Bill > SB898

This bill establishes a framework for creating an early education school district in St. Louis County (the only county in Missouri with over one million inhabitants) that will provide free prekindergarten programs for four-year-old children who are not yet eligible for kindergarten. The district would be created through a voter petition and election process, requiring signatures from at least 5% of votes cast in recent school board elections. If approved, the district would be governed by a seven-member elected board with the power to establish and operate prekindergarten programs, develop budgets, and levy property taxes up to 52 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. The early education district would receive state funding for eligible children, follow state early childhood education standards, and work with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop accountability metrics. Board members must be at least 24 years old, residents of the district, and would serve staggered three-year terms, with restrictions on conflicts of interest. The initial board members would be elected with varying term lengths, and the district would have the same legal powers as a seven-director school district, focusing specifically on providing high-quality prekindergarten education to eligible children.

Education

https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=215