HCS HB 1272 -- METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT IMPROVEMENT ACT

SPONSOR:  Hoskins (El-Amin)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Special Committee on
Urban Education Reform by a vote of 6 to 0.

This substitute establishes the Metropolitan School District
Improvement Act regarding public schools in the City of St.
Louis.  In its main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Authorizes a 50% tax credit to fund extended day care for
any child from three years of age to kindergarten who qualifies
for the reduced school lunch program.  Individual donations are
limited to $50,000, and the program has a $2 million limit;

(2)  Requires the district to begin a program to keep students
with the same teacher for three years, commonly known as looping;

(3)  Increases teacher starting salaries and institutes peer
performance review;

(4)  Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education to determine the top 10% of improved schools and award
a one-time bonus to certain school personnel.  The schools will
also receive $2,000 for textbooks and other educational
materials;

(5)  Requires student assessment every six weeks, with mandatory
remedial work if a student is not proficient, and teacher
assessment by examination every five years;

(6)  Establishes at least one alternative school; and

(7)  Imposes a dress code requiring students to wear a school
uniform.

The provision regarding the tax credit will expire six years from
the effective date.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of
$27,819,000 to Unknown in FY 2008, FY 2009, and FY 2010.  No
impact on Other State Funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that a focus on student achievement
and teacher quality should help the St. Louis schools improve
their academic achievement.

Testifying for the bill was Representative El-Amin.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that some of the
provisions contradict the Master Settlement Agreement.  Many of
the programs are already underway although not in the same form
as the bill requires.

Testifying against the bill were St. Louis Public Schools; and
Mary Armstrong, St. Louis American Federation of Teachers Local
420.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:21 am