Bill > HB2157

This bill enacts the Missouri Released-Time Education Act, which requires school districts to develop policies allowing students to be excused from school for religious instruction courses. Under the bill, parents can request that their children attend a released-time course for one to five hours per week, subject to specific conditions: the parent must provide written consent, the sponsoring entity must maintain attendance records, transportation is the responsibility of the sponsor or parent, the entity assumes liability for the student during the course, no school district funds (beyond minimal administrative costs) are used, and the course cannot be held on school property unless under a neutral access policy. The bill mandates that school districts recognize these absences as school attendance for state aid and attendance calculations, and requires districts to potentially award academic credit for such courses based on secular criteria like instructional hours, course syllabus, assessment methods, and instructor qualifications. The bill ensures that the credit determination process is neutral and does not test for religious content. Additionally, the bill provides a mechanism for individuals or organizations to seek legal remedies if they believe a school district has violated these provisions, including injunctive relief and monetary damages.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2157&year=2026&code=R