Missouri House Bill HB387

Missouri 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/8/25
• Refer: 5/15/25

Caption

Requires the state board of education to provide for a transition to a special administrative board for certain unaccredited school districts

Impact

If enacted, HB 387 would empower the state board of education to appoint special administrative boards to manage the operations of any school district that is initially classified as unaccredited. These boards would be responsible for implementing educational programs, managing finances, and providing necessary resources to ensure the district meets accreditation criteria. The intended impact is a systematic overhaul of how education is delivered in these underperforming districts while ensuring a higher level of accountability and transparency in school governance.

Summary

House Bill 387 seeks to address the governance of unaccredited school districts by transitioning these districts to special administrative boards, which would oversee their operations. The bill proposes the repeal of existing sections 162.081 and 162.083 of the Missouri Revised Statutes and enacts new provisions aimed at improving the educational standards in these districts. This legislative action is a response to ongoing concerns about educational inadequacies in schools that have failed or refused to meet the state's minimum requirements for accreditation. By instituting special oversight, the bill aims to hold these districts accountable and assist them in achieving full accreditation status.

Contention

There are notable points of contention surrounding HB 387, particularly in regard to the implications for local governance and community involvement. Critics argue that transitioning oversight to appointed boards might diminish local control and that community voices could be sidelined in educational decisions. Supporters, however, contend that immediate state intervention is necessary to correct long-standing educational deficiencies in these districts, which they believe can only be remedied through a more authoritative approach by experienced educational professionals.