FIRSTREGULARSESSION
HOUSECOMMITTEESUBSTITUTEFOR
HOUSEBILLNO.159
102NDGENERALASSEMBLY
0342H.03C DANARADEMANMILLER,ChiefClerk
ANACT
Torepealsections160.522and167.161,RSMo,andtoenactinlieuthereofthreenew
sectionsrelatingtodisciplinaryremovalsofpublicschoolstudents.
BeitenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyofthestateofMissouri,asfollows:
SectionA.Sections160.522and167.161,RSMo,arerepealedandthreenewsections
2enactedinlieuthereof,tobeknownassections160.265,160.522,and167.161,toreadas
3follows:
160.265.1.Asusedinthissection,thefollowingtermsmean:
2 (1)"Disciplinaryremoval",adisciplinaryincidentthatresultsinanin-school
3suspension,out-of-schoolsuspension,expulsion,orunilateralremovaltoaninterim
4educationalsettingforone-halfofoneschooldayormore;
5 (2)"Educationalservices",theenrollmentofapupilinaschooltowhichthe
6pupilhasbeenorwillbeacceptedforattendanceandparticipationinanyschool
7activitiesincluding,butnotlimitedto,extracurricularactivities.Thetermincludes,but
8isnotlimitedto,educationinanalternativeschool,educationinanalternativelocation,
9virtualschooling,homeworkassistance,orhomeboundinstruction;
10 (3)"Expulsion",theremovalofapupilfromapublicschoolbylocalschool
11boardactionorcharterschoolgoverningboardactionforanindefiniteperiodoftime
12untilsuchpupilisreinstatedbytheschoolboardorgoverningboard;
13 (4)"In-schoolsuspension",theremovalofapupilfromtheregularclassroom
14settingwithinaschoolbuildingforafixedamountoftimewithsuchpupilautomatically
15returningtotheregularclassroomsettingafterthesuspensioniscompleted;
EXPLANATION—Matterenclosedinbold-facedbrackets[thus] intheabovebillisnotenactedandis
intendedtobeomittedfromthelaw.Matterinbold-facetypeintheabovebillisproposedlanguage. 16 (5)"Out-of-schoolsuspension",theremovalofapupilfromapublicschoolfora
17fixedamountoftimewithsuchpupilautomaticallyreturningtothepublicschoolafter
18thesuspensioniscompleted;
19 (6)"Unilateralremoval",theremovalofapupilwithdisabilitiesfromthe
20pupil'scurrenteducationalplacement,asorderedbyschoolpersonnel,toan
21appropriateinterimeducationalsettingforthesameamountoftimethatapupil
22withoutdisabilitieswouldbesubjecttodiscipline,butfornotmorethanforty-fivedays.
23Asusedinthissubdivision,"schoolpersonnel"shallnotbeconstruedtoincludea
24pupil'sindividualizededucationprogram(IEP)team.
25 2.(1)BeginningJuly1,2024,schooldistrictsandcharterschoolsshall
26documenteachdisciplinaryremovalofapupilfromsuchpupil'sregulareducational
27settingbycreatingarecordofdatarelatedtosuchdisciplinaryremovalthatsatisfiesthe
28discipline-relatedreportingrequirementsforschooldistrictsandcharterschoolsunder
29thefederalGun-FreeSchoolAct,thefederalEveryStudentSucceedsAct(ESSA),the
30federalIndividualswithDisabilitiesEducationAct(IDEA),otherapplicablefederallaw,
31andstatelawgoverningschoolreportcards.
32 (2)Thedocumentationcreatedundersubdivision(1)ofthissubsectionshallalso
33indicate:
34 (a)Whetherapupilsubjecttoadisciplinaryremovalwasofferededucational
35servicesduringsuchremoval;
36 (b)Thefreeorreduced-pricelunchstatusofeachpupilsubjecttoadisciplinary
37removal;
38 (c)Thenumberofdisciplinaryremovalsofeachpupilwhohadbeenpreviously
39suspendedfromschool;
40 (d)Thetypesofalternativemeasuresandinterventionsusedpriortosuch
41disciplinaryremovalandtheaggregatenumberoftimeseachsuchtypewasused;
42 (e)Whetherahearingundersection167.161wasconductedandwhethersuch
43hearingoccurredbeforeorafterthedisciplinaryremovalofsuchpupil;and
44 (f)Thenumberoftimes,andthenumberofhoursofeachtime,apupilis
45removedfromtheschoolbuildingfordisciplinaryreasonsupontherequestofschool
46personnel.
47 3.Eachschooldistrictandcharterschoolshallannuallyreportallinformation
48documentedundersubsection2ofthissectiontothedepartmentofelementaryand
49secondaryeducation.Thedepartmentshallmakesuchinformationavailabletothe
50public,butnosuchinformationmadeavailableunderthissubsectionshallbereleased
51inamannerthatpersonallyidentifiesapupilinviolationoffederalorstatelaworthat
52revealsinformationregardingagroupoffiveorfewerpupils.
