HCS HB 1059 -- SCHOOL CREDIT

SPONSOR:  Cunningham (86)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Elementary and Secondary Education by a vote of 13 to 0.

This substitute establishes procedures for evaluation of credit
when a student enters a public school from an unaccredited
public, any nonpublic school, or a home school.  The school
district must provide a written explanation of enrollment, credit
issuance, grade placement, and the appeal process.  The district
will review course work, test results, transcripts, and
performance data to determine credit and grade level within 30
days.  If the district is not able to make a determination from
the data it was given, it may administer a proficiency
assessment, set by school board policy.  Incoming students will
be judged by the same criteria for passing as current students.
Board policies must be reasonable and nondiscriminatory.  If
course work does not fulfill a district's curricular objectives,
elective credit may be awarded if the course is sufficiently
documented.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, and
FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that where a student has been
educated may have an undue effect on the evaluation of his or her
transcript, and the evaluation may be different from district to
district.  The bill provides guidelines to promote a more
consistent evaluation process.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Cunningham (86); and
Sharon Sevier, Parkway School District.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say the State Board of
Education sets down the basic graduation requirements, but
individual districts control what credits will be allowed and
grant the diploma.

Others testifying on the bill was Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education.

Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:41 am