HB 2038 -- MISSOURI SENIOR CADETS PROGRAM

SPONSOR:  Moore

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Higher
Education by a vote of 7 to 2.

This bill establishes the Missouri Senior Cadets Program for
college-bound high school seniors with a grade point average of
at least 3.0.  Public high schools will establish cadet programs
in which the cadets will assist kindergarten through eighth grade
students with their educational needs for at least 10 hours a
week.  Successful cadets will get an hour of elective credit to
be applied to their high school graduation and may, if they
attend college to become a teacher, be reimbursed by the
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the cost of
three credit hours per semester for no more than eight semesters.

The Missouri Senior Cadets Fund is created and will consist of
all moneys appropriated, gifts, contributions, grants, or
bequests which are to be used solely for tuition reimbursements
under this program.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of $0 in FY
2007, $46,585 in FY 2008, and $4,862,817 in FY 2009.  Subject to
appropriation.  No impact on Other State Funds in FY 2007, FY
2008, and FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that "growing your own" teachers is a
very effective way of getting good students to commit to becoming
teachers.  Teacher candidates who have early positive field
experiences make strongly committed teachers, and current
teachers and students benefit from the help of the cadets.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Moore; Dr. Patrick
Henry, Lincoln University; St. Louis Public Schools; Missouri
State Teachers Association; Kathy Buckley; Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education; and Cooperating School
Districts of Greater Kansas City.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:45 am