
school's prior year average yearly enrollment. 11 
     2.  School districts and charter schools shall receive 12 
state school funding under sections 163.031, 163.043, 13 
163.044, and 163.087 for resident pupils enrolled in the 14 
school district or charter school and taking competency - 15 
based courses offered by the school district. 16 
     3.  For purposes of calculation and distribution of 17 
state aid under section 163.031, attendance of a student 18 
enrolled in a district's or charter school's competency - 19 
based courses shall equal, upon course completion, the 20 
product of the district's or charter school's prior year 21 
average attendance percent age multiplied by the total number 22 
of attendance hours normally allocable to a noncompetency - 23 
based course of equal credit value. 24 
     163.016.  1.  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1 
163.011, for any school district located in more than one  2 
county and whose headquarters are located within a city of 3 
the fourth classification with more than two thousand five 4 
hundred but fewer than two thousand six hundred inhabitants 5 
and located in more than one county, the county signified in 6 
the school district number shall be the county in the 7 
district with the highest dollar value modifier. 8 
     2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 163.011 9 
to the contrary, for any school district located in more 10 
than one county and whose headquarter s are located within a 11 
city with more than two thousand seven hundred but fewer 12 
than three thousand inhabitants and located in a county with 13 
more than fourteen thousand but fewer than fifteen thousand 14 
seven hundred inhabitants and with a county seat wi th more  15 
than two thousand but fewer than three thousand inhabitants, 16 
the county signified in the school district number shall be 17    	68 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
the county in the district with the highest dollar value 18 
modifier. 19 
     3.  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 163.0 11  20 
to the contrary, for any school district located in more 21 
than one county and whose headquarters are located within a 22 
city with more than one thousand one hundred seventy but 23 
fewer than one thousand three hundred inhabitants and 24 
located in a county with more than sixty thousand but fewer 25 
than seventy thousand inhabitants, the county signified in 26 
the school district number shall be the county in the 27 
district with the highest dollar value modifier. 28 
     4.  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 163.011  29 
to the contrary, for any school district located in more 30 
than one county and whose headquarters are located within a 31 
city with more than one thousand three hundred but fewer 32 
than one thousand five hundred inhabitants and partially 33 
located in a county with more than eight thousand but fewer 34 
than eight thousand nine hundred inhabitants and with a 35 
county seat with more than three hundred but fewer than six 36 
hundred inhabitants, the county signified in the school 37 
district number shall be the cou nty in the district with the 38 
highest dollar value modifier. 39 
     167.151.  1.  The school board of any district, in its 1 
discretion, may admit to the school pupils not entitled to 2 
free instruction and prescribe the tuition fee to be paid by  3 
them, except as provided in subdivision (2) of subsection 3 4 
of this section and in sections 167.121, 167.131, 167.132, 5 
and 167.895. 6 
     2.  Orphan children, children with only one parent 7 
living, and children whose parents do not contribute to 8 
their support—if the children are between the ages of six 9 
and twenty years and are unable to pay tuition —may attend  10    	69 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
the schools of any district in the state in which they have 11 
a permanent or temporary home without paying a tuition fee. 12 
     3.  (1)  For all school years ending on or before June 13 
30, 2023, any [person] individual who pays a school tax in 14 
any other district than that in which [he] such individual  15 
resides may send [his] such individual's children to any  16 
public school in the district in which t he tax is paid and 17 
receive as a credit on the amount charged for tuition the 18 
amount of the school tax paid to the district; except that 19 
any [person] individual who owns real estate of which eighty 20 
acres or more are used for agricultural purposes and up on  21 
which [his] such individual's residence is situated may send 22 
[his] such individual's children to public school in any 23 
school district in which a part of such real estate, 24 
contiguous to that upon which [his] such individual's  25 
residence is situated, lies and shall not be charged tuition 26 
therefor; so long as thirty -five percent of the real estate 27 
is located in the school district of choice.  The school  28 
district of choice shall count the children in its average 29 
daily attendance for the purpose of di stribution of state 30 
aid through the foundation formula. 31 
     (2)  For all school years beginning on or after July 1, 32 
2023, any current owner of residential real property or 33 
agricultural real property or a named beneficiary of a trust 34 
that currently owns residential real property or 35 
agricultural real property and that pays a school tax in a 36 
district or districts other than the district in which such 37 
current owner or current beneficiary resides may send up to 38 
four of such owner's or beneficiary's chil dren to a public  39 
school, excluding a charter school, in any district in which 40 
such owner or trust pays such school tax.  For purposes of  41 
this subdivision, "residential real property" shall not 42    	70 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
include any multi-family residential property which exceeds  43 
four units.  An owner or a named beneficiary of a trust that 44 
currently owns residential real property shall not be 45 
permitted under this subdivision to send their child to a 46 
district outside of the county in which they currently 47 
reside.  Such owner or beneficiary shall send thirty days' 48 
written notice to all school districts involved specifying 49 
which school district each child will attend.  Such owner or  50 
beneficiary shall also present proof of the owner's or 51 
trust's annual payment of at least two t housand dollars of 52 
school taxes levied on the real property specified in this 53 
subdivision within such school district and ownership of the 54 
specified real property for not less than the immediately 55 
preceding four consecutive years.  Neither the resident nor  56 
nonresident districts shall be responsible for providing 57 
transportation services under this subdivision.  The school  58 
district attended shall count a child attending under this 59 
subdivision in its average daily attendance for the purpose 60 
of distribution of state aid under chapter 163, except that 61 
such nonresident students shall not be counted in the 62 
district's average daily attendance for the purposes of 63 
determining eligibility for aid payments under section 64 
163.044. 65 
     4.  For any school year ending on or before June 30, 66 
2023, any owner of agricultural land who, pursuant to 67 
subsection 3 of this section, has the option of sending his 68 
children to the public schools of more than one district 69 
shall exercise such option as provided in this subs ection.   70 
Such person shall send written notice to all school 71 
districts involved specifying to which school district his 72 
children will attend by June thirtieth in which such a 73 
school year begins.  If notification is not received, such 74    	71 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
children shall attend the school in which the majority of 75 
his property lies.  Such person shall not send any of his 76 
children to the public schools of any district other than 77 
the one to which he has sent notice pursuant to this 78 
subsection in that school year or in which the majority of  79 
his property lies without paying tuition to such school 80 
district.  81 
     5.  If a pupil is attending school in a district other 82 
than the district of residence and the pupil's parent is 83 
teaching in the school district or is a regular emp loyee of  84 
the school district which the pupil is attending, then the 85 
district in which the pupil attends school shall allow the 86 
pupil to attend school upon payment of tuition in the same 87 
manner in which the district allows other pupils not 88 
entitled to free instruction to attend school in the 89 
district.  The provisions of this subsection shall apply 90 
only to pupils attending school in a district which has an 91 
enrollment in excess of thirteen thousand pupils and not in 92 
excess of fifteen thousand pupils a nd which district is 93 
located in a county [of the first classification ] with a  94 
charter form of government which has a population in excess 95 
of six hundred thousand persons and not in excess of nine 96 
hundred thousand persons. 97 
     167.225.  1.  As used in subsections 1 to 4 of this  1 
section, the following terms mean: 2 
     (1)  "Braille", the system of reading and writing 3 
through touch; 4 
     (2)  "Student", any student who has an impairment in 5 
vision that, even with correction, adversely affe cts a  6 
child's educational performance and who is determined 7 
eligible for special education services under the 8 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. 9    	72 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     2.  All students shall receive instruction in braille 10 
reading and writing as part of their i ndividualized  11 
education plan unless the individual education program team 12 
determines, after an evaluation of a student's reading and 13 
writing skills, needs, and appropriate reading and writing 14 
media, including an evaluation of the student's future needs  15 
for instruction in braille or the use of braille, that 16 
instruction in braille or the use of braille is not 17 
appropriate.  No student shall be denied instruction in 18 
braille reading and writing solely because the student has 19 
some remaining vision. 20 
     3.  Instruction in braille reading and writing shall be 21 
sufficient to enable each student to communicate effectively 22 
and efficiently at a level commensurate with the student's 23 
sighted peers of comparable grade level and intellectual 24 
functioning.  The student's individualized education plan 25 
shall specify: 26 
     (1)  How braille will be implemented as the primary 27 
mode for learning through integration with normal classroom 28 
activities.  If braille will not be provided to a child who 29 
is blind, the reason for not incorporating it in the 30 
individualized education plan shall be documented therein; 31 
     (2)  The date on which braille instruction will 32 
commence; 33 
     (3)  The level of competency in braille reading and 34 
writing to be achieved by the end of the p eriod covered by  35 
the individualized education plan; and 36 
     (4)  The duration of each session. 37 
     4.  As part of the certification process, teachers 38 
certified in the education of blind and visually impaired 39 
children shall be required to demonstrate c ompetence in  40 
reading and writing braille.  The department of elementary 41    	73 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
and secondary education shall adopt assessment procedures to 42 
assess such competencies which are consistent with standards 43 
adopted by the National Library Service for the Blind and 44 
Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, D. 45 
C. 46 
     5.  (1)  Subsections 5 to 9 of this section shall be 47 
known and may be cited as the "Blind Students' Rights to 48 
Independence, Training, and Education Act" or the "BRITE 49 
Act". 50 
     (2)  As used in subsections 5 to 9 of this section, the 51 
following terms mean: 52 
     (a)  "Accessible assistive technology device", an 53 
assistive technology device, as defined in 20 U.S.C. Section 54 
1401, as amended, that provides blind or visually impaired 55 
students the benefits of an educational program in an 56 
equally effective and integrated manner as that provided to 57 
nondisabled students; 58 
     (b)  "Adequate instruction", the quality teaching of 59 
blind or visually impaired students, as it pertains to 60 
general education and necessary blindness skills, in 61 
alignment with the U.S. Department of Education's definition 62 
of free appropriate public education, as defined in 20 63 
U.S.C. Section 1401, as amended; 64 
     (c)  "Blind or visually impaired student": 65 
     a.  A child who: 66 
     (i)  Has an individualized education program (IEP) or 67 
an individualized family service plan (IFSP), as such terms 68 
are defined in 20 U.S.C. Section 1401, as amended, or a 504 69 
plan created under Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation 70 
Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. Section 794, as amended; and 71 
     (ii)  Is identified as having the disability of "visual 72 
impairment (including blindness)" within the definition of 73    	74 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
"child with a disability" in 20 U.S.C. Section 1401, as 74 
amended; or 75 
     b.  An individual who is deaf -blind under the federal 76 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as 77 
amended, or other federal law; 78 
     (d)  "Braille", the system of reading and writing 79 
through touch; 80 
     (e)  "Expanded core curriculum", a disability -specific  81 
curriculum that compensates for vision loss, is foundational 82 
to all other learning, and that covers the nine essential 83 
areas of compensatory access, sensory efficiency, assistive 84 
technology, orientation and mobility, social interaction, 85 
recreation and leisure, independent living, self - 86 
determination, and career education; 87 
     (f)  "Grade level instruction", instruction that aligns 88 
with state-designated content standards and curricula for 89 
students of the same age or level of maturity, based on the  90 
development of intellectual, emotional, physical, and 91 
behavioral capacity that is typical for the student's age or 92 
age group; 93 
     (g)  "Local educational agency" or "LEA", the same 94 
definition as in 20 U.S.C. Section 1401, as amended; 95 
     (h)  "Nonvisual access", the ability of a blind or 96 
visually impaired student to use all functions of a device, 97 
without using the student's vision, in an equally effective, 98 
equally integrated manner and with equivalent ease of use as 99 
the student's sighted pe ers; 100 
     (i)  "Nonvisual skills", skills that are taught in such 101 
a way that the student does not need to use any vision; 102 
     (j)  "State educational agency", the same definition as 103 
in 20 U.S.C. Section 1401, as amended; 104    	75 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (k)  "Technology-mediated learning environments and 105 
methods", the settings in which electronic and information 106 
technology including, but not limited to, the following is 107 
used: 108 
     a.  Computer-based applications and simulations; 109 
     b.  Personal and mobile computing devices suc h as  110 
smartphones or tablets; 111 
     c.  Web-based platforms; 112 
     d.  Online or distance-learning programs; 113 
     e.  Video games; and 114 
     f.  Exhibits or installations that feature digital 115 
media, wearable technology, or other tools that support 116 
participants' engagement with new knowledge, skills, or 117 
practices; 118 
     (l)  "U.S. Access Board", the independent federal 119 
agency created in 1973 that promotes equality for people 120 
with disabilities through leadership in accessible design 121 
and the development of a ccessibility guidelines and 122 
standards. 123 
     6.  (1)  Each blind or visually impaired student shall 124 
receive instruction in Braille reading and writing as part 125 
of such student's individualized education program (IEP) or 126 
individualized family support plan (IFSP) unless the IEP or 127 
IFSP team determines, after an evaluation of the student's 128 
reading and writing skills, needs, and appropriate reading 129 
and writing media including, but not limited to, an 130 
evaluation of the student's needs for instruction in Bra ille  131 
or the use of Braille, that instruction in Braille or the 132 
use of Braille is not appropriate.  No blind or visually 133 
impaired student shall be denied instruction in Braille 134 
reading and writing solely because the student has some 135 
vision.  During the evaluation and IEP process, 136    	76 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
consideration shall be given regarding appropriate Braille 137 
instruction based on a potential vision loss due to a 138 
degenerative medical diagnosis. 139 
     (2)  In conjunction with the U.S. Department of 140 
Education's Braille presu mption requirement in the federal 141 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as 142 
amended, instruction in Braille reading and writing shall be 143 
sufficient to enable each blind or visually impaired student 144 
to communicate effectively and efficientl y at a level  145 
commensurate with the student's same age and with the 146 
student's nondisabled peers of comparable intellectual 147 
ability.  The blind or visually impaired student's 148 
individualized education program (IEP) or individualized 149 
family support plan ( IFSP) shall specify: 150 
     (a)  The results obtained from an evaluation of the 151 
blind or visually impaired student's reading and writing 152 
skills, needs, and appropriate reading and writing media 153 
including, but not limited to, an evaluation of the blind or 154 
visually impaired student's needs for instruction in Braille 155 
or the use of Braille including, but not limited to, 156 
consideration regarding appropriate Braille instruction 157 
based on a potential vision loss due to a degenerative 158 
medical diagnosis; 159 
     (b)  How Braille will be implemented, if needed as 160 
determined by the IEP team, as a primary mode for learning 161 
through integration with other classroom activities; 162 
     (c)  The length of the period of instruction and the 163 
frequency and duration of each ins tructional session as 164 
determined by the IEP team, which shall, as closely as 165 
appropriate based on individual needs, be identical to the 166 
level of instruction provided to nondisabled peers; and 167    	77 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (d)  The level of competency in Braille reading and 168 
writing to be achieved by the end of the period. 169 
     (3)  Use, and provision, of Braille materials for 170 
reading and writing shall be addressed in 504 plans for 171 
blind or visually impaired students created under Section 172 
504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 173 
Section 794, as amended. 174 
     7.  In conjunction with academic achievement and 175 
functional performance requirements of 34 CFR 176 
300.320(a)(2)(i), as amended, instruction in expanded core 177 
curriculum shall be provided to blind or visually impaired  178 
students to support progress in the general education 179 
curriculum. 180 
     8.  (1)  Each blind or visually impaired student shall 181 
receive instruction in assistive technology as part of the 182 
student's individualized education program (IEP) or 183 
individualized family support plan (IFSP) unless the IEP or 184 
IFSP team determines, after an evaluation of a student's 185 
needs, that instruction in assistive technology is not 186 
appropriate.  No student shall be denied instruction in 187 
assistive technology solely because the student has some 188 
vision. 189 
     (2)  In conjunction with accessible assistive 190 
technology requirements of the federal Individuals with 191 
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 20 U.S.C. 192 
1412(a)(12)(B)(i), as amended, the blind or visually 193 
impaired student shall receive grade -level instruction that 194 
will equip the blind or visually impaired student with the 195 
appropriate technology -mediated learning environments and 196 
methods to perform on the same level of proficiency expected 197 
of peers of comparabl e intellectual ability and grade 198    	78 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
level.  The blind or visually impaired student's IEP or IFSP 199 
shall specify: 200 
     (a)  The results obtained from an assessment of the 201 
blind or visually impaired student's skills, needs, and 202 
appropriate accessible assisti ve technology including, but 203 
not limited to, an evaluation of the future needs for 204 
accessible assistive technology training or the use of 205 
accessible assistive technology; 206 
     (b)  How accessible assistive technology will be 207 
implemented as a primary mo de for learning through 208 
integration with other classroom activities; 209 
     (c)  The frequency and duration of each instructional 210 
session; 211 
     (d)  The level of mastery of the accessible assistive 212 
technology specified by the blind or visually impaired 213 
student's assessment to be achieved by the end of the 214 
period; and 215 
     (e)  Acknowledgment that either: 216 
     a.  The blind or visually impaired student may 217 
transport the accessible assistive technology to and from 218 
school without the need for payment, fam ily assumption of  219 
liability for loss or damage, or any other cost to the blind 220 
or visually impaired student or the family; or 221 
     b.  If the accessible assistive technology remains at 222 
school, the LEA will provide duplicate accessible assistive 223 
technology in the blind or visually impaired student's home 224 
without requiring payment, family assumption of liability 225 
for loss or damage, or any other cost to the blind or 226 
visually impaired student or the family. 227 
     (3)  Use, and provision, of accessible ass istive  228 
technology shall be addressed in 504 plans for blind or 229 
visually impaired students created under Section 504 of the 230    	79 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. Section 794, 231 
as amended. 232 
     9.  (1)  Each blind or visually impaired student shal l  233 
receive instruction in orientation and mobility as part of 234 
the student's individualized education program (IEP) or 235 
individualized family support plan (IFSP) unless the IEP or 236 
IFSP team determines, after an evaluation of a student's 237 
needs, that instruction in orientation and mobility is not 238 
appropriate.  No student shall be denied instruction in 239 
orientation and mobility solely because the student has some 240 
vision. 241 
     (2)  In conjunction with orientation and mobility 242 
services requirements of 34 CF R 300.34(c)(7), as amended, 243 
blind or visually impaired students shall receive 244 
orientation and mobility instruction to equip each blind or 245 
visually impaired student with the age -appropriate tools, 246 