HCSHB159 2 53 4.Thedepartmentofelementaryandsecondaryeducationshallonlyusethe
54informationreportedundersubsection2ofthissectiontoidentifyschooldistrictsand
55charterschoolsthatdemonstratebestpracticesandtoprovidesupportandassistance
56uponrequesttoschooldistrictsandcharterschoolsthatwishtoaddressconcernswith
57disciplinaryremovalpoliciesandpracticesinsuchschooldistrictorcharterschool.
58 5.Adisciplinaryremovalofapupilreceivingspecialeducationalservicesunder
59anindividualizededucationprogram(IEP),assuchtermisdefinedin20U.S.C.Section
601401,asamended,ora504plancreatedunderSection504ofthefederalRehabilitation
61Actof1973,29U.S.C.Section794,asamended,shallbedocumentedasadisciplinary
62removalunderthissectionandreportedtosuchpupil'sIEPteamor504planteam.
63Suchdisciplinaryremovalsshallbediscussedatleastannuallywithsuchpupil'sIEP
64teamor504planteam.
160.522.1.Thedepartmentofelementaryandsecondaryeducationshallproduceor
2causetobeproduced,atleastannually,aschoolaccountabilityreportcardforeachpublic
3schooldistrict,eachpublicschoolbuildinginaschooldistrict,andeachcharterschoolinthe
4state.Thereportcardshallbedesignedtosatisfystateandfederalrequirementsforthe
5disclosureofstatisticsaboutstudents,staff,finances,academicachievement,andother
6indicators.Thepurposeofthereportcardshallbetoprovideeducationalstatisticsand
7accountabilityinformationforparents,taxpayers,schoolpersonnel,legislators,andtheprint
8andbroadcastnewsmediainastandardized,easilyaccessibleform.
9 2.Thedepartmentofelementaryandsecondaryeducationshalldevelopastandard
10formfortheschoolaccountabilityreportcard.Theinformationreportedshallinclude,butnot
11belimitedto,the[district's] followinginformationreportedbyeachschooldistrictor
12charterschool:
13 (1)Themostrecentaccreditationrating[,];
14 (2)Enrollment[,];
15 (3)Ratesofpupilattendance[,];
16 (4)Highschooldropoutrateandgraduationrate[,thenumberandrateofsuspensions
17oftendaysorlongerandexpulsionsofpupils,thedistrict];
18 (5)Theratioofstudentstoadministratorsandstudentstoclassroomteachers[,];
19 (6)Theaverageyearsofexperienceofprofessionalstaffandadvanceddegrees
20earned[,];
21 (7)Studentachievementasmeasuredthroughtheassessmentsystemdeveloped
22pursuanttosection160.518[,];
23 (8)StudentscoresontheACT,alongwiththepercentageofgraduatestakingthetest
24[,];
25 (9)Averageteachers'andadministrators'salariescomparedtothestateaverages[,];
HCSHB159 3 26 (10)Averageper-pupilcurrentexpendituresforthedistrictorcharterschoolasa
27wholeandbyattendancecenterasreportedtothedepartmentofelementaryandsecondary
28education[,];
29 (11)Theadjustedtaxrateofthedistrict[,];
30 (12)Theassessedvaluationofthedistrict[, percent];
31 (13)Thepercentageofthedistrictoperatingbudgetreceivedfromstate,federal,and
32localsources[, thepercent];
33 (14)Thepercentageofstudentseligibleforfreeorreduced-pricelunch[,];
34 (15)Dataonthe[percent] percentageofstudentscontinuingtheireducationin
35postsecondaryprograms[,];
36 (16)Informationaboutthejobplacementrateforstudentswhocompletedistrict
37vocationaleducationprograms[,];
38 (17)Whethertheschooldistrictcurrentlyhasastate-approvedgiftededucation
39program[, and];
40 (18)Thepercentageandnumberofstudentswhoarecurrentlybeingservedinthe
41district'sstate-approvedgiftededucationprogram; and
42 (19)Informationrelatingtodisciplinaryremovalsofpupilsascollectedbythe
43departmentofelementaryandsecondaryeducationundersection160.265.
44 3.Thereportcardshallpermitthedisclosureofdataonaschool-by-schoolbasis,but
45thereportingshallnotbepersonallyidentifiabletoanystudentoreducationprofessionalin
46thestate.
47 4.Thereportcardshallidentifyeachschoolorattendancecenterthathasbeen
48identifiedasapriorityschoolundersections160.720and161.092.Thereportalsoshall
49identifyattendancecentersthathavebeencategorizedunderfederallawasneeding
50improvementorrequiringspecificschoolimprovementstrategies.
51 5.Thereportcardshallnotlimitordiscourageothermethodsofpublicreportingand
52accountabilitybylocalschooldistricts.Districtsshallprovideinformationincludedinthe
53reportcardtoparents,communitymembers,theprintandbroadcastnewsmedia,and
54legislatorsbyDecemberfirstannuallyorassoonthereafterastheinformationisavailableto
55thedistrict,givingpreferencetomethodsthatincorporatethereportingintosubstantive
56officialcommunicationssuchasstudentreportcards.Theschooldistrictshallprovidea
57printedcopyofthedistrict-levelorschool-levelreportcardtoanypatronuponrequestand
58shallmakereasonableeffortstosupplybusinessessuchas,butnotlimitedto,realestateand
59employmentfirmswithcopiesorotherinformationaboutthereportssothatparentsand
60businessesfromoutsidethedistrictwhomaybecontemplatingrelocationhaveaccess.
