HCS HB 1040 -- EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY (Cunningham, 86)

ASSESSMENTS AND ACCREDITATION

By June 30, 2006, the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education will align assessment performance standards to create
four levels, correlated with grade level expectations established
by the department.  The "at-grade level" standard will align with
the "proficient" standard used in the National Assessment of
Educational Progress.  The department will make other changes
necessary to meet federal requirements; and by July 1, 2006, the
department will revise its accreditation standards to permit
process and resource standard waivers consistent with academic
performance profiles.  The accreditation scoring rubric must not
require points for the Parents as Teachers Program, although
deficiencies may be noted as an area of concern and must reward
districts that use instructional technology to accomplish their
advanced placement goals.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Beginning with school year 2004-2005, summer school attendance
must be counted for the year in which it occurs; attendance from
previous years' summer school will not count.  This substitute
clarifies that the nepotism provisions of the Missouri
Constitution apply to school districts.  Districts serving the
same students, such as K-8 districts and the districts that
provide high schools to those districts, must make a good-faith
effort to coordinate their school calendars.  Districts and their
bus contractors must consult the sex offender registration list
before deciding upon the location of bus stops, and buses must
carry passenger manifests.  Districts must provide the results of
bus safety inspections and any corporate safety information to
parents each year.

STUDENTS

Students who are suspended for acts of violence or drug-related
activity cannot be within 1,000 feet of any public school under
certain conditions outlined in the substitute.  The City of St.
Louis school district is permitted to raise its compulsory school
attendance age to 17 by action of the school board.  The
substitute permits districts to develop incentives or
supplementary work as a consequence of a student's performance on
the statewide assessments.

OTHER PROVISIONS

The department must seek feedback on its rules and regulations
and give priority to the review of existing regulations that
could be relaxed in hard economic times, as defined in the
substitute, without affecting student achievement.  The
department will audit district transportation contracts annually.
The Division of Family Services cannot meet with a child in the
same school or child care facility where abuse is alleged to have
occurred.  Currently, the division cannot meet with a child at
any school or child care facility.  This provision contains an
emergency clause.

FISCAL NOTE:  Total Estimated Net Cost on General Revenue Fund of
$0 in FY 2005, $527,188 to $741,410 in FY 2006, and $532,460 to
$748,834 in FY 2007.  Total Estimated Net Effect on Other State
Funds of $0 in FY 2005, FY 2006, and FY 2007.

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:14 am