techniques, and nonvisual skills to navigate in and arou nd  247 
the student's home, schools, communities, and other 248 
environments as applicable, and as expected of peers of 249 
comparable intellectual ability and grade level.  The blind  250 
or visually impaired student's IEP or IFSP shall specify: 251 
     (a)  The results obtained from an evaluation of the 252 
blind or visually impaired student's orientation and 253 
mobility needs including, but not limited to, an evaluation 254 
of the blind or visually impaired student's future needs for 255 
instruction in orientation and mobility; 256 
    (b)  How orientation and mobility will be integrated 257 
into the home, school, and community; 258 
     (c)  The date on which orientation and mobility 259 
instruction will commence; 260 
     (d)  The frequency and duration of each instructional 261 
session; and 262    	80 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (e)  The level of mastery of orientation and mobility 263 
skills to be achieved by the end of the period. 264 
     (3)  Orientation and mobility equipment, 265 
accommodations, and modifications shall be addressed in 504 266 
plans for blind or visually impaired students cr eated under  267 
Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 268 
U.S.C. Section 794, as amended. 269 
     (4)  An orientation and mobility evaluation shall be 270 
conducted by a person who is appropriately certified by the 271 
National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB) 272 
with a National Orientation and Mobility Certification 273 
(NOMC), or through the Academy for Certification of Vision 274 
Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) as a 275 
Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS), or who  276 
holds a nationally recognized certification related to 277 
orientation and mobility. 278 
     (5)  The orientation and mobility evaluations described 279 
in subdivision (4) of this subsection shall occur in 280 
familiar and unfamiliar environments, during the daytime and  281 
nighttime, and around the home, school, and community as 282 
determined age appropriate by the blind or visually impaired 283 
student's IEP or IFSP. 284 
     10.  (1)  As part of the state educational agency's 285 
certification and renewal process, educato rs hired to teach  286 
Braille shall be certified teachers of students with visual 287 
impairments, hold a current and valid National Certification 288 
in Unified English Braille (NCUEB) working under the 289 
supervision of a reading specialist, or hold a nationally 290 
recognized certification related to Braille instruction. 291 
     (2)  As part of the state educational agency's 292 
certification and renewal process, educators hired to teach 293 
accessible assistive technology shall be certified teachers 294    	81 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
of students with visual i mpairments, hold a valid and 295 
current Certified Assistive Technology Instructional 296 
Specialist for People with Visual Impairments (CATIS), or 297 
hold a valid and current National Certification in Access 298 
Technology for the Blind (NCATB) or other nationally 299 
recognized certification related to assistive technology 300 
instruction for individuals with visual impairments. 301 
     (3)  As part of the state educational agency's 302 
certification and renewal process, specialists hired to 303 
teach orientation and mobility shal l hold a valid and 304 
current National Orientation and Mobility Certification 305 
(NOMC) or hold a current and valid Certified Orientation and 306 
Mobility Specialist (COMS) certification or other nationally 307 
recognized certification related to orientation and mob ility  308 
instruction for individuals with visual impairments. 309 
     11.  (1)  LEAs shall deliver services to blind or 310 
visually impaired students in a manner that at all times 311 
abides by requirements of the federal Individuals with 312 
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Title II of the Americans 313 
with Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 314 
as amended, including during declared local, state, or 315 
national emergencies. 316 
     (2)  LEAs shall seek and obtain proof of currently 317 
available certified profe ssionals from any company, agency, 318 
or individual the LEA intends to contract with for services 319 
outlined in subsections 5 to 9 of this section. 320 
     (3)  LEAs shall not impose any preclusions or 321 
limitations on a student to receive instruction in 322 
orientation and mobility services in and around the home, 323 
school, or community setting including during daytime and 324 
nighttime hours. 325    	82 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (4)  LEAs may require annual written parental consent 326 
to conduct effective instruction when such services are 327 
provided before or after regular school hours or when such 328 
services are provided away from the educational institution 329 
or the blind or visually impaired student's residence. 330 
     (5)  If an LEA prohibits an orientation and mobility 331 
instructor from using the instru ctor's preferred mode of 332 
transportation to transport blind or visually impaired 333 
students to and from outside environments, the LEA shall 334 
provide an equally effective transportation alternative for 335 
that purpose without cost to the orientation and mobili ty  336 
instructor.  If the blind or visually impaired student's 337 
family provides transportation for the student, the LEA 338 
shall reimburse the expense. 339 
     12.  (1)  If an LEA requires an eye report, the LEA 340 
shall bear all costs associated with obtaining suc h report.   341 
LEAs shall not delay an evaluation for eligibility based on 342 
the absence or delay of such report. 343 
     (2)  All electronic and information technology 344 
developed, procured, maintained, or used by LEAs shall be 345 
compliant with the U.S. Access Boa rd's Section 508  346 
standards, as amended. 347 
     (3)  LEAs shall anticipate the need for nonvisual 348 
accessibility and adopt policies and procedures to reduce or 349 
eliminate common barriers experienced by blind or visually 350 
impaired students, parents, educators , administrators, and 351 
other staff. 352 
     13.  Subsections 1 to 4 of this section shall apply in 353 
all school years ending before July 1, 2022.  Subsections 5  354 
to 12 of this section shall apply in school year 2022 -23 and  355 
all subsequent school years. 356    	83 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     167.268.  1.  Each [local] school district and charter  1 
school shall have on file a policy for reading 2 
[intervention] success plans [for any pupils of the district 3 
in grades kindergarten through three pursuant to the 4 
provisions of this section.  Such plans shall identify 5 
strategies to be followed by the district teachers to raise 6 
a pupil identified as reading below grade level by 7 
recognized methods to reading at grade level by the end of 8 
the third grade.  Recognized methods of ide ntification may  9 
include but need not be limited to the scores of the pupil 10 
obtained through any established standardized testing 11 
program currently administered by the district, observations 12 
of classroom teachers, and documented classroom 13 
performance].  Each school district and charter school shall 14 
provide all parents and guardians of students, including 15 
parents of students who are identified as having a 16 
substantial deficiency in reading under subsection 1 of 17 
section 167.645, with suggestions for re gular parent-guided  18 
home reading. 19 
     2.  [The state board of education ] The department of  20 
elementary and secondary education shall develop guidelines 21 
to assist districts and charter schools in formulating  22 
policies for reading [intervention] success plans.  Such  23 
guidelines may include, but are not limited to, measures of  24 
reading proficiency, strategies for addressing reading 25 
deficiencies, timelines for measuring pupil improvement in 26 
reading, and information on screening [for and treatment] of  27 
[auditory] dyslexia[, and information on the Lindamood 28 
Auditory Conceptualization Test and the Auditory 29 
Discrimination in Depth Program ].  Such guidelines may also 30 
identify performance levels for pupils identified as 31 
handicapped or severely handicapped and conditions under  32    	84 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
which such pupils [are] may be exempt from the provisions of 33 
this section and section 167.645. 34 
     3.  [Each local school district enrolling a pupil 35 
identified as reading below grade level shall develop an 36 
individual plan of reading intervention for such pupil.  The  37 
individual pupil's plan may include individual or group 38 
reading development activities.  The plan may be developed 39 
after consultation with the pupil's parent or legal 40 
guardian] Each school district and charter school s hall  41 
provide intensive reading instruction to students as 42 
provided in section 167.645 . 43 
     167.625.  1.  This section shall be known and may be 1 
cited as "Will's Law". 2 
     2.  As used in this section, the following terms mean: 3 
     (1)  "Individualized emergency health care plan", a 4 
document developed by a school nurse, in consultation with a 5 
student's parent and other appropriate medical 6 
professionals, that is consistent with the recommendations 7 
of the student's health care providers, that describes  8 
procedural guidelines that provide specific directions about 9 
what to do in a particular emergency situation, and that is 10 
signed by the parent and the school nurse or the school 11 
administrator or the administrator's designee in the absenc e  12 
of the school nurse; 13 
     (2)  "Individualized health care plan", a document 14 
developed by a school nurse, in consultation with a 15 
student's parent and other appropriate medical professionals 16 
who may be providing epilepsy or seizure disorder care to 17 
the student, that is consistent with the recommendations of 18 
the student's health care providers, that describes the 19 
health services needed by the student at school, and that is 20 
signed by the parent and the school nurse or the school 21    	85 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
administrator or the administrator's designee in the absence 22 
of the school nurse; 23 
     (3)  "Parent", a parent, guardian, or other person 24 
having charge, control, or custody of a student; 25 
     (4)  "School", any public elementary or secondary 26 
school or charter school; 27 
     (5)  "School employee", a person employed by a school; 28 
     (6)  "Student", a student who has epilepsy or a seizure 29 
disorder and who attends a school. 30 
     3.  (1)  The parent of a student who seeks epilepsy or 31 
seizure disorder care while at school shall inform the  32 
school nurse or the school administrator or the 33 
administrator's designee in the absence of the school nurse. 34 
 The school nurse shall develop an individualized health 35 
care plan and an individualized emergency health care plan 36 
for the student.  The parent of the student shall annually 37 
provide to the school written authorization for the 38 
provision of epilepsy or seizure disorder care as described 39 
in the individualized plans. 40 
     (2)  The individualized plans developed under 41 
subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be updated by the 42 
school nurse before the beginning of each school year and as 43 
necessary if there is a change in the health status of the 44 
student. 45 
     (3)  Each individualized health care plan shall, and 46 
each individualized e mergency health care plan may, include 47 
but not be limited to the following information: 48 
     (a)  A notice about the student's condition for all 49 
school employees who interact with the student; 50 
     (b)  Written orders from the student's physician or 51 
advanced practice nurse describing the epilepsy or seizure 52 
disorder care; 53    	86 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (c)  The symptoms of the epilepsy or seizure disorder 54 
for that particular student and recommended care; 55 
     (d)  Whether the student may fully participate in 56 
exercise and sports, and any contraindications to exercise 57 
or accommodations that shall be made for that particular 58 
student; 59 
     (e)  Accommodations for school trips, after -school  60 
activities, class parties, and other school -related  61 
activities; 62 
     (f)  Information for such school employees about how to 63 
recognize and provide care for epilepsy and seizure 64 
disorders, epilepsy and seizure disorder first aid training, 65 
when to call for assistance, emergency contact information, 66 
and parent contact information; 67 
     (g)  Medical and treatment issues that may affect the 68 
educational process of the student; 69 
     (h)  The student's ability to manage, and the student's 70 
level of understanding of, the student's epilepsy or seizure 71 
disorder; and 72 
     (i)  How to maintain communi cation with the student, 73 
the student's parent and health care team, the school nurse 74 
or the school administrator or the administrator's designee 75 
in the absence of the school nurse, and the school employees. 76 
     4.  (1)  The school nurse assigned to a p articular  77 
school or the school administrator or the administrator's 78 
designee in the absence of the school nurse shall coordinate 79 
the provision of epilepsy and seizure disorder care at that 80 
school and ensure that all school employees are trained 81 
every two years in the care of students with epilepsy and 82 
seizure disorders including, but not limited to, school 83 
employees working with school -sponsored programs outside of 84    	87 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
the regular school day, as provided in the student's 85 
individualized plans. 86 
     (2)  The training required under subdivision (1) of 87 
this subsection shall include an online or in -person course  88 
of instruction approved by the department of health and 89 
senior services that is provided by a reputable, local, 90 
Missouri-based health care or no nprofit organization that 91 
supports the welfare of individuals with epilepsy and 92 
seizure disorders. 93 
     5.  The school nurse or the school administrator or the 94 
administrator's designee in the absence of the school nurse 95 
shall obtain a release from a st udent's parent to authorize 96 
the sharing of medical information between the student's 97 
physician or advanced practice nurse and other health care 98 
providers.  The release shall also authorize the school 99 
nurse or the school administrator or the administrat or's  100 
designee in the absence of the school nurse to share medical 101 
information with other school employees in the school 102 
district as necessary.  No sharing of information under this 103 
subsection shall be construed to be a violation of the 104 
federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 105 
of 1996 (HIPAA) (Pub. L. 104 -191), as amended, if a 106 
student's parent has provided a release under this 107 
subsection. 108 
     6.  No school employee including, but not limited to, a 109 
school nurse, a school bus driv er, a school bus aide, or any 110 
other officer or agent of a school shall be held liable for 111 
any good faith act or omission consistent with the 112 
provisions of this section, nor shall an action before the 113 
state board of nursing lie against a school nurse fo r any  114 
such action taken by a school employee trained in good faith 115 
by the school nurse under this section.  "Good faith" shall 116    	88 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
not be construed to include willful misconduct, gross 117 
negligence, or recklessness. 118 
     167.640.  1.  School districts [may] shall adopt a  1 
policy with regard to student promotion which may require 2 
remediation as a condition of promotion to the next grade 3 
level for any student identified by the district as failing 4 
to master skills and competencies established fo r that  5 
particular grade level by the district board of education.   6 
School districts may also require parents or guardians of 7 
such students to commit to conduct home -based tutorial  8 
activities with their children or, in the case of a student 9 
with disabilities eligible for services pursuant to sections 10 
162.670 to 162.1000, the individual education plan shall 11 
determine the nature of parental involvement consistent with 12 
the requirements for a free, appropriate public education. 13 
     2.  Such remediation shall recognize that different 14 
students learn differently and shall employ methods designed 15 
to help these students achieve at high levels.  Such  16 
remediation may include, but shall not necessarily be 17 
limited to, a mandatory summer school program focused on the  18 
areas of deficiency or other such activities conducted by 19 
the school district outside of the regular school day.   20 
Decisions concerning the instruction of a child who receives 21 
special educational services pursuant to sections 162.670 to 22 
162.1000 shall be made in accordance with the child's 23 
individualized education plan. 24 
     3.  School districts providing remediation pursuant to 25 
this section or section 167.645 outside of the traditional 26 
school day may count extra hours of instruction in the 27 
calculation of average daily attendance as defined in 28 
section 163.011. 29    	89 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     167.645.  1.  [For purposes of this section, the 1 
following terms mean: 2 
     (1)  "Reading assessment", a recognized method of 3 
judging a student's reading ability, with results expressed 4 
as reading at a particular grade level.  The term reading  5 
assessment shall include, but is not limited to, standard 6 
checklists designed for use as a student reads out loud, 7 
paper-and-pencil tests promulgated by nationally recogni zed  8 
organizations and other recognized methods of determining a 9 
student's reading accuracy, expression, fluency and 10 
comprehension in order to make a determination of the 11 
student's grade-level reading ability.  Assessments which do 12 
not give a grade-level result may be used in combination 13 
with other assessments to reach a grade -level  14 
determination.  Districts are encouraged but not required to 15 
select assessment methods identified pursuant to section 16 
167.346.  Districts are also encouraged to use mult iple  17 
methods of assessment; 18 
     (2)  "Summer school", for reading instruction purposes, 19 
a minimum of forty hours of reading instruction and 20 
practice.  A school district may arrange the hours and days 21 
of instruction to coordinate with its regular progr am of  22 
summer school. 23 
     2.  For purposes of this section, methods of reading 24 
assessment shall be determined by each school district.   25 
Unless a student has been determined in the current school 26 
year to be reading at grade level or above, each school 27 
district shall administer a reading assessment or set of 28 
assessments to each student within forty -five days of the  29 
end of the third-grade year, except that the provisions of 30 
this subsection shall not apply to students receiving 31 
special education servic es under an individualized education 32    	90 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
plan pursuant to sections 162.670 to 162.999, to students 33 
receiving services pursuant to Section 504 of the 34 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 whose services plan includes an 35 
element addressing reading or to students determ ined to have  36 
limited English proficiency or to students who have been 37 
determined, prior to the beginning of any school year, to 38 
have a cognitive ability insufficient to meet the reading 39 
requirement set out in this section, provided that districts 40 
shall provide reading improvement plans for students 41 
determined to have such insufficient cognitive ability.  The  42 
assessment required by this subsection shall also be 43 
required for students who enter a school district in grades 44 
four, five or six unless such student has been determined in 45 
the current school year to be reading at grade level or 46 
above. 47 
     3.  Beginning with school year 2002 -03, for each  48 
student whose third-grade reading assessment determines that 49 
such student is reading below second -grade level, the school  50 
district shall design a reading improvement plan for the 51 
student's fourth-grade year.  Such reading improvement plan 52 
shall include, at a minimum, thirty hours of additional 53 
reading instruction or practice outside the regular school 54 
day during the fourth -grade year.  The school district shall 55 
determine the method of reading instruction necessary to 56 
enforce this subsection.  The school district may also 57 
require the student to attend summer school for reading 58 
instruction as a condit ion of promotion to fourth grade.   59 
The department of elementary and secondary education may, 60 
from funds appropriated for the purpose, reimburse school 61 
districts for additional instructional personnel costs 62 
incurred in the implementation and execution o f the thirty  63 
hours of additional reading instruction minus the revenue 64    	91 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
generated by the school district through the foundation 65 
formula for the additional reading instruction average daily 66 
attendance. 67 
     4.  Each student for whom a reading improvement plan  68 
has been designed pursuant to subsection 3 of this section 69 
shall be given another reading assessment, to be 70 
administered within forty -five days of the end of such 71 
student's fourth-grade year.  If such student is determined 72 
to be reading below th ird-grade level, the student shall be 73 
required to attend summer school to receive reading 74 
instruction.  At the end of such summer school instruction, 75 
such student shall be given another reading assessment.  If  76 
such student is determined to be reading b elow third-grade  77 
level, the district shall notify the student's parents or 78 
guardians, and the student shall not be promoted to fifth 79 
grade.  No student shall be denied promotion more than once 80 
solely for inability to meet the reading standards set out 81 
in this section. 82 
     5.  The process described in subsections 3 and 4 of 83 
this section shall be repeated as necessary through the end 84 
of the sixth grade, with the target grade level rising 85 
accordingly.  Mandatory retention in grade shall not apply 86 
to grades subsequent to fourth grade. 87 
     6.  The mandatory process of additional reading 88 
instruction pursuant to this section shall cease at the end 89 
of the sixth grade.  The permanent record of students who 90 
are determined to be reading below the fifth -grade level at  91 
the end of sixth grade shall carry a notation advising that 92 
