Bill > SB70

This bill establishes a comprehensive Public School Open Enrollment Act that allows students to transfer between school districts starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Under this legislation, students can apply to attend school in a non-resident district, subject to certain limitations and conditions. School districts and charter schools are not required to participate, but those that do must establish clear policies for accepting and rejecting transfer applications. The bill creates a Parent Public School Choice Fund with an initial $60 million appropriation to help support transfer-related costs, including transportation reimbursement for low-income students transferring to neighboring districts. Transfer students must commit to staying in the non-resident district for at least one full school year, and while siblings of transferred students can also transfer, there are restrictions on athletics eligibility to prevent transfers motivated primarily by sports opportunities. The bill includes provisions to protect racial diversity in school districts, allows districts with court-ordered desegregation plans to be exempt, and requires the state education department to collect and study data on transfer impacts. Importantly, the bill aims to provide more educational options for students while maintaining local district autonomy and preventing potential abuses of the transfer system.

Education

https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=521