It is serendipitous that the Missouri Legislature has gone back to work this month, just in time for the kick-off of national School Choice Week (Jan. 22). One of the many challenges our lawmakers face is what to do regarding the St. Louis and Kansas City public school districts. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in the Turner decision that students in unaccredited school districts have a right to enroll in a nearby accredited district. Unfortunately, the suburban districts have made it clear that they will not accept these students in any significant numbers. Thus, thousands of city students and their parents are in limbo while lawsuits are litigated.
Archive for the ‘Missouri Legislation’ category
Private school choice and the Turner decision
January 27, 2012City firefighters sue to force county schools to accept their children
January 27, 2012Missouri’s Outstanding Schools Act says that when a school district loses accreditation, as St. Louis Public Schools have, district residents are entitled to transfer to nearby accredited schools. The home district is supposed to pay for tuition and transportation, and the receiving district is supposed to accept students without regard to how many want to transfer.
Guest commentary: A to-do list for legislators
January 20, 2012The problems in St. Louis and Kansas City are enormous, but don’t make the mistake of assuming the state’s education woes only are located in the big cities. In 2011, only 32 percent of Missouri eighth-graders scored proficient or above in math, and only 35 percent scored proficient or above in reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the nation’s report card. We believe there is much room for improvement.
Charter school bill seeks broad-based changes
January 18, 2012If a bill filed for the new session of the Missouri legislature passes, charter schools could spread to more areas of the state, be sponsored by more universities, have access to more buildings and have a new commission to add to the mix. But with other education issues in play — vouchers, teacher tenure, what to do about students who want to transfer out of unaccredited school districts — winning passage for the charter bill now in the Senate, is far from assured.
StudentsFirst in Missouri
January 5, 2012StudentsFirst members across the state and bipartisan leaders in the General Assembly have asked us to join their effort to enact essential education reforms in Missouri.
Judge rejects halting transfer of students from Kansas City Public Schools
January 2, 2012Six suburban school districts were disappointed by a Jackson County judge’s decision Friday against temporarily halting the transfer of students from the unaccredited Kansas City Public Schools to outlying districts.
Mayoral takeover plan faces stiff resistance
December 23, 2011Mayor Sly James continued to push for a mayoral takeover of the Kansas City School District on Thursday, but he is facing some stiff opposition. James lobbied for the takeover during a meeting Thursday with members of the Missouri General Assembly. This came a day after a meeting with about 100 civic leaders and other interested parties at Union Station.
Suburban schools could run unaccredited KC schools
December 16, 2011Lawmakers are drafting legislation that would allow suburban districts to operate Kansas City schools that are about to lose their state accreditation after years of dismal test scores and administrative churn. The legislation also would create a central clearinghouse for families from the unaccredited St. Louis and Riverview Gardens districts to find spots for their children in charter, suburban or even private schools, said St. Louis-area Republican Sen. Jane Cunningham.
Education bill aims to increase graduation rates
December 13, 2011Senator David Pearce says in order for more Missourians to get degrees, there are several things that need to be fixed. He says retaining students at school is difficult, but in order to keep students in school, there are two other things that need to be addressed: transfer credits and remediation.