such student has not met minimal reading standards.  The  93 
notation shall stay on the student's record until such time 94 
as the district determines that a student has met minimal 95 
reading standards. 96    	92 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     7.  Each school district shall be required to offer 97 
summer school reading instruction to any student with a 98 
reading improvement plan.  Districts may fulfill the 99 
requirement of this section through cooperative arrangements 100 
with neighboring districts; provided that such districts 101 
shall timely make all payments provided pursuant to such 102 
cooperative agreements. 103 
     8.  A school district may adopt a policy that requires 104 
retention in grade of any student who has been determined to 105 
require summer school instruction in reading and who does 106 
not fulfill the summer school attendance requirement. 107 
     9.  Nothing in this section shall preclude a school 108 
district from retaining any student in grade when a 109 
determination is made in accordanc e with district policy 110 
that retention is in the best interests of the student. 111 
     10.  The state board of education shall not incorporate 112 
information about the number of students receiving 113 
additional instruction pursuant to this section into any 114 
element of any standard of the Missouri school improvement 115 
program or its successor accreditation program; provided, 116 
however, each district shall make available, upon the 117 
request of any parent, patron, or media outlet within the 118 
district, the number and pe rcentage of students receiving 119 
remediation pursuant to this section.  The information shall 120 
be presented in a way that does not permit personal 121 
identification of any student or educational personnel. 122 
     11.  Each school district shall make a systemati c  123 
effort to inform parents of the methods and materials used 124 
to teach reading in kindergarten through fourth grade, in 125 
terms understandable to a layperson and shall similarly 126 
inform parents of students for whom a reading improvement 127 
plan is required pursuant to this section ] Each school  128    	93 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
district and charter school shall assess all students 129 
enrolled in kindergarten through grade three at the 130 
beginning and end of each school year for their level of 131 
reading or reading readiness on state -approved reading  132 
assessments.  Additionally, all school districts and charter 133 
schools shall assess any newly enrolled student in grades 134 
one through five for their level of reading or reading 135 
readiness on a reading assessment from the state -approved  136 
list.  At the beginning of the school year, each school 137 
district and charter school shall provide a reading success 138 
plan to any student who: 139 
     (1)  Exhibits a substantial deficiency in reading which 140 
creates a barrier to the child's progress learning to read.   141 
The identification of such deficiency may be based upon the 142 
most recent assessments or teacher observation; or 143 
     (2)  Has been identified as being at risk of dyslexia 144 
in the statewide dyslexia screening or has a formal 145 
diagnosis of dyslexia. 146 
For the purposes of this section, a substantial reading 147 
deficiency shall refer to a student who is one or more grade 148 
level or levels behind in reading or reading readiness; 149 
provided that nothing in this section shall be interpreted 150 
to prevent a school district or c harter school from offering 151 
a reading success plan to any student based on an assessment 152 
completed at the start and end of the school year or teacher 153 
observation.  For any student entering the school district 154 
or charter school after the start of the sc hool year, such  155 
student shall be provided a reading success plan in the 156 
event the student has been identified as having a 157 
substantial reading deficiency based on the student's most 158 
recent assessment or otherwise being identified through 159    	94 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
teacher observation.  The student's reading proficiency 160 
shall be reassessed by reading assessments on the state - 161 
approved list.  The student shall continue to be provided 162 
with intensive reading instruction under a reading success 163 
plan until the reading deficiency is remedied. 164 
     2.  The district or charter school shall notify the 165 
parent or guardian of any student in kindergarten through 166 
grade three who exhibits a substantial deficiency in 167 
reading, as described in subsection 1 of this section, at 168 
least annually in writing, and in an appropriate, 169 
alternative manner for the parent or other guardian if 170 
necessary, of the following: 171 
     (1)  That the child has been identified as having a 172 
substantial deficiency in reading; 173 
     (2)  A description of the services cur rently provided  174 
to the child; 175 
     (3)  A description of the proposed supplemental 176 
instructional services and supports that the school district 177 
will provide to the child that are designed to remediate the 178 
identified area of reading deficiency.  For students  179 
identified as being at risk of dyslexia or those that have a 180 
diagnosis of dyslexia the district shall provide an 181 
explanation that the instruction that will be used to teach 182 
the child reading shall be explicit, systematic, and 183 
diagnostic and based on phonological awareness, phonics, 184 
fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, morphology, syntax, and 185 
semantics; 186 
     (4)  Strategies for parents and guardians to use in 187 
helping the child succeed in reading proficiency, including 188 
but not limited to the pro motion of parent-guided home  189 
reading. 190    	95 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     3.  If the school district or charter school provides a 191 
summer reading program under this section, the district or 192 
charter school shall notify the parent or guardian of each 193 
student who exhibits a substantial deficiency in reading of 194 
the opportunity to attend the summer reading program. 195 
     4.  If a student has a substantial reading deficiency 196 
at the end of third grade, the student's parent or guardian 197 
and appropriate school staff shall discuss whether the 198 
student should be retained in grade level, based on a 199 
consideration of all relevant factors, including the reading 200 
deficiency, the student's progress in other subject areas, 201 
and the student's overall intellectual, physical, emotional, 202 
and social development.  A decision to promote or retain a 203 
student with a substantial reading deficiency at the end of 204 
grade three shall be made only after direct personal 205 
consultation with the student's parent or guardian and after 206 
the formulation of a specific plan of action to remedy the 207 
student's reading deficiency. 208 
     5.  Each school district or charter school shall do all 209 
of the following: 210 
     (1)  Provide students who are identified as having a 211 
substantial deficiency in reading under subsection 1 of this 212 
section, have been identified as being at risk of dyslexia 213 
in the statewide dyslexia screening, or have a formal 214 
diagnosis of dyslexia with intensive instructional services 215 
and supports specified in a reading success plan, as 216 
appropriate according to s tudent need, free of charge, to 217 
remediate the identified areas of reading deficiency, 218 
including additional scientific, evidence -based reading  219 
instruction and other strategies prescribed by the school 220 
district or charter school which may include but are not  221 
limited to the following: 222    	96 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (a)  Small group or individual instruction; 223 
     (b)  Reduced teacher-student ratios; 224 
     (c)  More frequent progress monitoring; 225 
     (d)  Tutoring or mentoring; 226 
     (e)  Extended school day, week, or year; and 227 
     (f)  Summer reading programs; 228 
     (2)  For any student with a formal diagnosis of 229 
dyslexia or for a student who was found to be at risk of 230 
dyslexia in the statewide dyslexia screening, the school 231 
district or charter school shall provide evidence -based  232 
reading instruction that addresses phonology, sound -symbol  233 
association, syllable instruction, morphology, syntax, and 234 
semantics provided through systematic, cumulative, explicit, 235 
and diagnostic methods; 236 
     (3)  At regular intervals, but no less than four times  237 
per year in a manner that reflects progress through each 238 
school term, notify the parent or guardian of academic and 239 
other progress being made by the student and give the parent 240 
or guardian other useful information; 241 
     (4)  In addition to required reading enhancement and 242 
acceleration strategies, provide all parents of students, 243 
including parents of students who are identified as having a 244 
substantial deficiency in reading under subsection 1 of this 245 
section, with a plan that includes sugge stions for regular 246 
parent-guided home reading. 247 
     6.  Each school district and charter school shall 248 
ensure that intensive reading instruction through a reading 249 
development initiative shall be provided to each 250 
kindergarten through grade five student w ho is assessed as  251 
exhibiting a substantial deficiency in reading.  In addition  252 
to the requirements otherwise provided, such instruction 253 
shall also comply with all of the following criteria: 254    	97 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (1)  Be provided to all kindergarten through grade five 255 
students who exhibit a substantial deficiency in reading 256 
under this section.  The assessments shall measure phonemic 257 
awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension; 258 
     (2)  Be provided during regular school hours; 259 
     (3)  Provide a reading curriculum that meets the 260 
requirements of section 170.014, and at a minimum has the 261 
following specifications: 262 
     (a)  Assists students assessed as exhibiting a 263 
substantial deficiency in reading to develop the skills to 264 
read at grade level; 265 
     (b)  Provides skill development in phonemic awareness, 266 
phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension; 267 
     (c)  Includes a scientifically based and reliable 268 
assessment; 269 
     (d)  Provides initial and ongoing analysis of each 270 
student's reading progress; an d 271 
     (e)  Provides a curriculum in core academic subjects to 272 
assist the student in maintaining or meeting proficiency 273 
levels for the appropriate grade in all academic subjects. 274 
     7.  School districts and charter schools shall report 275 
to the department the specific intensive reading 276 
interventions and supports implemented by the school 277 
district or charter school pursuant to this section as well 278 
as the reading assessment data collected for grades 279 
kindergarten through five.  The department shall annu ally  280 
prescribe the components of required or requested reports. 281 
     8.  (1)  Each school district and charter school shall 282 
address reading proficiency as part of its comprehensive 283 
school improvement plan, drawing upon information about 284 
children from assessments conducted pursuant to subsection 1 285 
of this section and the prevalence of deficiencies 286    	98 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
identified by classroom, elementary school, and other 287 
student characteristics.  As part of its comprehensive 288 
school improvement plan or contract, each scho ol district or  289 
charter school shall review chronic early elementary 290 
absenteeism for its impact on literacy development.  If more  291 
than fifteen percent of an attendance center's students are 292 
not at grade level in reading by the end of third grade, the 293 
comprehensive school improvement plan or contract shall 294 
include strategies to reduce that percentage, including 295 
school and community strategies to raise the percentage of 296 
students who are proficient in reading. 297 
     (2)  Each school district and charter school shall  298 
provide professional development services to enhance the 299 
skills of elementary teachers in responding to children's 300 
unique reading issues and needs and to increase the use of 301 
evidence-based strategies. 302 
     167.850.  1.  As used in this section, the following 1 
terms mean: 2 
     (1)  "Board", the state board of education; 3 
     (2)  "Commissioner", the commissioner of education; 4 
     (3)  "Recovery high school", a public high school that 5 
serves eligible students diagnosed with su bstance use  6 
disorder or dependency as defined by the most recent 7 
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and 8 
that provides both a comprehensive four -year high school  9 
education in an alternative public school setting and a 10 
structured plan of recovery; 11 
     (4)  "Sending district", the school district where a 12 
student attending or planning to attend the recovery high 13 
school resides and from which the student is referred for 14 
enrollment in a recovery high school. 15    	99 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     2.  (1)  The commissioner may approve and authorize up 16 
to four pilot recovery high schools, geographically located 17 
in metropolitan areas throughout the state, to be 18 
established by school districts or groups of school 19 
districts for the purpose of demonstrating the effectiven ess  20 
of the recovery high school model in this state.  The  21 
commissioner shall issue a request for proposals from school 22 
districts to operate a pilot recovery high school.  Such  23 
proposals may be submitted by an individual school district 24 
proposing to operate a recovery high school or by a group of 25 
school districts proposing to jointly operate such a school. 26 
 Such proposals shall be submitted to the commissioner no 27 
later than December first of the school year prior to the 28 
school year in which the reco very high school is proposed to 29 
begin operation.  The approval of the board shall be 30 
required for the recovery high school to begin operation. 31 
     (2)  Proposals shall detail how the district or 32 
districts will satisfy the criteria for a high school 33 
education program under state law and board rule and how the 34 
recovery high school will satisfy the requirements for 35 
accreditation by the Association of Recovery Schools or 36 
another recovery school accreditation organization 37 
authorized by the board.  The proposal shall include a 38 
financial plan outlining the anticipated public and private 39 
funding that will allow the recovery high school to operate 40 
and meet the school's educational and recovery criteria.   41 
The district or districts may partner with one or more local  42 
nonprofit organizations or other local educational agencies 43 
regarding establishment and operation of a recovery high 44 
school and may establish a joint board to oversee the 45 
operation of the recovery high school as provided in a 46    	100 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
memorandum of understanding entered with such organization 47 
or organizations. 48 
     (3)  By approval of the proposal upon the 49 
recommendation of the commissioner, the board shall be 50 
deemed to have authorized all necessary equivalencies and 51 
waivers of regulations enumer ated in the proposal. 52 
     (4)  The commissioner may specify an authorization 53 
period for the recovery high school, which shall be no less 54 
than four years.  Before July first of each year the 55 
recovery high school is in operation, the school district or 56 
group of school districts, in consultation with the recovery 57 
high school, shall submit to the commissioner an analysis of 58 
the recovery high school's educational, recovery, and other 59 
related outcomes as specified in the proposal.  The  60 
commissioner shall review the analysis and renew any 61 
recovery high school meeting the requirements of this 62 
section and the requirements of the school's proposal and 63 
may include terms and conditions to address areas needing 64 
correction or improvement.  The commissioner may revoke or  65 
suspend the authorization of a recovery high school not 66 
meeting the requirements of this section or the requirements 67 
of the school's proposal. 68 
     (5)  Pupil attendance, dropout rate, student 69 
performance on statewide assessments, and other data  70 
considered in the Missouri school improvement program and 71 
school accreditation shall not be attributed to the general 72 
accreditation of either a sending district or the district 73 
or districts operating the recovery high school and may be 74 
used by the commissioner only in the renewal process for the 75 
recovery high school as provided in this subsection. 76 
     3.  (1)  A school district may enter into an agreement 77 
with a district or districts operating a recovery high 78    	101 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
school for the enrollment of an e ligible student who is 79 
currently enrolled in or resides in the sending district. 80 
     (2)  A parent or guardian may seek to enroll an 81 
eligible student residing in a sending district in a 82 
recovery high school created under this section.  A student  83 
over eighteen years of age residing in a sending district 84 
may seek to enroll in a recovery high school. 85 
     (3)  An eligible student shall mean a student who is in 86 
recovery from substance use disorder or substance 87 
dependency, or such a condition along with co-occurring  88 
disorders such as anxiety, depression, and attention deficit 89 
hyperactivity disorder, and who is determined by the 90 
recovery high school to be a student who would academically 91 
and clinically benefit from placement in the recovery high 92 
school and is committed to working on the student's 93 
recovery.  The recovery high school shall consider available 94 
information including, but not limited to, any 95 
recommendation of a drug counselor, alcoholism counselor, or 96 
substance abuse counselor licensed o r certified under  97 
applicable laws and regulations. 98 
     (4)  A recovery high school shall not limit or deny 99 
admission to an eligible student based on race, ethnicity, 100 
national origin, disability, income level, proficiency in 101 
the English language, or at hletic ability. 102 
     4.  (1)  The recovery high school shall annually adopt 103 
a policy establishing a tuition rate for its students no 104 
later than February first of the preceding school year. 105 
     (2)  The sending district of an eligible student who is 106 
enrolled in and attending a recovery high school shall pay 107 
tuition to the recovery high school equal to the lesser of: 108 
     (a)  The tuition rate established under subdivision (1) 109 
of this subsection; or 110    	102 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (b)  The state adequacy target, as defined in sec tion  111 
163.011, plus the average sum produced per child by the 112 
local tax effort above the state adequacy target of the 113 
sending district. 114 
     (3)  If costs associated with the provision of special 115 
education and related disability services to the student 116 
exceed the tuition to be paid under subdivision (2) of this 117 
subsection, the sending district shall remain responsible 118 
for paying the excess cost to the recovery high school. 119 
     (4)  The commissioner may enter into an agreement with 120 
the appropriate official or agency of another state to 121 
develop a reciprocity agreement for otherwise eligible, 122 
nonresident students seeking to attend a recovery high 123 
school in this state.  A recovery high school may enroll 124 
otherwise eligible students residing in a state other than  125 
this state as provided in such reciprocity agreement.  Such  126 
reciprocity agreement shall require the out -of-state  127 
student's district of residence to pay to the recovery high 128 
school an annual amount equal to one hundred five percent of 129 
the tuition rate for the recovery high school established 130 
under this subsection.  If an otherwise eligible student 131 
resides in a state that is not subject to a reciprocity 132 
agreement, such student may attend a recovery high school 133 
provided such student pays t o the school one hundred five 134 
percent of the tuition rate for the recovery high school 135 
established under this subsection.  No student enrolled and 136 
attending a recovery high school under this subdivision 137 
shall be included as a resident pupil for any sta te aid  138 
purpose under chapter 163. 139 
     5.  The board, in consultation with the department of 140 
mental health, may promulgate rules to implement the 141 
provisions of this section.  Any rule or portion of a rule, 142    	103 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
as that term is defined in section 536.010, th at is created  143 
under the authority delegated in this section shall become 144 
effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of 145 
the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 146 
536.028.  This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable, and 147 
if any of the powers vested with the general assembly 148 
pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective 149 
date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently 150 
held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking 151 
authority and any rule propose d or adopted after August 28, 152 
2022, shall be invalid and void. 153 
     168.021.  1.  Certificates of license to teach in the 1 
public schools of the state shall be granted as follows: 2 
     (1)  By the state board, under rules and regulations 3 
prescribed by it: 4 
     (a)  Upon the basis of college credit; 5 
     (b)  Upon the basis of examination; 6 
     (2)  By the state board, under rules and regulations 7 
prescribed by the state board with advice from the advisory 8 
council established by section 168. 015 to any individual who 9 
presents to the state board a valid doctoral degree from an 10 
accredited institution of higher education accredited by a 11 
regional accrediting association such as North Central 12 
Association.  Such certificate shall be limited to t he major  13 
area of postgraduate study of the holder, shall be issued 14 
only after successful completion of the examination required 15 
for graduation pursuant to rules adopted by the state board 16 
of education, and shall be restricted to those certificates 17 
established pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection 3 of 18 
this section; 19 
     (3)  By the state board, which shall issue the 20 
professional certificate classification in both the general 21    	104 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