61 6.Forpurposesofcompletinganddistributingtheannualreportcardasprescribedin
62thissection,aschooldistrictmayincludethedatafromacharterschoollocatedwithinsuch
HCSHB159 4 63schooldistrict,providedthelocalboardofeducationorspecialadministrativeboardforsuch
64districtandthecharterschoolreachmutualagreementfortheinclusionofthedatafromthe
65charter[schools] schoolandthetermsofsuchagreementareapprovedbythestateboardof
66education.Thecharterschoolshallnotberequiredtobeapartofthelocaleducational
67agencyofsuchschooldistrictandmaymaintainaseparatelocaleducationalagencystatus.
167.161.1.(1)Theschoolboardofanydistrict,afternoticetoparentsorothers
2havingcustodialcareandahearinguponchargespreferred,maysuspendorexpelapupilfor
3conductwhichisprejudicialtogoodorderanddisciplineintheschoolsorwhichtendsto
4impairthemoraleorgoodconductofthepupils.
5 (2)Inadditiontotheauthoritygrantedinsection167.171,aschoolboardmay
6authorize,bygeneralrule,theimmediateremovalofapupiluponafindingbytheprincipal,
7superintendent,orschoolboardthatthepupilposesathreatofharmtosuchpupilorothers,as
8evidencedbythepriorconductofsuchpupil.Priordisciplinaryactionsshallnotbeusedas
9thesolebasisforremoval,suspensionorexpulsionofapupil.
10 (3)Removalofanypupilwhoisastudentwithadisability[issubjectto]shall
11complywithallstateandfederalproceduralrights.
12 (4)(a)Atthehearinguponanysuchremoval,suspensionorexpulsion,theboard
13shallconsidertheevidenceandstatementsthatthepartiespresentandshallconsider
14reasonablealternativemeasurestosuspensionfromschoolorexpulsionincluding,but
15notlimitedto,restorativejusticetechniques,alternativebehaviorstrategies,responsive
16classroominterventions,positivebehavioralsupportsandinterventions,orachangein
17classassignmentinthesamegradewithadifferentteacherifsuchachangeisavailable
18andappropriate.
19 (b)Theboardmayconsiderrecordsofpastdisciplinaryactions,criminalcourt
20recordsorjuvenilecourtrecordsconsistentwithotherprovisionsofthelaw,ortheactionsof
21thepupilwhichwouldconstituteacriminaloffense.
22 (c)Theboardmayprovidebygeneralrulenotinconsistentwiththissectionforthe
23procedureandconductofsuchhearings.
24 (5)Aftermeetingwiththesuperintendentor[his]thesuperintendent'sdesigneeto
25discusstheexpulsion,theparent,custodianorthestudent,ifatleasteighteenyearsofage,
26may,inwriting,waiveanyrighttoahearingbeforetheboardofeducation.
27 2.Nopupilshallbesuspendedfromschoolorexpelledifthesolebasisforsuch
28removalistruancyorotherabsencesfromschool.
29 3.Exceptasotherwiseprovidedinsection160.261andthissection,nopupil
30enrolledinpreschoolthroughgradethreeshallbesuspendedfromschoolorexpelled.
31 4.Theschoolboardofanydistrict,afternoticetoparentsorothershavingcustodial
32careandahearinguponthematter,maysuspendapupiluponafindingthatthepupilhas
HCSHB159 5 33beencharged,convictedorpledguiltyinacourtofgeneraljurisdictionforthecommissionof
34afelonycriminalviolationofstateorfederallaw.Atahearingrequiredbythissubsection,
35theboardshallconsiderstatementsthatthepartiespresent.Theboardmayprovideforthe
36procedureandconductofsuchhearings.
37 [3.]5.Theschoolboardshallmakeagood-faithefforttohavetheparentsorothers
38havingcustodialcarepresentatanysuchhearing.Notwithstandinganyotherprovisionof
39lawtothecontrary,studentdisciplinehearingsorproceedingsrelatedtotherightsofstudents
40toattendschoolortoreceiveacademiccreditshallnotberequiredtocomplywiththe
41requirementsapplicabletocontestedcasehearingsasprovidedinchapter536,providedthat
42appropriatedueprocessproceduresshallbeobservedwhichshallincludetherightforatrial
43denovobythecircuitcourt.
44 6.Eachschooldistrictshallprohibit,innameandpractice,anyzero-tolerance
45disciplinarypolicyorpracticeofdisciplinethatresultsinanautomaticdisciplinary
46consequenceagainstapupilwithoutthediscretiontomodifysuchdisciplinary
47consequenceonacase-by-casebasis,suchasautomaticdetention,suspension,or
48expulsionortheautomaticimpositionofotherdisciplinarymeasures.
âś”
HCSHB159 6