HB 1272 -- Metropolitan School District Improvement Act

Sponsor:  El-Amin

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

(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)  Redraws the school district's election subdistricts;

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

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

(5)  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;

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

(7)  Establishes at least one alternative school;

(8)  Imposes a dress code requiring students to wear a school
uniform; and

(9)  Establishes a longer school year of 204 days and 1,344
hours.

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

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