and specialized areas most closely aligned with the current 22 
areas of certification approved by the state board, 23 
commensurate with the years of teaching experience of the 24 
applicant, and based upon the following criteria: 25 
     (a)  Recommendation of a state -approved baccalaureate - 26 
level teacher preparation program; 27 
     (b)  a.  Successful attainment of the Missouri 28 
qualifying score on the exit assessment for teachers or 29 
administrators designated by the state board of education [.]; 30 
     b.  (i)  Applicants who have not successfully achieved 31 
a qualifying score on the design ated examinations will be 32 
issued a two-year nonrenewable provisional certificate ; 33 
     (ii)  During the two-year nonrenewable provisional 34 
certification, an individual teacher may gain full 35 
professional certification by: 36 
     i.  Achieving a qualifying s core on the designated 37 
exam; or 38 
     ii.  Successfully achieving an acceptable score on the 39 
state-approved teacher evaluation system from seven walk - 40 
through evaluations, two formative evaluations, and one 41 
summative evaluation for each of the two probat ionary years  42 
and being offered a third contract by the employing 43 
district.  For any applicant who has a change in job status 44 
because of a reduction in the workforce or a change in life 45 
circumstances, the scores required under this item may be 46 
scores achieved in any school district during the two -year  47 
nonrenewable provisional certification period; and 48 
     (iii)  The employing school district shall recommend to 49 
the department of elementary and secondary education that 50 
the individual teacher be awarde d a full professional 51 
certification by the state board under rules prescribed by 52 
the state board; and 53    	105 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (c)  Upon completion of a background check as 54 
prescribed in section 168.133 and possession of a valid 55 
teaching certificate in the state from whic h the applicant's  56 
teacher preparation program was completed; 57 
     (4)  By the state board, under rules prescribed by it, 58 
on the basis of a relevant bachelor's degree, or higher 59 
degree, and a passing score for the designated exit 60 
examination, for indivi duals whose academic degree and 61 
professional experience are suitable to provide a basis for 62 
instruction solely in the subject matter of banking or 63 
financial responsibility, at the discretion of the state 64 
board.  Such certificate shall be limited to the major area  65 
of study of the holder and shall be restricted to those 66 
certificates established under subdivision (2) of subsection 67 
3 of this section.  Holders of certificates granted under 68 
this subdivision shall be exempt from the teacher tenure act 69 
under sections 168.102 to 168.130 and each school district 70 
shall have the decision -making authority on whether to hire 71 
the holders of such certificates; 72 
     (5)  By the state board, under rules and regulations 73 
prescribed by it, on the basis of certificati on by the  74 
American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence 75 
(ABCTE) and verification of ability to work with children as 76 
demonstrated by sixty contact hours in any one of the 77 
following areas as validated by the school principal:  sixty  78 
contact hours in the classroom, of which at least forty -five  79 
must be teaching; sixty contact hours as a substitute 80 
teacher, with at least thirty consecutive hours in the same 81 
classroom; sixty contact hours of teaching in a private 82 
school; or sixty contact hours of teaching as a  83 
paraprofessional, for an initial four -year ABCTE certificate 84 
of license to teach, except that such certificate shall not 85    	106 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
be granted for the areas of early childhood education, or 86 
special education.  For certification in the area of 87 
elementary education, ninety contact hours in the classroom 88 
shall be required, of which at least thirty shall be in an 89 
elementary classroom.  Upon the completion of the following  90 
requirements [listed in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) of 91 
this subdivision], an applicant shall be eligible to apply 92 
for a career continuous professional certificate under 93 
subdivision (3) of subsection 3 of this section: 94 
     (a)  Completion of thirty contact hours of professional 95 
development within four years, which may in clude hours spent  96 
in class in an appropriate college curriculum; 97 
     (b)  Validated completion of two years of the mentoring 98 
program of the American Board for Certification of Teacher 99 
Excellence or a district mentoring program approved by the 100 
state board of education; 101 
     (c)  Attainment of a successful performance -based  102 
teacher evaluation; and 103 
     (d)  Participation in a beginning teacher assistance 104 
program; or 105 
     (6)  (a)  By the state board, under rules and 106 
regulations prescribed by [it] the board, which shall issue 107 
an initial visiting scholars certificate at the discretion 108 
of the board, based on the following criteria: 109 
     [(a)] a.  Verification from the hiring school district 110 
that the applicant will be employed as part of a business - 111 
education partnership initiative designed to build career 112 
pathways systems or employed as part of an initiative 113 
designed to fill vacant positions in hard -to-staff public  114 
schools or hard-to-fill subject areas for students in a  115 
grade or grades not lower tha n the ninth grade for which the 116    	107 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
applicant's academic degree or professional experience 117 
qualifies [him or her] the applicant; 118 
     [(b)] b.  Appropriate and relevant bachelor's degree or 119 
higher, occupational license, or industry -recognized  120 
credential; 121 
    [(c)] c.  Completion of the application for a one -year  122 
visiting scholars certificate; and 123 
     [(d)] d.  Completion of a background check as 124 
prescribed under section 168.133. 125 
     (b)  The initial visiting scholars certificate shall 126 
certify the holder of such certificate to teach for one 127 
year.  An applicant shall be eligible to renew an initial 128 
visiting scholars certificate a maximum of two times, based 129 
upon the completion of the requirements listed under 130 
[paragraphs (a), (b), and (d) ] subparagraphs a., b., and d. 131 
of paragraph (a) of this subdivision; completion of 132 
professional development required by the school district and 133 
school; and attainment of a satisfactory performance -based  134 
teacher evaluation. 135 
     2.  All valid teaching certificates issued pursuant to 136 
law or state board policies and regulations prior to 137 
September 1, 1988, shall be exempt from the professional 138 
development requirements of this section and shall continue 139 
in effect until they expire, are revoked or suspended, as 140 
provided by law.  When such certificates are required to be 141 
renewed, the state board or its designee shall grant to each 142 
holder of such a certificate the certificate most nearly 143 
equivalent to the one so held.  Anyone who holds, as of 144 
August 28, 2003, a val id PC-I, PC-II, or continuous  145 
professional certificate shall, upon expiration of [his or  146 
her] such person's current certificate, be issued the 147 
appropriate level of certificate based upon the 148    	108 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
classification system established pursuant to subsection 3 149 
of this section. 150 
     3.  (1)  Certificates of license to teach in the public 151 
schools of the state shall be based upon minimum 152 
requirements prescribed by the state board of education 153 
which shall include completion of a background check as 154 
prescribed in section 168.133.  The state board shall 155 
provide for the following levels of professional 156 
certification:  an initial professional certificate and a 157 
career continuous professional certificate. 158 
     (2)  The initial professional certificate shall be 159 
issued upon completion of requirements established by the 160 
state board of education and shall be valid based upon 161 
verification of actual teaching within a specified time 162 
period established by the state board of education.  The  163 
state board shall require holde rs of the four-year initial  164 
professional certificate to: 165 
     (a)  Participate in a mentoring program approved and 166 
provided by the district for a minimum of two years; 167 
     (b)  Complete thirty contact hours of professional 168 
development, which may includ e hours spent in class in an 169 
appropriate college curriculum, or for holders of a 170 
certificate under subdivision (4) of subsection 1 of this 171 
section, an amount of professional development in proportion 172 
to the certificate holder's hours in the classroom, if the  173 
certificate holder is employed less than full time; and 174 
     (c)  Participate in a beginning teacher assistance 175 
program. 176 
     (3)  (a)  The career continuous professional 177 
certificate shall be issued upon verification of completion 178 
of four years of teaching under the initial professional 179 
certificate and upon verification of the completion of the 180    	109 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
requirements articulated in paragraphs (a) [, (b), and] to  181 
(c) of subdivision (2) of this subsection or paragraphs 182 
(a)[, (b), (c), and] to (d) of subdivision (5) of subsection 183 
1 of this section. 184 
     (b)  The career continuous professional certificate 185 
shall be continuous based upon verification of actual 186 
employment in an educational position as provided for in 187 
state board guidelines and completion of fifteen contact  188 
hours of professional development per year which may include 189 
hours spent in class in an appropriate college curriculum.   190 
Should the possessor of a valid career continuous 191 
professional certificate fail, in any given year, to meet 192 
the fifteen-hour professional development requirement, the 193 
possessor may, within two years, make up the missing hours.   194 
In order to make up for missing hours, the possessor shall 195 
first complete the fifteen -hour requirement for the current 196 
year and then may count hours in excess of the current year 197 
requirement as make-up hours.  Should the possessor fail to 198 
make up the missing hours within two years, the certificate 199 
shall become inactive.  In order to reactivate the 200 
certificate, the possessor shall comple te twenty-four  201 
contact hours of professional development which may include 202 
hours spent in the classroom in an appropriate college 203 
curriculum within the six months prior to or after 204 
reactivating [his or her] the possessor's certificate.  The  205 
requirements of this paragraph shall be monitored and 206 
verified by the local school district which employs the 207 
holder of the career continuous professional certificate. 208 
     (c)  A holder of a career continuous professional 209 
certificate shall be exempt from the pro fessional  210 
development contact hour requirements of paragraph (b) of 211 
this subdivision if such teacher has a local professional 212    	110 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
development plan in place within such teacher's school 213 
district and meets two of the three following criteria: 214 
     a.  Has ten years of teaching experience as defined by 215 
the state board of education; 216 
     b.  Possesses a master's degree; or 217 
     c.  Obtains a rigorous national certification as 218 
approved by the state board of education. 219 
     4.  Policies and procedures shall be established by  220 
which a teacher who was not retained due to a reduction in 221 
force may retain the current level of certification.  There  222 
shall also be established policies and procedures allowing a 223 
teacher who has not been employed in an educational posit ion  224 
for three years or more to reactivate [his or her] the  225 
teacher's last level of certification by completing twenty - 226 
four contact hours of professional development which may 227 
include hours spent in the classroom in an appropriate 228 
college curriculum wi thin the six months prior to or after 229 
reactivating [his or her] the teacher's certificate. 230 
     5.  The state board shall, upon completion of a 231 
background check as prescribed in section 168.133, issue a 232 
professional certificate classification in the are as most  233 
closely aligned with an applicant's current areas of 234 
certification, commensurate with the years of teaching 235 
experience of the applicant, to any person who is hired to 236 
teach in a public school in this state and who possesses a 237 
valid teaching certificate from another state or 238 
certification under subdivision (4) of subsection 1 of this 239 
section, provided that the certificate holder shall annually 240 
complete the state board's requirements for such level of 241 
certification, and shall establish polici es by which  242 
residents of states other than the state of Missouri may be 243 
assessed a fee for a certificate of license to teach in the 244    	111 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
public schools of Missouri.  Such fee shall be in an amount 245 
sufficient to recover any or all costs associated with the 246 
issuing of a certificate of license to teach.  The board  247 
shall promulgate rules to authorize the issuance of a 248 
provisional certificate of license, which shall be valid for 249 
three years and shall allow the holder to assume classroom 250 
duties pending the co mpletion of a criminal background check 251 
under section 168.133, for any applicant who: 252 
     (1)  Is the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces 253 
stationed in Missouri; 254 
     (2)  Relocated from another state within one year of 255 
the date of application; 256 
     (3)  Underwent a criminal background check in order to 257 
be issued a teaching certificate of license from another 258 
state; and 259 
     (4)  Otherwise qualifies under this section. 260 
     6.  The state board may assess to holders of an initial 261 
professional certificate a fee, to be deposited into the 262 
excellence in education [revolving] fund established  263 
pursuant to section 160.268, for the issuance of the career 264 
continuous professional certificate.  However, such fee  265 
shall not exceed the combined costs of issuan ce and any  266 
criminal background check required as a condition of 267 
issuance.  Applicants for the initial ABCTE certificate 268 
shall be responsible for any fees associated with the 269 
program leading to the issuance of the certificate, but 270 
nothing in this secti on shall prohibit a district from 271 
developing a policy that permits fee reimbursement. 272 
     7.  Any member of the public school retirement system 273 
of Missouri who entered covered employment with ten or more 274 
years of educational experience in another state or states  275 
and held a certificate issued by another state and 276    	112 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
subsequently worked in a school district covered by the 277 
public school retirement system of Missouri for ten or more 278 
years who later became certificated in Missouri shall have 279 
that certificate dated back to [his or her] the member's  280 
original date of employment in a Missouri public school. 281 
     8.  Within thirty days of receiving an application from 282 
a spouse of an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the 283 
United States who has been tran sferred or is scheduled to be 284 
transferred to the state of Missouri, or who has been 285 
transferred or is scheduled to be transferred to an adjacent 286 
state and is or will be domiciled in the state of Missouri, 287 
or has moved to the state of Missouri on a perm anent change- 288 
of-station basis and has successfully completed the 289 
background check described under subsection 5 of this 290 
section and section 168.133, the state board shall issue to 291 
such applicant a full certificate of license to teach, 292 
provided that the applicant has paid all necessary fees and 293 
has otherwise met all requirements to be issued such a 294 
certificate. 295 
     168.036.  1.  In addition to granting certificates of 1 
license to teach in public schools of the state under 2 
section 168.021, the state board of education shall grant 3 
substitute teacher certificates as provided in this section 4 
to any individual seeking to substitute teach in any public 5 
school in this state. 6 
     2.  (1)  The state board shall not grant a certificate 7 
of license to teach under this section to any individual who 8 
has not completed a background check as required under 9 
section 168.021. 10 
     (2)  The state board may refuse to issue or renew, 11 
suspend, or revoke any certificate sought or issued under 12    	113 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
this section in the same manner and for the same reasons as 13 
under section 168.071. 14 
     3.  The state board may grant a certificate under this 15 
section to any individual who has completed: 16 
     (1)  At least thirty-six semester hours at an 17 
accredited institution of higher education; or 18 
     (2)  The twenty-hour online training program required 19 
in this section and who possesses a high school diploma or 20 
the equivalent thereof. 21 
     4.  The department of elementary and secondary 22 
education shall develop and maintain an online training 23 
program for individuals, which shall consist of twenty hours 24 
of training related to subjects appropriate for substitute 25 
teachers as determined by the department. 26 
     5.  The state board may grant a certificate under this 27 
section to any highly qualified individual with expertise in 28 
a technical or business field or with experience in the 29 
Armed Forces of the United States who has completed the 30 
background check required in this section but does not meet 31 
any of the qualifications unde r subdivision (1) or (2) of 32 
subsection 3 of this section if the superintendent of the 33 
school district in which the individual seeks to substitute 34 
teach sponsors such individual and the school board of the 35 
school district in which the individual seeks t o substitute  36 
teach votes to approve such individual to substitute teach. 37 
     6.  (1)  Notwithstanding any other provisions to 38 
contrary, beginning on the effective date of this section 39 
and ending on June 30, 2025, any person, who is retired and 40 
currently receiving a retirement allowance under sections 41 
169.010 to 169.141 or sections 169.600 to 169.715, other 42 
than for disability, may be employed to substitute teach on 43 
a part time or temporary substitute basis by an employer 44    	114 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
included in the retirement system without a discontinuance 45 
of the person's retirement allowance. Such a person shall 46 
not contribute to the retirement system, or to the public 47 
school retirement system established by sections 169.010 to 48 
169.141 or to the public education employee retirement  49 
system established by sections 169.600 to 169.715, because 50 
of earnings during such period of employment. 51 
     (2)  In addition to the conditions set forth in 52 
subdivision 1 of this subsection, any person retired and 53 
currently receiving a reti rement allowance under sections 54 
169.010 to 169.141, other than for disability, who is 55 
employed by a third party or is performing work as an 56 
independent contractor may be employed to substitute teach 57 
on a part-time or temporary substitute basis, if such person  58 
is performing work for an employer included in the 59 
retirement system without a discontinuance of the person's 60 
retirement allowance. 61 
     (3)  If a person is employed pursuant to this 62 
subsection on a regular, full -time basis the person shall 63 
not be entitled to receive the person's retirement allowance 64 
for any month during which the person is so employed.  The  65 
retirement system may require the employer, the third -party  66 
employer, the independent contractor, and the retiree 67 
subject to this subsection to provide documentation showing 68 
compliance with this subsection.  If such documentation is 69 
not provided, the retirement system may deem the retiree to 70 
have exceeded the limitations provided in this subsection. 71 
     7.  A certificate granted und er this section shall be 72 
valid for four years.  A certificate granted under this 73 
section shall expire at the end of any calendar year in 74 
which the individual fails to substitute teach for at least 75 
five days or forty hours of in -seat instruction. 76    	115 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     8.  (1)  An individual to whom the state board grants a 77 
certificate under this section may be a substitute teacher 78 
in a public school in the state if the school district 79 
agrees to employ the individual as a substitute teacher and 80 
such individual has com pleted a background check as required 81 
in subsection 10 of this section. 82 
     (2)  No individual to whom the state board grants a 83 
certificate under this section and who is under twenty years 84 
of age shall be a substitute teacher in grades nine to 85 
twelve. 86 
     9.  Each school district may develop an orientation for 87 
individuals to whom the state board grants a certificate 88 
under this section for such individuals employed by the 89 
school district and may require such individuals to complete 90 
such orientation.  Such orientation shall contain at least 91 
two hours of subjects appropriate for substitute teachers 92 
and shall contain instruction on the school district's best 93 
practices for classroom management. 94 
     10.  Beginning January 1, 2023, any substitute teac her  95 
may, at the time such substitute teacher submits the 96 
fingerprints and information required for the background 97 
check required under section 168.021, designate up to five 98 
school districts to which such substitute teacher has 99 
submitted an application for substitute teaching to receive 100 
the results of the substitute teacher's criminal history 101 
background check and fingerprint collection.  The total  102 
amount of any fees for disseminating such results to up to 103 
five school districts under this subsection shall not exceed  104 
fifty dollars. 105 
     11.  The state board may exercise the board's authority 106 
under chapter 161 to promulgate all necessary rules and 107 
regulations necessary for the administration of this section. 108    	116 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     168.037.  1.  The department of elementary and 1 
secondary education shall create and maintain a web -based  2 
survey for collecting anonymous information from substitute 3 
teachers in Missouri public schools.  The survey will  4 
