Bill > HB1704

This bill creates the Education Freedom Act, which modifies how public elementary and secondary schools are assessed in Missouri. The legislation establishes a new statewide assessment system that aims to comply with federal testing requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act, with the assessment results to be used only for federal compliance and determining district performance. School districts and charter schools must create their own local assessment systems that are authentic to student learning, related to curricula, and developed in consultation with administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community members. The bill introduces a new grade-level equivalence metric with performance descriptors ranging from "Below Basic" to "Advanced" to help track student academic progress. Additionally, the bill changes school accountability reporting requirements, mandating that districts and charter schools publish annual reports on a data dashboard with detailed information about school performance, including enrollment, attendance, graduation rates, and student achievement. For the 2027-28 through 2031-32 school years, the state board of education will recognize multiple national school accreditation agencies, allowing districts more flexibility in obtaining accreditation. The legislation aims to provide more local control and transparency in educational assessment and reporting.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1704&year=2026&code=R