Publications: SAC Legislative Bulletin

SAC Legislative Bulletin

April 21, 2006

SAC Legislative Bulletin

The official legislative newsletter for the School Administrators Coalition (SAC) which includes

MASA, MAESP, MASSP, MO-CASE, MUSIC, MO K-8, MARE, MSHSAA, & MAPT

For a complete listing of bill summaries that impact education go to
http://www.mcsa.org/reference

If you can not access this link, simply copy and paste the above address in your browser.

PUBLIC SCHOOL CHOICE DEBATE DELAYED

Due to lobbying efforts of the education community this past week, HCS for HB 1939 was not taken up for debate by the House of Representatives.

HCS for HB 1939 sponsored by Rep. Hunter would authorize open enrollment for public school students in any Missouri public school and establish procedures for both intra-district (within the school district) and inter-district (between public school districts) transfers at the behest of parents rather than the school district. The School Administrators Coalition is opposed to the bill. Reasons for opposition include:

1. Empowering parents has not worked well through the years with regard to educating special education students as outlined by federal IDEA statutes and regulations. SAC believes many of the same problems encountered with IDEA could accompany an open enrollment plan.
2. There are serious funding issues that could impact school district finance. One funding issue is that the receiving school district only receives the amount of funding per student that the sending school district spends. For example, if a student from district A that spends $6,000 per student wishes to attend district B that spends $8,000 per student, district B only receives $6,000 for educating that student and the taxpayers in District B must make up the difference.
3. Although not part of the present bill, if HB 1939 is enacted into law, pressure will undoubtedly be exerted by families to allow the transfer students to participate immediately in extracurricular activities including athletics at their school of choice.
4. Many small schools may not be able to survive the impact of even a few students choosing to attend alternative schools and may lead to forced consolidation of school districts.
5. The impact on vocational school services in an open enrollment program is uncertain.
6. Major issues are created regarding transportation, class sizes, instructional materials and teacher assignment problems for both the receiving school district and the district from which the students are departing.

It is widely expected that HCS for HB 1939 will be taken up when the House of Representatives reconvenes next week. Please continue to urge your state representative to vote NO on HCS for HB 1939.

SUMMER SCHOOL PENALTY

HCS for SB 644 which was referred to the House Rules Committee on March 29 remains in that committee awaiting further action. HCS for SB 644 would reduce the minimum attendance threshold for summer school in 2006 as compared to summer school attendance in 2005 to avoid any penalty for summer school attendance to eighty percent. The substitute bill would, also, set the minimum attendance threshold for summer school without penalty in 2007 at seventy percent and for 2008 and thereafter at sixty-five percent. Additionally, the penalties for summer school funding in HCS for SB 600 would only apply to any excess reduction in summer school attendance below the minimum attendance percentages.

Following a meeting this past week between MASA representatives and Newton Learning representatives, a consensus plan was agreed to and Newton Learning lobbyists and other representatives are working hand-in-hand with School Administrator Coalition (SAC) lobbyists to secure the passage of SB 644.

School administrators are urged to contact their state representative as soon as possible and to ask him/her to support the passage of HCS for SB 644.

TUITION TAX CREDITS

Yet another week has passed and HCS for HB 1783 and 1479 has not been taken up for debate on the House floor. The efforts of school administrators and public school supporters have delayed debate on the bill but those efforts must be continued to ensure the bill does not regain momentum. During these last weeks of the legislative session, tuition tax credits could be offered as an amendment on several other education bills.

HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND FINANCE

APPROVES OMNIBUS EDUCATION BILL

The House Special Committee on Student Achievement and Finance met on April 19 and approved a committee substitute for SB 894 sponsored by Sen. Nodler. SB 894 would require school districts with an operating levy below $3.43 to annually declare whether they are providing an adequate education to students. If the district declares that it is not providing an adequate education, the inadequacy is deemed due to a lack of local effort. The HCS for SB 894 includes not only the provisions of SB 894 but also includes the following: 1) HB 1275 sponsored by Rep. Baker which establishes the Missouri Virtual Schools program; 2) HCS HB 1218 sponsored by Rep. Kraus which requires school districts to adopt bullying policies; 3) a slight variation on HB 1511 sponsored by Rep. Lager which requires school districts receiving Title I or Missouri Preschool Projects Funds to meet early childhood standards established by DESE and an amendment offered by Rep. Baker to establish a voluntary certificate known as the "ready to work" endorsement for high school students. DESE would create a program that includes work readiness components and objective assessment techniques using current workforce assessments. Through the certification, school districts would assure employers that the student is "ready to work".

Essentially, the bill would establish a public school operated by DESE. This virtual school would be required to comply with all statutes, rules and regulations applicable to public schools, including participation in MSIP and MAP, fulfilling the requirements of NCLB, and complying with teacher certification and curriculum standards. The original bill would have required all students to enroll in their local school district and advise that district of their intent to participate in the virtual school program. The virtual school would then receive 85 percent of the state adequacy target for each child enrolled, and the school district would receive 15 percent of the current state aid per eligible pupil and would retain all local monies attributable to that student. A committee amendment was offered which would eliminate the requirement that all students enroll with the local school district and, instead, provide the students and their families with the option to enroll. If the student and his/her family should opt to enroll, the school district would receive 15 percent of the state funds allocated for the student and retain all local funds. However, if the student and his/her family should opt not to enroll, the school district would receive no state funds for that student, and the virtual school would receive 100 percent of the state adequacy target. Funds supporting the virtual school portion of state aid would be subject to a separate appropriation annually.

BONDING CAPACITY INDEBTEDNESS LIMIT

SJR 31 would allow the voters to determine whether the bonded indebtedness limit should be raised from 15 percent to 20 percent to allow school districts greater capacity to construct new buildings and make needed improvements to school district facilities. SJR 31 was passed by the Senate without opposition and was assigned to the Special Committee on Student Achievement and Finance. It will be heard on Tuesday, April 25, at 8:00 a.m. Please contact your state representative and ask him/her to support SJR 31.

RULES COMMITTEE APPROVES

OMNIBUS EDUCATION BILL

The House Rules Committee approved HCS for HB 2008, 1901, 1218 and 1062 on Tuesday, April 18 with a vote of 4-2. The bill includes the following: authorizes alternative teacher certification through the American Board for the Certification of Teacher Excellence; requires the adoption of anti-bullying policies; imposes term limits on the members of the Governing Council of the Special School District in St. Louis County; removes the requirement for local voter approval for attaching a portion of a lapsed district with greater than 5,000; limits the bond registration fee charged by the State Auditor to fifty dollars per hour; allows for alteration of attendance requirements when a natural disaster, pandemic disease or man-made disaster occur; requires the adoption of a plan for the continuation of education services when a pandemic disease or disaster impairs the ability to meet and conduct school; and, expands charter school sponsors to include private four-year colleges and universities in St. Louis.

SENATE APPROVED BUDGET FOR FY2007

The Missouri Senate approved its version of the 2007 budget this week. The Senate version included an additional $5.7 million for formula funding to meet the revised estimates from DESE for funding the first-year phase-in of the new formula. The Senate also added $725,000 to the transportation categorical. The budget bill will now go to a conference committee to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions. Both chambers must approve the budget bills by May 5.

According to our records, the following individuals represent

at least a portion of your school district.

Senator(s)

Chris Koster (R) Phone: (573) 751-1430

Representative(s)

Shannon Cooper (R) Phone: (573) 751-1484

David Pearce (R) Phone: (573) 751-2272

Michael McGhee (R) Phone: (573) 751-1462

You have received this message as benefit of your membership

in one of the organizations above. To discontinue this correspondence contact: bulletin@mcsa.org