collect anonymous, nonbiased, real -time data that school  5 
districts, charter schools, and the state can access to 6 
study and improve the effectiveness of substitute teachers 7 
in supporting instruction and learning and to improve 8 
circumstances that may cause a shortage of available 9 
substitute teachers. 10 
     2.  (1)  Each substitute teacher in a public school 11 
shall complete the survey described in subsection 1 of this 12 
section at the end of each day of teaching.  The district or  13 
charter school in which the substitute teacher is teaching 14 
for that day shall pro vide, by email, a web link to the 15 
survey.  If needed, the district or charter school shall 16 
also provide brief access to a computer or other connected 17 
device sufficient to allow the survey to be completed.  The  18 
survey can also be completed on -site by the substitute  19 
teacher using a personal device. 20 
     (2)  The survey described in subsection 1 of this 21 
section shall include, at a minimum, questions regarding:   22 
the age and level of education of the substitute teacher, 23 
the date of teaching, the district and school, the grade or 24 
grades taught, information about support and interaction 25 
with school staff, any student health or safety issues 26 
experienced, and rate of substitute teacher pay. 27 
     3.  Districts and charter schools shall annually 28 
provide information to the department of elementary and 29 
secondary education regarding:  use of third-party  30 
employment agencies for substitute teachers, daily rate of 31 
substitute teacher pay, employment of full -time and part- 32    	117 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
time substitute teachers, substitute tea cher recruitment  33 
efforts, the substitute teacher interview process, and use 34 
of current school staff as substitute teachers during other 35 
assigned time. 36 
     168.205.  1.  Notwithstanding any provision of law to 1 
the contrary, two or more sc hool districts may share a 2 
superintendent who possesses a valid Missouri 3 
superintendent's license.  If any school districts choose to 4 
share a superintendent, they shall not be required to 5 
receive approval from the department of elementary and 6 
secondary education but may notify the department. 7 
     2.  (1)  Beginning July 1, 2023, subject to 8 
appropriation, a school district that enters into an 9 
agreement with another school district to share a 10 
superintendent shall receive additional state aid under th is  11 
subsection. 12 
     (2)  The department of elementary and secondary 13 
education shall annually distribute thirty thousand dollars 14 
to any school district that shares a superintendent under 15 
this subsection.  Any such amount distributed to a school 16 
district shall be in addition to and shall not be included 17 
in any calculation of state aid under chapter 163. 18 
     (3)  To receive the additional thirty thousand dollars 19 
under this subsection, the school district shall provide 20 
proof to the department of elemen tary and secondary 21 
education that the school district will use all of the 22 
additional thirty thousand dollars received under this 23 
subsection and at least half of the amount saved as a result 24 
of participating in sharing a superintendent under this 25 
subsection to compensate teachers or to provide counseling 26 
services. 27    	118 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (4)  No school district that receives additional 28 
funding under this subsection shall receive such funding for 29 
more than five years. 30 
     168.500.  1.  For the purpose of providing career pay, 1 
which shall be a salary supplement, for public school 2 
teachers, which for the purpose of sections 168.500 to 3 
168.515 shall include classroom teachers, librarians, school 4 
counselors and certificated teachers who hold positions as 5 
school psychological examiners, parents as teachers 6 
educators, school psychologists, special education 7 
diagnosticians and speech pathologists, and are on the 8 
district salary schedule, there is hereby created and 9 
established a career advancement program which shall be  10 
known as the "Missouri Career Development and Teacher 11 
Excellence Plan", hereinafter known as the "career plan or 12 
program".  Participation by local school districts in the 13 
career advancement program established under this section 14 
shall be voluntary.  The career advancement program is a 15 
matching fund program.  The general assembly may make an 16 
annual appropriation to the excellence in education fund 17 
established under section 160.268 for the purpose of 18 
providing the state's portion for the career advancement 19 
program.  The "Career Ladder Forward Funding Fund" is hereby 20 
established in the state treasury.  Beginning with fiscal 21 
year 1998 and until the career ladder forward funding fund 22 
is terminated pursuant to this subsection, the gene ral  23 
assembly may appropriate funds to the career ladder forward 24 
funding fund.  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 25 
33.080 to the contrary, moneys in the fund shall not be 26 
transferred to the credit of the general revenue fund at the 27 
end of the biennium.  All interest or other gain received 28 
from investment of moneys in the fund shall be credited to 29    	119 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
the fund.  All funds deposited in the fund shall be 30 
maintained in the fund until such time as the balance in the 31 
fund at the end of the fiscal year is equal to or greater 32 
than the appropriation for the career ladder program for the 33 
following year, at which time all such revenues shall be 34 
used to fund, in advance, the career ladder program for such 35 
following year and the career ladder forward fundi ng fund  36 
shall thereafter be terminated. 37 
     2.  The department of elementary and secondary 38 
education, at the direction of the commissioner of 39 
education, shall study and develop model career plans which 40 
shall be made available to the local school distr icts.   41 
These state model career plans shall: 42 
     (1)  Contain three steps or stages of career 43 
advancement; 44 
     (2)  Contain a detailed procedure for the admission of 45 
teachers to the career program; 46 
     (3)  Contain specific criteria for career step 47 
qualifications and attainment.  These criteria shall clearly 48 
describe the minimum number of professional responsibilities 49 
required of the teacher at each stage of the plan and shall 50 
include reference to classroom performance evaluations 51 
performed pursuant to section 168.128 .  The criteria may  52 
include, but shall not be limited to, teacher externships as 53 
provided in section 168.025 ; 54 
     (4)  Be consistent with the teacher certification 55 
process recommended by the Missouri advisory council of 56 
certification for educators and adopted by the department of 57 
elementary and secondary education; 58 
     (5)  Provide that public school teachers in Missouri 59 
shall become eligible to apply for admission to the career 60 
plans adopted under sections 168.500 to 168.515 after [five]  61    	120 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
two years of public school teaching in Missouri.  All  62 
teachers seeking admission to any career plan shall, as a 63 
minimum, meet the requirements necessary to obtain the first 64 
renewable professional certificate as provided in section 65 
168.021; 66 
     (6)  Provide procedures for appealing decisions made 67 
under career plans established under sections 168.500 to 68 
168.515. 69 
     3.  School district career plans shall recognize 70 
additional responsibilities and volunteer efforts by 71 
teachers in formulating criteria for career ladder admission 72 
and stage achievement.  Such additional responsibilities and 73 
volunteer efforts shall be required to occur outside of 74 
compensated hours and may include, but shall not be limited 75 
to: 76 
     (1)  Serving as a coach, supervisor, or organizer for 77 
any extracurricular activity for which the teacher does not 78 
already receive additional compensation; 79 
     (2)  Serving as a mentor for students, whether in a 80 
formal or informal capacity; 81 
     (3)  Receiving additional teach er training or  82 
certification outside of that offered by the school district; 83 
     (4)  Serving as a tutor or providing additional 84 
learning opportunities to students; and 85 
     (5)  Assisting students with postsecondary education 86 
preparation including, bu t not limited to, teaching an ACT 87 
or SAT preparation course or assisting students with 88 
completing college or career school admission or financial 89 
assistance applications. 90 
     4.  The commissioner of education shall cause the 91 
department of elementary a nd secondary education to 92 
establish guidelines for all career plans established under 93    	121 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
this section, and criteria that must be met by any school 94 
district which seeks funding for its career plan. 95 
     [4.] 5.  A participating local school district may hav e  96 
the option of implementing a career plan developed by the 97 
department of elementary and secondary education or a local 98 
plan which has been developed with advice from teachers 99 
employed by the district and which has met with the approval 100 
of the department of elementary and secondary education.  In  101 
approving local career plans, the department of elementary 102 
and secondary education may consider provisions in the plan 103 
of the local district for recognition of teacher mobility 104 
from one district to another within this state. 105 
     [5.] 6.  The career plans of local school districts 106 
shall not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, 107 
national origin, color, creed, or age.  Participation in the 108 
career plan of a local school district is optional, and any  109 
teacher who declines to participate shall not be penalized 110 
in any way. 111 
     [6.] 7.  In order to receive funds under this section, 112 
a school district which is not subject to section 162.920 113 
must have a total levy for operating purposes which is in 114 
excess of the amount allowed in Section 11(b) of Article X 115 
of the Missouri Constitution; and a school district which is 116 
subject to section 162.920 must have a total levy for 117 
operating purposes which is equal to or in excess of twenty - 118 
five cents on each hundred dollars of assessed valuation. 119 
     [7.] 8.  The commissioner of education shall cause the 120 
department of elementary and secondary education to regard a 121 
speech pathologist who holds both a valid certificate of 122 
license to teach and a certificate of clinical competence to 123 
have fulfilled the standards required to be placed on stage 124 
III of the career program, provided that such speech 125    	122 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
pathologist has been employed by a public school in Missouri 126 
for at least [five] two years and is approved for p lacement  127 
at such stage III by the local school district. 128 
     [8.] 9.  Beginning in fiscal year 2012, the state 129 
portion of career ladder payments shall only be made 130 
available to local school districts if the general assembly 131 
makes an appropriation for such program.  Payments  132 
authorized under sections 168.500 to 168.515 shall only be 133 
made available in a year for which a state appropriation is 134 
made.  Any state appropriation shall be made prospectively 135 
in relation to the year in which work under the pr ogram is  136 
performed. 137 
     [9.] 10.  Nothing in this section shall be construed to 138 
prohibit a local school district from funding the program 139 
for its teachers for work performed in years for which no 140 
state appropriation is made available. 141 
    168.515.  1.  Each teacher selected to participate in a 1 
career plan established under sections 168.500 to 168.515, 2 
who meets the requirements of such plan, may receive a 3 
salary supplement, the state's share of which shall be 4 
distributed under sectio n 163.031, equal to the following 5 
amounts applied to the career ladder entitlement of section 6 
163.031: 7 
     (1)  Career stage I teachers may receive up to an 8 
additional one thousand five hundred dollars per school year; 9 
     (2)  Career stage II teacher s may receive up to an 10 
additional three thousand dollars per school year; 11 
     (3)  Career stage III teachers may receive up to an 12 
additional five thousand dollars per school year.  All  13 
teachers within each stage within the same school district 14 
shall receive equal salary supplements. 15    	123 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     2.  The state may make payments pursuant to section 16 
163.031 to the local school district for the purpose of 17 
providing funding to the local school district for the 18 
payment of any salary supplements provided for in th is  19 
section, subject to the availability of funds as 20 
appropriated each year and distributed on a matching basis 21 
where the percentage of state funding shall be [forty] sixty  22 
percent and the percentage of local funding shall be [sixty]  23 
forty percent. 24 
    3.  Not less than every fourth year, beginning with 25 
calendar year 1988, the general assembly, through the joint 26 
committee established under section 160.254, shall review 27 
the amount of the career pay provided for in this section to 28 
determine if any increases are necessary to reflect the 29 
increases in the cost of living which have occurred since 30 
the salary supplements were last reviewed or set. 31 
     4.  To participate in the salary supplement program 32 
established under this section, a school district m ay submit  33 
to the voters of the district a proposition to increase 34 
taxes for this purpose.  If a school district's current tax 35 
rate ceiling is at or above the rate from which an increase 36 
would require a two-thirds majority, the school board may 37 
submit to the voters of the district a proposition to reduce 38 
or eliminate the amount of the levy reduction resulting from 39 
section 164.013.  If a majority of the voters voting thereon 40 
vote in favor of the proposition, the board may certify that 41 
seventy-five percent of the revenue generated from this 42 
source shall be used to implement the salary supplement 43 
program established under this section. 44 
     5.  In no case shall a school district use state funds 45 
received under this section nor local revenue generated from  46 
a tax established under subsection 4 of this section to 47    	124 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
comply with the minimum salary requirements for teachers 48 
established pursuant to section 163.172. 49 
     170.014.  1.  This section shall be known as the 1 
"Reading Instruction Act" and is enacted to ensure that all 2 
public schools including charter schools establish reading  3 
programs in kindergarten through grade [three] five based in  4 
scientific research.  "Evidence-based reading instruction" 5 
includes practices that have been prov en effective through 6 
evaluation of the outcomes for large numbers of students and 7 
are highly likely to be effective in improving reading if 8 
implemented with fidelity.  Such programs shall include the 9 
essential components of phonemic awareness, phonics,  10 
fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, and all new teachers 11 
who teach reading in kindergarten through grade three shall 12 
receive adequate training in these areas. 13 
     2.  [The program described in subsection 1 of this 14 
section may include "explicit sy stematic phonics", which, 15 
for the purposes of this section, shall mean the methodology 16 
of pronouncing and reading words by learning the phonetic 17 
sound association of individual letters, letter groups, and 18 
syllables, and the principles governing these a ssociations. 19 
     3.]  Every public school in the state shall offer a 20 
reading program as described in subsection 1 of this section 21 
for kindergarten through grade [three] five. 22 
     170.018.  1.  (1)  For purposes of this section, 1 
"computer science course" means a course in which students 2 
study computers and algorithmic processes, including their 3 
principles, hardware and software designs, implementation, 4 
and impact on society.  The term shall include, but not be 5 
limited to, a stand-alone course at any elementary, middle, 6 
or high school or a course at any elementary or middle 7    	125 
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school that embeds computer science content within other 8 
subjects. 9 
     (2)  The department of elementary and secondary 10 
education shall, before July 1, 2019, deve lop a high school  11 
graduation policy that allows a student to fulfill one unit 12 
of academic credit with a district -approved computer science 13 
course meeting the standards of subsection 2 of this section 14 
for any mathematics, science, or practical arts unit  15 
required for high school graduation.  The policy shall  16 
require that all students have either taken all courses that 17 
require end-of-course examinations for math and science or 18 
are on track to take all courses that require end -of-course  19 
examinations for math and science under the Missouri school 20 
improvement program in order to receive credit toward high 21 
school graduation under this subsection. 22 
     (3)  A school district shall communicate to students 23 
electing to use a computer science course for a ma thematics  24 
unit that some institutions of higher education may require 25 
four units of academic credit in mathematics for college 26 
admission.  The parent, guardian, or legal custodian of each 27 
student who chooses to take a computer science course to 28 
fulfill a unit of academic credit in mathematics shall sign 29 
and submit to the school district a document containing a 30 
statement acknowledging that taking a computer science 31 
course to fulfill a unit of academic credit in mathematics 32 
may have an adverse effect on college admission decisions. 33 
     (4)  The department of elementary and secondary 34 
education and the department of higher education and 35 
workforce development shall cooperate in developing and 36 
implementing academic requirements for computer science 37 
courses offered in any grade or grades not lower than the 38 
ninth nor higher than the twelfth grade. 39    	126 
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     2.  (1)  The department of elementary and secondary 40 
education shall convene a work group to develop and 41 
recommend rigorous academic performance standa rds relating  42 
to computer science for students in kindergarten and in each 43 
grade not higher than the twelfth grade.  The work group  44 
shall include, but not be limited to, educators providing 45 
instruction in kindergarten or in any grade not higher than 46 
the twelfth grade and representatives from the department of 47 
elementary and secondary education, the department of higher 48 
education and workforce development, business and industry, 49 
and institutions of higher education.  The department of  50 
elementary and secondary education shall develop written 51 
curriculum frameworks relating to computer science that may 52 
be used by school districts.  The requirements of section 53 
160.514 shall not apply to this section. 54 
     (2)  The state board of education shall adopt a nd  55 
implement academic performance standards relating to 56 
computer science beginning in the 2019 -20 school year. 57 
     3.  Before July 1, 2019, the department of elementary 58 
and secondary education shall develop a procedure by which 59 
any teacher who holds a certificate of license to teach 60 
under section 168.021 and demonstrates sufficient content 61 
knowledge of computer science shall receive a special 62 
endorsement on [his or her] the teacher's license signifying 63 
[his or her] the teacher's specialized knowledge in computer  64 
science. 65 
     4.  (1)  For purposes of this subsection, "eligible 66 
entity" means: 67 
     (a)  A local educational agency, or a consortium of 68 
local educational agencies, in the state, including charter 69 
schools that have declared themselves l ocal educational  70 
agencies; 71    	127 
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     (b)  An institution of higher education in the state; or 72 
     (c)  A nonprofit or private provider of nationally 73 
recognized and high-quality computer science professional 74 
development, as determined by the department of el ementary  75 
and secondary education. 76 
     (2)  There is hereby created in the state treasury the 77 
"Computer Science Education Fund".  The fund shall consist 78 
of all moneys that may be appropriated to it by the general 79 
assembly and any gifts, contributions, grants, or bequests 80 
received from private or other sources for the purpose of 81 
providing teacher professional development programs relating 82 
to computer science.  The state treasurer shall be custodian 83 
of the fund.  In accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180,  84 
the state treasurer may approve disbursements.  The fund  85 
shall be a dedicated fund and, upon appropriation, moneys in 86 
the fund shall be used solely for the administration of 87 
grants to eligible entities as described in this section.   88 
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the 89 
contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the 90 
biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general 91 
revenue fund.  The state treasurer shall invest moneys in 92 
the fund in the same manner as other funds are invested.   93 
Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be 94 
credited to the fund. 95 
     (3)  The state board of education shall award grants 96 
from the computer science education fund to eligible 97 
entities for the purpose of prov iding teacher professional 98 
development programs relating to computer science.  An  99 
eligible entity wishing to receive such a grant shall submit 100 
an application to the department of elementary and secondary 101 
education addressing how the entity plans to: 102    	128 
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    (a)  Reach new and existing teachers with little 103 
computer science background; 104 
     (b)  Use effective practices for professional 105 
development; 106 
     (c)  Focus the training on the conceptual foundations 107 
of computer science; 108 
     (d)  Reach and support historically underrepresented 109 
students in computer science; 110 
     (e)  Provide teachers with concrete experience with 111 
hands-on, inquiry-based practices; and 112 
     (f)  Accommodate the particular needs of students and 113 
teachers in each district and school. 114 
     5.  (1)  For all school years beginning on or after 115 
July 1, 2023, each public high school and charter high 116 
school shall offer at least one computer science course in 117 
an in-person setting or as a virtual or distance course 118 
option. 119 
     (2)  Any computer science course or instruction offered 120 
under this subsection shall: 121 
     (a)  Be of high quality as defined by the state board 122 
of education; 123 
     (b)  Meet or exceed the computer science performance 124 
standards developed and adopted by the department of  125 
elementary and secondary education under this section; and 126 
     (c)  For any computer science course offered by a 127 
public high school or charter high school, be offered in 128 
such school's course catalog. 129 
     (3)  On or before June thirtieth of each sc hool year,  130 
each school district shall submit to the department of 131 
elementary and secondary education a report for the current 132 
school year which shall include, but not be limited to: 133    	129 
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     (a)  The names and course codes of computer science 134 
courses offered in each school in the district with a course 135 
description and which computer science performance standards 136 
are covered, to the extent such information is available; 137 
     (b)  The number and percentage of students who enrolled 138 
in each computer science course, listed by the categories in 139 
subparagraphs a. to f. of this paragraph.  If a category  140 
contains one to five students or contains a quantity of 141 
students that would allow the quantity of another category 142 
that contains five or fewer to be deduced, t he number shall  143 
be replaced with a symbol: 144 
     a.  Sex; 145 
     b.  Race and ethnicity; 146 
     c.  Special education status including, but not limited 147 
to, students receiving services under the federal 148 
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (20 149 
U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq., as amended) or Section 504 of 150 
the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 151 
794), as amended; 152 
     d.  English language learner status; 153 
     e.  Eligibility for free or reduced price meals; and 154 
     f.  Grade level; and 155 
     (c)  The number of computer science instructors at each 156 
school, listed by the following categories: 157 
     a.  Applicable certifications; 158 
     b.  Sex; 159 
     c.  Race and ethnicity; and 160 
     d.  Highest academic degree. 161 
     (4)  On or before September thirtieth of each school 162 
year, the department of elementary and secondary education 163 
shall post the following on the department's website: 164    	130 
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     (a)  Data received under paragraphs (a) and (b) of 165 
subdivision (3) of this subsection, disaggregated by school  166 
and aggregated statewide; and 167 
     (b)  Data received under paragraph (c) of subdivision 168 
(3) of this subsection, aggregated statewide. 169 
     (5)  On or before June thirtieth of each school year, 170 
the department of elementary and secondary educatio n shall  171 
publish a list of computer science course codes and names 172 
with a course description and an indication of which courses 173 
meet or exceed the department of elementary and secondary 174 
education's computer science performance standards. 175 
     6.  The department of elementary and secondary 176 
education shall appoint a computer science supervisor.  The  177 
computer science supervisor shall be responsible for 178 
implementing the provisions of this section. 179 
     7.  For all school years beginning on or after July 1 ,  180 
2023, a computer science course successfully completed and 181 
counted toward state graduation requirements shall be 182 
equivalent to one science course or one practical arts 183 
credit for the purpose of satisfying any admission 184 
requirements of any public ins titution of higher education 185 
in this state. 186 
     8.  The department of elementary and secondary 187 
education shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions 188 
of this section.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that 189 
term is defined in section 536.010, th at is created under 190 
the authority delegated in this section shall become 191 
effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of 192 
the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 193 
536.028.  This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable, and 194 
if any of the powers vested with the general assembly 195 
pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective 196    	131 
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date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently 197 
held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking 198 
authority and any rule propose d or adopted after December 199 
18, 2018, shall be invalid and void. 200 
     170.036.  1.  There is hereby established the "Computer 1 
Science Education Task Force" within the department of 2 
elementary and secondary education. 3 
     2.  The task force shall consist of the following 4 
members: 5 
     (1)  Two members of the house of representatives, with 6 
one member to be appointed by the speaker of the house of 7 
representatives and one member to be appointed by the 8 
minority leader of the house of repres entatives; 9 
     (2)  Two members of the senate, with one member to be 10 
appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate and one 11 
member to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 12 
     (3)  The governor or the governor's designee; 13 
     (4)  The commissioner of education or the 14 
commissioner's designee; 15 
     (5)  The commissioner of higher education or the 16 
commissioner's designee; 17 
     (6)  Nine members who represent the interests of each 18 
of the following groups, to be appointed by the commis sioner  19 
of education: 20 
     (a)  The state board of education; 21 
     (b)  Private industry in this state with interest in 22 
computer science; 23 
     (c)  Nonprofit organizations; 24 
     (d)  An association of school superintendents; 25 
     (e)  A statewide associat ion representing computer 26 
science teachers; 27    	132 
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     (f)  A secondary teacher leader from career and 28 
technical education representing computer science teachers; 29 
     (g) An association of school board members; 30 
     (h)  An association of elementary school pr incipals; and 31 
     (i)  An association of secondary school principals; 32 
     (7)  A representative from a Missouri institution of 33 
higher education, to be appointed by the commissioner of 34 
higher education; and 35 
     (8)  A representative from a Missouri pri vate,  36 
nonprofit institution of higher education, to be appointed 37 
by the commissioner of higher education. 38 
     3.  The mission of the computer science education task 39 
force shall be to develop a state strategic plan for 40 
expanding a statewide computer sc ience education program, 41 
including the following: 42 
     (1)  A statement of purpose that describes the 43 
objectives or goals the state board of education will 44 
accomplish by implementing a computer science education 45 
program, the strategies by which those g oals will be  46 
achieved, and a timeline for achieving those goals; 47 
     (2)  A summary of the current state landscape for K -12  48 
computer science education, including demographic reporting 49 
of students taking these courses; 50 
     (3)  A plan for expanding com puter science education 51 
opportunities to every school in the state within five years 52 
and increasing the representation of students from 53 
traditionally underserved groups, in computer science 54 
including female students, students from historically 55 
underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, students with 56 
disabilities, English -language learner students, students 57 
who qualify for free and reduced -price meals, and rural 58 
students; 59    	133 
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     (4)  Within one year of the task force forming, a plan 60 
for schools serving any student in grades kindergarten 61 
through eighth grade to provide instruction in the basics of 62 
computer science and computation thinking in an integrated   63 
or standalone format beginning in the 2024 -25 school year   64 
without creating learning loss in t he existing curriculum; 65 
     (5)  A plan for ensuring teachers are well -prepared to   66 
begin teaching computer science, including defining high 67 
quality professional learning for in -service teachers and 68 
strategies for pre-service teacher preparation; 69 
     (6)  A plan for ensuring teachers are well -prepared to  70 
begin teaching computer science, including defining high - 71 
quality professional learning for in -service teachers and 72 
strategies for pre-service teacher preparation; 73 
     (7)  An ongoing evaluation pro cess that is overseen by 74 
the state board of education; 75 
     (8)  Proposed rules that incorporate the principles of 76 
the master plan into the state's public education system as 77 
a whole; and 78 
     (9)  A plan to ensure long -term sustainability for 79 
computer science education. 80 
     4.  The speaker of the house of representatives shall 81 
designate the chair of the task force, and the president pro 82 
tempore of the senate shall designate the vice chair of the 83 
task force. 84 
     5.  Members of the task force shall serve without  85 
compensation, but the members and any staff assigned to the 86 
task force shall receive reimbursement for actual and 87 
necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings of the 88 
task force or any subcommittee thereof.  All task force  89 
members shall be subject to the same conflict of interest 90 
provisions in chapter 105 that are enforced by the Missouri 91    	134 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
ethics commission in the same manner that elected or 92 
appointed officials and employees are subject to such 93 
provisions. 94 
     6.  The task force shall hold its first meeting within 95 
three months from the effective date of this section. 96 
     7.  Before June 30, 2023, the task force shall present 97 
a summary of its activities and any recommendations for 98 
legislation to the general assembly. 99 
     8.  The computer science education task force shall 100 
dissolve on June 30, 2024. 101 
     170.047.  1.  This section shall be known and may be 1 
cited as the "Jason Flatt/Avery Reine Cantor Act". 2 
     2.  (1)  Beginning in the 2017 -18 school year and  3 
continuing until the end of the 2022 -23 school year, any  4 
licensed educator may annually complete up to two hours of 5 
training or professional development in youth suicide 6 
awareness and prevention as part of the professional 7 
development hours required for state board of education 8 
certification. 9 
     (2)  Beginning in the 2023 -24 school year and 10 
continuing in subsequent school years, the practicing 11 
teacher assistance programs established under section 12 
168.400 may offer and include at least two hours of i n- 13 
service training provided by each local school district for 14 
all practicing teachers in such district regarding suicide 15 
prevention.  Each school year, all teachers, principals, and 16 
licensed educators in each district may attend such training 17 
or complete training on suicide prevention through self - 18 
review of suicide prevention materials.  Attendance at the  19 
training shall count as two contact hours of professional 20 
development under section 168.021 and shall count as two 21 
hours of any other such traini ng required under this section. 22    	135 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     [2.] 3.  The department of elementary and secondary 23 
education shall develop guidelines suitable for training or 24 
professional development in youth suicide awareness and 25 
prevention.  The department [shall] may develop materials  26 
that may be used for [such] the training [or professional  27 
development] described under subsection 2 of this section or 28 
may offer districts materials developed by a third party 29 
that districts may use for the training . 30 
     [3.] 4.  For purposes of this section, the term 31 
"licensed educator" shall refer to any teacher with a 32 
certificate of license to teach issued by the state board of 33 
education or any other educator or administrator required to 34 
maintain a professional license issued by the st ate board of  35 
education. 36 
     [4.] 5.  The department of elementary and secondary 37 
education may promulgate rules and regulations to implement 38 
this section. 39 
     [5.] 6.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is 40 
defined in section 536.010, that is created under the  41 
authority delegated in this section shall become effective 42 
only if it complies with and is subject to all of the 43 
provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 44 
536.028.  This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and 45 
if any of the powers vested with the general assembly 46 
pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective 47 
date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently 48 
held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking 49 
authority and any rule proposed or ad opted after August 28, 50 
2016, shall be invalid and void. 51 
     170.048.  1.  By July 1, 2018, each district shall 1 
adopt a policy for youth suicide awareness and prevention, 2    	136 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
including plans for how the district will provide for the 3 
training and education of its district employees. 4 
     2.  Each district's policy shall address and include, 5 
but not be limited to, the following: 6 
     (1)  Strategies that can help identify students who are 7 
at possible risk of suicide; 8 
     (2)  Strategies and protocols for helping students at 9 
possible risk of suicide; and 10 
     (3)  Protocols for responding to a suicide death. 11 
     3.  By July 1, 2017, the department of elementary and 12 
secondary education shall develop a model policy that 13 
districts may adopt.  When developing the model policy, the 14 
department shall cooperate, consult with, and seek input 15 
from organizations that have expertise in youth suicide 16 
awareness and prevention.  By July 1, 2021, and at least 17 
every three years thereafter, the department shall request  18 
information and seek feedback from districts on their 19 
experience with the policy for youth suicide awareness and 20 
prevention.  The department shall review this information 21 
and may use it to adapt the department's model policy.  The  22 
department shall post any information on its website that it 23 
has received from districts that it deems relevant.  The  24 
department shall not post any confidential information or 25 
any information that personally identifies any student or 26 
school employee. 27 
     4.  (1)  Beginning July 1, 2023, a public school or 28 
charter school that serves any pupils in grades seven to 29 
twelve and that issues pupil identification cards shall have 30 
printed on either side of the cards the three -digit dialing  31 
code that directs calls and routes text messages to the 32 
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 988. 33    	137 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (2)  If, on July 1, 2023, a public school or charter 34 
school subject to the requirements of this subsection has a 35 
supply of unissued pupil identification cards that do not 36 
comply with the requirements of subdivision (1) of this 37 
subsection, the school shall issue those cards until that 38 
supply is depleted. 39 
     (3)  Subdivision (1) of this subsection shall apply to 40 
a pupil identification card issued for the first time to a 41 
pupil and to a card issued to replace a damaged or lost card. 42 
     170.307.  1.  For school year 2022 -23 and each school 1 
year thereafter, upon graduation from high school, pupils in 2 
public schools and charter schools shall have received 3 
mental health awareness training given any time during a 4 
pupil's four years of high school. 5 
     2.  Beginning in school year 2022 -23, any public school 6 
or charter school serving grades nine through twelve shall 7 
provide enrolled students instruction in mental hea lth  8 
awareness.  Students with disabilities may participate to 9 
the extent appropriate as determined by the provisions of 10 
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or Section 11 
504 of the Rehabilitation Act.  Instruction shall be 12 
included in the district's existing health or physical 13 
education curriculum.  Instruction shall be based on a 14 
program established by the department of elementary and 15 
secondary education. 16 
     3.  The department of elementary and secondary 17 
education shall promulgate rules to develop a model 18 
curriculum to be used by school districts to provide the 19 
instruction required by this section.  Any rule or portion 20 
of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that 21 
is created under the authority delegated in this section  22 
shall become effective only if it complies with and is 23    	138 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if 24 
applicable, section 536.028.  This section and chapter 536 25 
are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the 26 
general assembly pursu ant to chapter 536 to review, to delay 27 
the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are 28 
subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of 29 
rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after 30 
August 28, 2022, shall be invalid and voi d. 31 
     171.033.  1.  "Inclement weather", for purposes of this 1 
section, shall be defined as ice, snow, extreme cold, 2 
excessive heat, flooding, or a tornado. 3 
     2.  (1)  A district shall be required to make up the 4 
first six days of schoo l lost or cancelled due to inclement 5 
weather and half the number of days lost or cancelled in 6 
excess of six days if the makeup of the days is necessary to 7 
ensure that the district's students will attend a minimum of 8 
one hundred forty-two days and a minimum of one thousand 9 
forty-four hours for the school year except as otherwise 10 
provided in this section.  Schools with a four-day school  11 
week may schedule such make -up days on Fridays. 12 
     (2)  Notwithstanding subdivision (1) of this 13 
subsection, in school year 2019-20 and subsequent years, a 14 
district shall be required to make up the first thirty -six  15 
hours of school lost or cancelled due to inclement weather 16 
and half the number of hours lost or cancelled in excess of 17 
thirty-six if the makeup of the h ours is necessary to ensure 18 
that the district's students attend a minimum of one 19 
thousand forty-four hours for the school year, except as 20 
otherwise provided under subsections 3 and 4 of this section. 21 
     3.  (1)  In the 2009-10 school year and subseque nt  22 
years, a school district may be exempt from the requirement 23 
to make up days of school lost or cancelled due to inclement 24    	139 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
weather in the school district when the school district has 25 
made up the six days required under subsection 2 of this 26 
section and half the number of additional lost or cancelled 27 
days up to eight days, resulting in no more than ten total 28 
make-up days required by this section. 29 
     (2)  In school year 2019-20 and subsequent years, a 30 
school district may be exempt from the requireme nt to make  31 
up school lost or cancelled due to inclement weather in the 32 
school district when the school district has made up the 33 
thirty-six hours required under subsection 2 of this section 34 
and half the number of additional lost or cancelled hours up 35 
to forty-eight, resulting in no more than sixty total make - 36 
up hours required by this section. 37 
     4.  The commissioner of education may provide, for any 38 
school district that cannot meet the minimum school calendar 39 
requirement of at least one hundred sev enty-four days for  40 
schools with a five-day school week or one hundred forty -two  41 
days for schools with a four -day school week and one 42 
thousand forty-four hours of actual pupil attendance or, in 43 
school year 2019-20 and subsequent years, one thousand fort y- 44 
four hours of actual pupil attendance, upon request, a 45 
waiver to be excused from such requirement.  This waiver  46 
shall be requested from the commissioner of education and 47 
may be granted if the school was closed due to circumstances 48 
beyond school district control, including inclement weather 49 
or fire. 50 
     5.  (1)  Except as otherwise provided in this 51 
subsection, in school year 2020 -21 and subsequent years, a 52 
district shall not be required to make up any hours of 53 
school lost or cancelled due to exce ptional or emergency 54 
circumstances during a school year if the district has an 55 
alternative methods of instruction plan approved by the 56    	140 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
department of elementary and secondary education for such 57 
school year.  Exceptional or emergency circumstances shall 58 
include, but not be limited to, inclement weather, a utility 59 
outage, or an outbreak of a contagious disease.  The  60 
department of elementary and secondary education shall not 61 
approve any such plan unless the district demonstrates that 62 
the plan will not negatively impact teaching and learning in 63 
the district. 64 
     (2)  If school is closed due to exceptional or 65 
emergency circumstances and the district has an approved 66 
alternative methods of instruction plan, the district shall 67 
notify students and parent s on each day of the closure 68 
whether the alternative methods of instruction plan is to be 69 
implemented for that day.  If the plan is to be implemented 70 
on any day of the closure, the district shall ensure that 71 
each student receives assignments for that d ay in hard copy  72 
form or receives instruction through virtual learning or 73 
another method of instruction. 74 
     (3)  A district with an approved alternative methods of 75 
instruction plan shall not use alternative methods of 76 
instruction as provided for in th e plan for more than thirty - 77 
six hours during a school year.  A district that has used 78 
such alternative methods of instruction for thirty -six hours  79 
during a school year shall be required, notwithstanding 80 
subsections 2 and 3 of this section, to make up a ny  81 
subsequent hours of school lost or cancelled due to 82 
exceptional or emergency circumstances during such school 83 
year. 84 
     (4)  The department of elementary and secondary 85 
education shall give districts with approved alternative 86 
methods of instruction plans credit for the hours in which 87    	141 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
they use alternative methods of instruction by considering 88 
such hours as hours in which school was actually in session. 89 
     (5)  Any district wishing to use alternative methods of 90 
instruction under this subsection s hall submit an  91 
application to the department of elementary and secondary 92 
education.  The application shall describe: 93 
     (a)  The manner in which the district intends to 94 
strengthen and reinforce instructional content while 95 
supporting student learning outside the classroom 96 
environment; 97 
     (b)  The process the district intends to use to 98 
communicate to students and parents the decision to 99 
implement alternative methods of instruction on any day of a 100 
closure; 101 
     (c)  The manner in which the district intends to  102 
communicate the purpose and expectations for a day in which 103 
alternative methods of instruction will be implemented to 104 
students and parents; 105 
     (d)  The assignments and materials to be used within 106 
the district for days in which alternative methods of  107 
instruction will be implemented to effectively facilitate 108 
teaching and support learning for the benefit of the 109 
students; 110 
     (e)  The manner in which student attendance will be 111 
determined for a day in which alternative methods of 112 
instruction will be implemented.  The method chosen shall be 113 
linked to completion of lessons and activities; 114 
     (f)  The instructional methods, which shall include 115 
instruction through electronic means and instruction through 116 
other means for students who have no access to internet 117 
services or a computer; 118    	142 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (g)  Instructional plans for students with 119 
individualized education programs; and 120 
     (h)  The role and responsibility of certified personnel 121 
to be available to communicate with students. 122 
     6.  [For the 2018-19 school year, a district shall be 123 
exempt from the requirements of subsections 2 and 3 of this 124 
section, and only be required to make up the first six days 125 
of school lost or cancelled due to inclement weather ] In the  126 
2022-23 school year and s ubsequent years, a school 127 
district's one-half-day education programs shall be subject 128 
to the following provisions in proportions appropriate for a 129 
one-half-day education program, as applicable: 130 
     (1)  Requirements in subsection 2 of this section to 131 
make up days or hours of school lost or cancelled because of 132 
inclement weather; 133 
     (2)  Exemptions in subsection 3 of this section; 134 
     (3)  Waiver provisions in subsection 4 of this section; 135 
and 136 
     (4)  Approved alternative methods of instruction 137 
provisions in subsection 5 of this section . 138 
     173.831.  1.  As used in this section, the following 1 
terms mean: 2 
     (1)  "Academic skill intake assessment", a criterion - 3 
referenced assessment of numeracy and literacy skills with 4 
high reliability and validity as determined by third -party  5 
research; 6 
     (2)  "Accredited", holding an active accreditation from 7 
one of the seven United States regional accreditors 8 
including, but not limited to, the Middle States Commission 9 
on Higher Education, the New England Association of Schools 10 
and Colleges, the Higher Learning Commission, the Northwest 11 
Commission on Colleges and Universities, the Southern 12    	143 
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Association of Colleges and Schools, the Western Association 13 
of Schools and Colleges, and the Ac crediting Commission for 14 
Community and Junior Colleges, as well as any successor 15 
entities or consolidations of the above including, but not 16 
limited to, AdvancEd or Cognia; 17 
     (3)  "Adult dropout recovery services", includes, but 18 
is not limited to, so urcing, recruitment, and engagement of 19 
eligible students, learning plan development, active 20 
teaching, and proactive coaching and mentoring, resulting in 21 
an accredited high school diploma; 22 
     (4)  "Approved program provider", a public, not -for- 23 
profit, or other entity that meets the requirements of 24 
subdivision (2) of subsection 3 of this section or any 25 
consortium of such entities; 26 
     (5)  "Average cost per graduate", the amount of the 27 
total program funding reimbursed to an approved program 28 
provider for each cohort during the period of time from the 29 
beginning of the same cohort through the subsequent twelve 30 
months after the close of the same cohort, divided by the 31 
total number of students who graduated from the same cohort 32 
within twelve months a fter the close of the same cohort; 33 
     (6)  "Career pathways coursework", one or more courses 34 
that align with the skill needs of industries in the economy 35 
of the state or region that help an individual enter or 36 
advance within a specific occupation or o ccupational cluster; 37 
     (7)  "Career placement services", services designed to 38 
assist students in obtaining employment, such as career 39 
interest self-assessments and job search skills such as 40 
resume development and mock interviews; 41 
     (8)  "Coaching", proactive communication between the 42 
approved program provider and the student related to the 43    	144 
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student's pace and progress through the student's learning 44 
plan; 45 
     (9)  "Cohort", students who enter the program between 46 
July first and June thirtieth of each program year; 47 
     (10)  "Department", the department of elementary and 48 
secondary education; 49 
     (11)  "Employability skills certification", a 50 
certificate earned by demonstrating professional 51 
nontechnical skills through assessment, portfolio, or 52 
observation; 53 
     (12)  "Graduate", a student who has successfully 54 
completed all of the state and approved program provider 55 
requirements in order to obtain a high school diploma; 56 
     (13)  "Graduation rate", the total number of graduates 57 
from a cohort who graduated within twelve months after the 58 
close of the cohort divided by the total number of students 59 
included in the same cohort; 60 
     (14)  "Graduation requirements", course and credit 61 
requirements for the approved program provider's accredited 62 
high school diploma; 63 
     (15)  "High school diploma", a diploma issued by an 64 
accredited institution; 65 
     (16)  "Industry-recognized credential", an education - 66 
related credential or work -related credential that verifies 67 
an individual's qualification or co mpetence issued by a 68 
third party with the relevant authority to issue such 69 
credential; 70 
     (17)  "Learning plan", a documented plan for courses or 71 
credits needed for each individual in order to complete 72 
program and approved program provider graduation  73 
requirements; 74    	145 
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     (18)  "Mentoring", a direct relationship between a 75 
coach and a student to facilitate the completion of the 76 
student's learning plan designed to prepare the student to 77 
succeed in the program and the student's future endeavors; 78 
     (19)  "Milestones", objective measures of progress for 79 
which payment is made to an approved program provider under 80 
this section such as earned units of high school credit, 81 
attainment of an employability skills certificate, 82 
attainment of an industry -recognized credential, attainment 83 
of a technical skills assessment, and attainment of an 84 
accredited high school diploma; 85 
     (20)  "Program", the workforce diploma program 86 
established in this section; 87 
     (21)  "Request for qualifications", a request for 88 
interested potential program providers to submit evidence 89 
that they meet the qualifications established in subsection 90 
3 of this section; 91 
     (22)  "Stackable credential", a third party credential 92 
that is part of a sequence of credentials that can be 93 
accumulated over time to build up an individual's 94 
qualifications to advance along a career pathway; 95 
     (23)  "Student", a participant in the program 96 
established in this section who is twenty -one years of age  97 
or older, who is a resident of Missouri, and who has not yet  98 
earned a high school diploma; 99 
     (24)  "Technical skills assessment", a criterion - 100 
referenced assessment of an individual's skills required for 101 
an entry-level career or additional training in a technical 102 
field; 103 
     (25)  "Transcript evaluation", a documented summary of 104 
credits earned in previous public or private accredited high 105    	146 
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schools compared with the program and approved program 106 
provider graduation requirements; 107 
     (26)  "Unit of high school credit", credit awarded 108 
based on a student's demonstration that the student has 109 
successfully met the content expectations for the credit 110 
area as defined by subject area standards, expectations, or 111 
guidelines. 112 
     2.  There is hereby established the "Workforce Diploma 113 
Program" within the department of elementary and secondary 114 
education to assist students with obtaining a high school 115 
diploma and developing employability and career technical 116 
skills.  The program may be delivered in campus -based,  117 
blended, or online modalities. 118 
     3.  (1)  Before September 1, 2022, and annually 119 
thereafter, the department shall issue a request for 120 
qualifications for interested program providers to become 121 
approved program providers and participate in the program. 122 
     (2)  Each approved program provi der shall meet all of 123 
the following qualifications: 124 
     (a)  Be an accredited high school diploma -granting  125 
entity; 126 
     (b)  Have a minimum of two years of experience 127 
providing adult dropout recovery services; 128 
     (c)  Provide academic skill intake as sessments and  129 
transcript evaluations to each student.  Such academic skill 130 
intake assessments may be administered in person or online; 131 
     (d)  Develop a learning plan for each student that 132 
integrates graduation requirements and career goals; 133 
     (e)  Provide a course catalog that includes all courses 134 
necessary to meet graduation requirements; 135 
     (f)  Offer remediation opportunities in literacy and 136 
numeracy, as applicable; 137    	147 
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     (g)  Offer employability skills certification, as 138 
applicable; 139 
     (h)  Offer career pathways coursework, as applicable; 140 
     (i)  Ability to provide preparation for industry - 141 
recognized credentials or stackable credentials, a technical 142 
skills assessment, or a combination thereof; and 143 
     (j)  Offer career placement servic es, as applicable. 144 
     (3)  Upon confirmation by the department that an 145 
interested program provider meets all of the qualifications 146 
listed in subdivision (2) of this subsection, an interested 147 
program provider shall become an approved program provider. 148 
     4.  (1)  The department shall announce the approved 149 
program providers before October sixteenth annually, with 150 
authorization for the approved program providers to begin 151 
enrolling students before November fifteenth annually. 152 
     (2)  Approved program providers shall maintain approval 153 
without reapplying annually if the approved program provider 154 
has not been removed from the approved program provider list 155 
under this section. 156 
     5.  All approved program providers shall comply with 157 
requirements as provided by the department to ensure: 158 
     (1)  An accurate accounting of a student's accumulated 159 
credits toward a high school diploma; 160 
     (2)  An accurate accounting of credits necessary to 161 
complete a high school diploma; and 162 
     (3)  The provision of coursework aligned to the 163 
academic performance standards of the state. 164 
     6.  (1)  Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this 165 
subsection, the department shall pay an amount as set by the 166 
department to approved program providers for the following 167 
milestones provided by the approved program provider: 168 
     (a)  Completion of each half unit of high school credit; 169    	148 
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     (b)  Attainment of an employability skills 170 
certification; 171 
     (c)  Attainment of an industry -recognized credential, 172 
technical skills assessment, or stackable credential 173 
requiring no more than fifty hours of training; 174 
     (d)  Attainment of an industry -recognized credential or 175 
stackable credential requiring at least fifty -one but no  176 
more than one hundred hours of training; 177 
     (e)  Attainment of an industry -recognized credential or 178 
stackable credential requiring more than one hundred hours 179 
of training; and 180 
     (f)  Attainment of an accredited high school diploma. 181 
     (2)  No approved program provider shall receive funding 182 
for a student under this section if the approved program 183 
provider receives federal or state funding or private 184 
tuition for that student.  No approved program provider 185 
shall charge student fees of any kind including, but not 186 
limited to, textbook fees, tuiti on fees, lab fees, or 187 
participation fees unless the student chooses to obtain 188 
additional education offered by the approved program 189 
provider that is not included in the state -funded program. 190 
     (3)  Payments made under this subsection shall be 191 
subject to an appropriation made to the department for such 192 
purposes. 193 
     7.  (1)  Approved program providers shall submit 194 
monthly invoices to the department before the eleventh 195 
calendar day of each month for milestones met in the 196 
previous calendar month. 197 
    (2)  The department shall pay approved program 198 
providers in the order in which invoices are submitted until 199 
all available funds are exhausted. 200    	149 
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     (3)  The department shall provide a written update to 201 
approved program providers by the last calendar day of each  202 
month.  The update shall include the aggregate total dollars 203 
that have been paid to approved program providers to date 204 
and the estimated number of enrollments still available for 205 
the program year. 206 
     8.  Before July sixteenth of each year , each provider  207 
shall report the following metrics to the department for 208 
each individual cohort, on a cohort -by-cohort basis: 209 
     (1)  The total number of students who have been funded 210 
through the program; 211 
     (2)  The total number of credits earned; 212 
     (3)  The total number of employability skills 213 
certifications issued; 214 
     (4)  The total number of industry -recognized  215 
credentials, stackable credentials, and technical skills 216 
assessments earned for each tier of funding; 217 
     (5)  The total number of graduates; 218 
     (6)  The average cost per graduate once the stipulated 219 
time to make such a calculation has passed; and 220 
     (7)  The graduation rate once the stipulated time to 221 
make such a calculation has passed. 222 
     9.  (1)  Before September sixteen th of each year, each 223 
approved program provider shall conduct and submit to the 224 
department the aggregate results of a survey of each 225 
individual cohort, on a cohort -by-cohort basis, who  226 
graduated from the program of the approved program provider 227 
under this section.  The survey shall be conducted in the 228 
year after the year in which the individuals graduate and 229 
the next four consecutive years. 230    	150 
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     (2)  The survey shall include at least the following 231 
data collection elements for each year the survey is  232 
conducted: 233 
     (a)  The individual's employment status, including 234 
whether the individual is employed full time or part time; 235 
     (b)  The individual's hourly wages; 236 
     (c)  The individual's access to employer -sponsored  237 
health care; and 238 
     (d)  The individual's postsecondary enrollment status, 239 
including whether the individual has completed a 240 
postsecondary certificate or degree program. 241 
     10.  (1)  Beginning at the end of the second fiscal 242 
year of the program, the department shall review data from  243 
each approved program provider to ensure that each is 244 
achieving minimum program performance standards including, 245 
but not limited to: 246 
     (a)  A minimum fifty percent average graduation rate 247 
per cohort; and 248 
     (b)  An average cost per graduate p er cohort of seven 249 
thousand dollars or less. 250 
     (2)  Any approved program provider that fails to meet 251 
the minimum program performance standards described in 252 
subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be placed on 253 
probationary status for the remainder o f the fiscal year by 254 
the department. 255 
     (3)  Any approved program provider that fails to meet 256 
the minimum program performance standards described in 257 
subdivision (1) of this subsection for two consecutive years 258 
shall be removed from the approved progr am provider list by 259 
the department. 260 
     11.  (1)  No approved program provider shall 261 
discriminate against a student on the basis of race, color, 262    	151 
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religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexuality, gender, 263 
or age. 264 
     (2)  If an approved program prov ider determines that a 265 
student would be better served by participating in a 266 
different program, the approved program provider may refer 267 
the student to the state's adult basic education services. 268 
     12.  (1)  There is hereby created in the state treasur y  269 
the "Workforce Diploma Program Fund", which shall consist of 270 
any grants, gifts, donations, bequests, or moneys 271 
appropriated under this section.  The state treasurer shall 272 
be custodian of the fund.  In accordance with sections 273 
30.170 and 30.180, the state treasurer may approve 274 
disbursements.  The fund shall be a dedicated fund and, upon 275 
appropriation, moneys in the fund shall be used solely as 276 
provided in this section. 277 
     (2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 278 
to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end 279 
of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the 280 
general revenue fund. 281 
     (3)  The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the 282 
fund in the same manner as other funds are invested.  Any  283 
interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be 284 
credited to the fund. 285 
     13.  The director of the department may promulgate all 286 
necessary rules and regulations for the administration of 287 
this section.  Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term 288 
is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the 289 
authority delegated in this section shall become effective 290 
only if it complies with and is subject to all of the 291 
provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 292 
536.028.  This section and chapter 536 are no nseverable, and  293 
if any of the powers vested with the general assembly 294    	152 
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pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective 295 
date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently 296 
held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking 297 
authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 298 
2022, shall be invalid and void. 299 
     14.  Under section 23.253 of the Missouri sunset act: 300 
     (1)  The provisions of the new program authorized under 301 
this section shall automatically sunset six years after the  302 
effective date of this section unless reauthorized by an act 303 
of the general assembly; and 304 
     (2)  If such program is reauthorized, the program 305 
authorized under this section shall automatically sunset 306 
twelve years after the effective date of the reauthorization  307 
of this section; and 308 
     (3)  This section shall terminate on September first of 309 
the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in 310 
which the program authorized under this section is sunset. 311 
     173.1352.  1.  As used in this section, the following 1 
terms mean: 2 
     (1)  "Advanced placement examination", any examination 3 
administered through the College Board's Advanced Placement 4 
Program (AP); 5 
     (2)  "Institution", any in -state public community 6 
college, college, or university that offers postsecondary 7 
freshman-level courses. 8 
     2.  (1)  Each institution shall adopt and implement a 9 
policy to grant undergraduate course credit to entering 10 
freshman students for each advanced placement examination 11 
upon which such student achieves a score of three or higher 12 
for any similarly correlated course offered by the 13 
institution at the time of such student's acceptance into 14 
the institution. 15    	153 
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     (2)  In the policy, the institution shall: 16 
     (a)  Establish the institution's conditions for 17 
granting course credit; and 18 
     (b)  Identify the specific course credit or other 19 
academic requirements of the institution, including the 20 
number of semester credit hours or other course credit, that 21 
the institution will grant t o a student who achieves 22 
required scores on advanced placement examinations. 23 
     3.  On request of an applicant for admission as an 24 
entering freshman, and based on information provided by the 25 
applicant, an institution shall determine and notify the 26 
applicant regarding: 27 
     (1)  The amount and type of any course credit that 28 
would be granted to the applicant under the policy; and 29 
     (2)  Any other academic requirement that the applicant 30 
would satisfy under the policy. 31 
     178.694.  1.  As used in this section, the following 1 
terms mean: 2 
     (1)  "Affiliate", the Dolly Parton's imagination 3 
library affiliate created under this section; 4 
     (2)  "Department", the department of elementary and 5 
secondary education; 6 
     (3)  "Eligible child", any child under five years of 7 
age who resides in this state; 8 
     (4)  "Program", the imagination library of Missouri 9 
program established in this section; 10 
     (5)  "Reading selection", a high -quality, age- 11 
appropriate book provided to an eligible child under the  12 
program established in this section. 13 
     2.  There is hereby established in the department's 14 
office of childhood the "Imagination Library of Missouri 15 
Program", which shall be a statewide program for encouraging 16    	154 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
preschool children to re ad by providing monthly reading 17 
selections to the homes of children from birth to five years 18 
of age. 19 
     3.  The office of childhood shall establish a nonprofit 20 
entity to work in conjunction with school districts in 21 
mailing monthly reading selections directly to the homes of 22 
eligible children.  The entity shall be known as the "Dolly 23 
Parton's Imagination Library Affiliate" and shall be the 24 
statewide affiliate that works in conjunction with Dolly 25 
Parton's Imagination Library and school districts to provide  26 
reading selections under this section. 27 
     4.  Beginning in school year 2023 -24 and continuing in 28 
each subsequent school year, each school district shall, in 29 
partnership with the affiliate, give one reading selection 30 
to each eligible child in the school district in each month, 31 
beginning as early as the child's birth month through the 32 
month in which the child reaches five years of age.  Subject  33 
to appropriation, the costs of giving such reading 34 
selections to eligible children shall be reimbu rsed to each  35 
school district from the imagination library of Missouri 36 
fund created in this section. 37 
     5.  The department shall promulgate rules to: 38 
     (1)  Manage the daily operations of the program; 39 
     (2)  Coordinate with organizations and publi c schools  40 
of this state to advance and strengthen the program and 41 
promote enrollment growth; 42 
     (3)  Develop, promote, and coordinate a public 43 
awareness program to make donors aware of the opportunity to 44 
donate to the imagination library of Missouri fund; 45 
     (4)  Develop, promote, and coordinate a public 46 
awareness program to make the public aware of the 47    	155 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
opportunity to register children to receive age -appropriate  48 
books on a monthly basis; and 49 
     (5)  Allow the department to implement and adminis ter  50 
the provisions of this section. 51 
     6.  (1)  There is hereby created in the state treasury 52 
the "Imagination Library of Missouri Program Fund", which 53 
shall consist of any gifts, bequests, grants, public or 54 
private donations, transfers, or moneys ap propriated under  55 
this section.  The state treasurer shall be custodian of the 56 
fund.  In accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180, the 57 
state treasurer may approve disbursements.  The fund shall  58 
be a dedicated fund and, upon appropriation, moneys in th is  59 
fund shall be used solely as provided in this section. 60 
     (2)  Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 61 
to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end 62 
of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the 63 
general revenue fund . 64 
     (3)  The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the 65 
fund in the same manner as other funds are invested.  Any  66 
interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be 67 
credited to the fund. 68 
     7.  The general assembly shall appropriate at least t wo  69 
and a half million dollars annually to the imagination 70 
library of Missouri program fund.  In the department's 71 
budget requests for school year 2023 -24 and all subsequent 72 
school years, the department shall include a plan to 73 
distribute sufficient mone ys to school districts to allow 74 
each school district to give reading selections to all 75 
eligible children within the school district under this 76 
section. 77 
     8.  To comply with this section, a school district may, 78 
in coordination with the department's o ffice of childhood, 79    	156 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
enter into an agreement, partnership, or similar arrangement 80 
with an adjacent school district.  If the school district 81 
finds that no adjacent school district gives reading 82 
selections to eligible children as provided in this section,  83 
the school district may request the department's office of 84 
childhood and the affiliate to assist the school district in 85 
complying with this section. 86 
     9.  Under section 23.253 of the Missouri sunset act: 87 
     (1)  The provisions of the new program a uthorized under  88 
this section shall automatically sunset on December thirty - 89 
first four years after the effective date of this section 90 
unless reauthorized by an act of the general assembly; and 91 
     (2)  If such program is reauthorized, the program 92 
authorized under this section shall automatically sunset on 93 
December thirty-first eight years after the effective date 94 
of the reauthorization of this section; and 95 
     (3)  This section shall terminate on September first of 96 
the calendar year immediately foll owing the calendar year in 97 
which the program authorized under this section is sunset. 98 
     186.080.  1.  The commissioner of education shall 1 
establish a literacy advisory council.  The council shall  2 
consist of no more than twenty members, appointed by the  3 
commissioner, and shall include members representing the 4 
following stakeholder groups: 5 
     (1)  School boards; 6 
     (2)  Charter schools; 7 
     (3)  School superintendents; 8 
     (4)  Elementary and secondary building principals; 9 
     (5)  At least three teachers, including at least two 10 
teachers with expertise in reading instruction; 11 
     (6)  At least two special education educators; 12    	157 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (7)  At least two parents of elementary and secondary 13 
school-age pupils who have struggled with lit eracy  14 
proficiency; 15 
     (8)  At least two community members who have struggled 16 
with literacy proficiency or supported others who have 17 
struggled with literacy proficiency, at least one of whom 18 
shall be a high school student; 19 
     (9)  One member from dyslexia advocacy group; 20 
     (10)  Faculty members of institutions of higher 21 
education with approved teacher preparation programs; 22 
     (11)  Professionals with expertise in reading 23 
instruction, reading interventions, and how students learn 24 
to read including one certified academic language therapist; 25 
and 26 
     (12)  Professionals with expertise in educational 27 
assessment data analysis. 28 
     2.  The council shall meet at least twice per year to 29 
review best practices in literacy instruction and related 30 
policy provisions.  The department shall provide necessary 31 
staff and resources for the work of the advisory council. 32 
     3.  The council shall periodically provide 33 
recommendations to the commissioner and the state board of 34 
education regarding any identif ied improvements to literacy 35 
instruction and policy for students.  The recommendations 36 
may include recommendations for changes to state law, and 37 
the commissioner shall furnish any such recommendations to 38 
the joint committee on education. 39 
     4.  The council recommendations shall: 40 
     (1)  Advise the department of elementary and secondary 41 
education on how to implement and maintain the statewide 42 
literacy plan required under section 161.241 and advise the 43 
department, school districts, and charter scho ols on ways to  44    	158 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
inform and engage parents and other community members about 45 
the literacy plan; 46 
     (2)  Provide advice as to what services the department 47 
should provide to school districts and charter schools to 48 
support implementation of the plan and o n staffing levels  49 
and resources needed at the department to support the 50 
statewide effort to improve literacy; 51 
     (3)  Provide advice regarding the statewide plan for 52 
collecting literacy-related data that informs: 53 
     (a)  Literacy instructional pract ices; 54 
     (b)  Teacher professional development in the field of 55 
literacy; 56 
     (c)  What proficiencies and skills should be measured 57 
through literacy assessments and how those assessments are 58 
incorporated into local assessment plans; and 59 
     (d)  How to identify school progress in achieving 60 
literacy outcomes, including closing literacy gaps for 61 
students from historically underserved populations; 62 
     (4)  Recommend best practices for tiered literacy 63 
instruction within a multi -tiered system of suppor ts to best  64 
improve and sustain literacy proficiency; 65 
     (5)  Review literacy assessments and outcomes and 66 
provide ongoing advice as to how to continuously improve 67 
those outcomes and sustain improvement; and 68 
     (6)  Provide a means for members of the public to  69 
provide input and ask questions concerning literacy issues. 70 
     302.010.  Except where otherwise provided, when used in 1 
this chapter, the following words and phrases mean: 2 
     (1)  "Circuit court", each circuit court in the sta te; 3 
     (2)  "Commercial motor vehicle", a motor vehicle 4 
designed or regularly used for carrying freight and 5 
merchandise, or more than fifteen passengers; 6    	159 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (3)  "Conviction", any final conviction; also a 7 
forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited t o secure a  8 
defendant's appearance in court, which forfeiture has not 9 
been vacated, shall be equivalent to a conviction, except 10 
that when any conviction as a result of which points are 11 
assessed pursuant to section 302.302 is appealed, the term 12 
"conviction" means the original judgment of conviction for 13 
the purpose of determining the assessment of points, and the 14 
date of final judgment affirming the conviction shall be the 15 
date determining the beginning of any license suspension or 16 
revocation pursuant to section 302.304; 17 
     (4)  "Criminal history check", a search of criminal 18 
records, including criminal history record information as 19 
defined in section 43.500, maintained by the Missouri state 20 
highway patrol in the Missouri criminal records repositor y  21 
or by the Federal Bureau of Investigation as part of its 22 
criminal history records, including, but not limited to, any 23 
record of conviction, plea of guilty or nolo contendre, or 24 
finding of guilty in any state for any offense related to 25 
alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs; 26 
     (5)  "Director", the director of revenue acting 27 
directly or through the director's authorized officers and 28 
agents; 29 
     (6)  "Farm tractor", every motor vehicle designed and 30 
used primarily as a farm implement for drawing plows, mowing  31 
machines and other implements of husbandry; 32 
     (7)  "Highway", any public thoroughfare for vehicles, 33 
including state roads, county roads and public streets, 34 
avenues, boulevards, parkways, or alleys in any municipality; 35 
     (8)  "Incompetent to drive a motor vehicle", a person 36 
who has become physically incapable of meeting the 37 
prescribed requirements of an examination for an operator's 38    	160 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
license, or who has been adjudged by a probate division of 39 
the circuit court in a capacity hearing of being  40 
incapacitated; 41 
     (9)  "License", a license issued by a state to a person 42 
which authorizes a person to operate a motor vehicle; 43 
     (10)  "Motor vehicle", any self -propelled vehicle not 44 
operated exclusively upon tracks except motorized bicyc les,  45 
as defined in section 307.180 and electric bicycles, as 46 
defined in section 301.010; 47 
     (11)  "Motorcycle", a motor vehicle operated on two 48 
wheels; however, this definition shall not include motorized 49 
bicycles or electric bicycles as such terms a re defined in  50 
section 301.010; 51 
     (12)  "Motortricycle", a motor vehicle operated on 52 
three wheels, including a motorcycle operated with any 53 
conveyance, temporary or otherwise, requiring the use of a 54 
third wheel, but excluding an electric bicycle as d efined in  55 
section 301.010; 56 
     (13)  "Moving violation", that character of traffic 57 
violation where at the time of violation the motor vehicle 58 
involved is in motion, except that the term does not include 59 
the driving of a motor vehicle without a valid m otor vehicle  60 
registration license, or violations of sections 304.170 to 61 
304.240, inclusive, relating to sizes and weights of 62 
vehicles; 63 
     (14)  "Municipal court", every division of the circuit 64 
court having original jurisdiction to try persons for 65 
violations of city ordinances; 66 
     (15)  "Nonresident", every person who is not a resident 67 
of this state; 68 
     (16)  "Operator", every person who is in actual 69 
physical control of a motor vehicle upon a highway; 70    	161 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     (17)  "Owner", a person who holds the l egal title of a  71 
vehicle or in the event a vehicle is the subject of an 72 
agreement for the conditional sale or lease thereof with the 73 
right of purchase upon performance of the conditions stated 74 
in the agreement and with an immediate right of possession 75 
vested in the conditional vendee or lessee, or in the event 76 
a mortgagor of a vehicle is entitled to possession, then 77 
such conditional vendee or lessee or mortgagor shall be 78 
deemed the owner for the purpose of sections 302.010 to 79 
302.540; 80 
     (18)  "Record" includes, but is not limited to, papers, 81 
documents, facsimile information, microphotographic process, 82 
electronically generated or electronically recorded 83 
information, digitized images, deposited or filed with the 84 
department of revenue; 85 
     (19)  "Residence address", "residence", or "resident 86 
address" shall be the location at which a person has been 87 
physically present, and that the person regards as home.  A  88 
residence address is a person's true, fixed, principal, and 89 
permanent home, to which a person intends to return and 90 
remain, even though currently residing elsewhere; 91 
     (20)  "Restricted driving privilege", a sixty -day  92 
driving privilege issued by the director of revenue 93 
following a suspension of driving privileges for the limited 94 
purpose of driving in connection with the driver's business, 95 
occupation, employment, formal program of secondary, 96 
postsecondary or higher education, or for an alcohol 97 
education or treatment program or certified ignition 98 
interlock provider, or a ninety -day interlock restricted 99 
privilege issued by the director of revenue for the limited 100 
purpose of driving in connection with the driver's business, 101 
occupation, employment, seeking medical treatment for such 102    	162 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
driver or a dependent family member, attending scho ol or  103 
other institution of higher education, attending alcohol - or  104 
drug-treatment programs, seeking the required services of a 105 
certified ignition interlock provider, fulfilling court 106 
obligations, including required appearances and probation 107 
and parole obligations, religious services, the care of a 108 
child or children, including scheduled visitation or 109 
custodial obligations pursuant to a court order, fueling 110 
requirements for any vehicle utilized, and seeking basic 111 
nutritional requirements; 112 
     (21)  "School bus", when used in sections 302.010 to 113 
302.540, means any motor vehicle, either publicly or 114 
privately owned, that is designed for carrying more than ten 115 
passengers and that is used to transport students to and 116 
from school, or to transport pupil s properly chaperoned to 117 
and from any place within the state for educational 118 
purposes.  The term "school bus" shall not include a bus 119 
operated by a public utility, municipal corporation or 120 
common carrier authorized to conduct local or interstate 121 
transportation of passengers when such bus is not traveling 122 
a specific school bus route but is: 123 
     (a)  On a regularly scheduled route for the 124 
transportation of fare -paying passengers; or 125 
     (b)  Furnishing charter service for the transportation 126 
of persons enrolled as students on field trips or other 127 
special trips or in connection with other special events; 128 
     (22)  "School bus operator", an operator who operates a 129 
school bus as defined in subdivision (21) of this section in 130 
the transportation of any schoolchildren and who receives 131 
compensation for such service.  The term "school bus 132 
operator" shall not include any person who transports 133 
schoolchildren as an incident to employment with a school or 134    	163 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
school district, such as a teacher, coach, administ rator,  135 
secretary, school nurse, or janitor unless such person is 136 
under contract with or employed by a school or school 137 
district as a school bus operator; 138 
     (23)  "Signature", any method determined by the 139 
director of revenue for the signing, subscrib ing or  140 
verifying of a record, report, application, driver's 141 
license, or other related document that shall have the same 142 
validity and consequences as the actual signing by the 143 
person providing the record, report, application, driver's 144 
license or related document; 145 
     (24)  "Substance abuse traffic offender program", a 146 
program certified by the division of alcohol and drug abuse 147 
of the department of mental health to provide education or 148 
rehabilitation services pursuant to a professional 149 
assessment screening to identify the individual needs of the 150 
person who has been referred to the program as the result of 151 
an alcohol- or drug-related traffic offense.  Successful  152 
completion of such a program includes participation in any 153 
education or rehabilitation program required to meet the 154 
needs identified in the assessment screening.  The  155 
assignment recommendations based upon such assessment shall 156 
be subject to judicial review as provided in subsection 14 157 
of section 302.304 and subsections 1 and 5 of sectio n  158 
302.540; 159 
     (25)  "Vehicle", any mechanical device on wheels, 160 
designed primarily for use, or used on highways, except 161 
motorized bicycles, electric bicycles, vehicles propelled or 162 
drawn by horses or human power, or vehicles used exclusively 163 
on fixed rails or tracks, or cotton trailers or motorized 164 
wheelchairs operated by handicapped persons. 165    	164 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
     304.060.  1.  The state board of education shall adopt 1 
and enforce regulations not inconsistent with law to cover 2 
the design and operation of all school buses used for the 3 
transportation of school children when owned and operated by 4 
any school district or privately owned and operated under 5 
contract with any school district in this state, and such 6 
regulations shall by reference be made a part of any such  7 
contract with a school district.  School districts shall 8 
have the authority to use motor vehicles other than school 9 
buses for the purpose of transporting school children.  The  10 
state board of education may adopt rules and regulations 11 
governing the use of other vehicles owned by a district or 12 
operated under contract with any school district in this 13 
state and used for the purpose of transporting school 14 
children[.  The operator of such vehicle shall be licensed 15 
in accordance with secti on 302.272, and such vehicle ],  16 
excluding motor vehicles operating under the authority of 17 
the department of revenue under sections 387.400 to 18 
387.440.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the 19 
state board of education shall not require an indivi dual who  20 
uses a motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight that is 21 
less than or equal to twelve thousand pounds for the purpose 22 
of providing student transportation services in a vehicle 23 
other than a school bus to obtain any license other than a 24 
class F license, as described in 12 CSR 10 -24.200(6).  Motor  25 
vehicles other than school buses used shall transport no 26 
more children than the manufacturer suggests as appropriate 27 
for such vehicle and meet any additional requirements of the 28 
school district.  The state board of education may also 29 
adopt rules and regulations governing the use of authorized 30 
common carriers for the transportation of students on field 31 
trips or other special trips for educational purposes.   32    	165 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
Every school district, its officers and employees, and every 33 
person employed under contract by a school district shall be 34 
subject to such regulations.  The state board of education 35 
shall cooperate with the state transportation department and 36 
the state highway patrol in placing suitable warni ng signs  37 
at intervals on the highways of the state. 38 
     2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 1 of 39 
this section, any school board in the state of Missouri in 40 
an urban district containing the greater part of the 41 
population of a city which ha s more than three hundred 42 
thousand inhabitants may contract with any municipality, bi - 43 
state agency, or other governmental entity for the purpose 44 
of transporting school children attending a grade or grades 45 
not lower than the ninth nor higher than the tw elfth grade,  46 
provided that such contract shall be for additional 47 
transportation services, and shall not replace or fulfill 48 
any of the school district's obligations pursuant to section 49 
167.231.  The school district may notify students of the 50 
option to use district-contracted transportation services. 51 
     3.  Any officer or employee of any school district who 52 
violates any of the regulations or fails to include 53 
obligation to comply with such regulations in any contract 54 
executed by him on behalf of a sc hool district shall be 55 
guilty of misconduct and subject to removal from office or 56 
employment.  Any person operating a school bus under 57 
contract with a school district who fails to comply with any 58 
such regulations shall be guilty of breach of contract a nd  59 
such contract shall be cancelled after notice and hearing by 60 
the responsible officers of such school district. 61 
     4.  Any other provision of the law to the contrary 62 
notwithstanding, in any county of the first class with a 63    	166 
 CCS#2 HCS SS SCS SBs 681 & 662 
charter form of governmen t adjoining a city not within a 64 
county, school buses may bear the word "special". 65 
     Section B.  Because immediate action is necessary to 1 
provide for the safety and education of school children, the 2 
enactment of sections 167.625 and 168. 036 of this act is 3 
deemed necessary for the immediate preservation of the 4 
public health, welfare, peace, and safety, and is hereby 5 
declared to be an emergency act within the meaning of the 6 
constitution, and the enactment of sections 167.625 and 7 
168.036 of this act shall be in full force and effect upon 8 
its passage and approval. 9 
     Section C.  The repeal and reenactment of section 1 
167.645 of this act shall become effective January 1, 2023. 2 
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