Missouri Senate discusses open-enrollment education bill
Mitchell Kaminski
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri Senate is discussing a bill that would make the Show Me State an open-enrollment state.
On Wednesday, the Senate took up House Bill 711 for a third reading and final passage. The legislation would allow K-12 public schools to decide whether to accept students from neighboring districts.
House Bill 711, sponsored by Rep. Brad Pollit (R-Sedalia), passed the state House in March with an 88-69 vote. It marks the fifth consecutive year the bill has cleared the House.
The legislation would cap student transfers at 3%, create a special education fund and delay varsity sports eligibility for high school transfers. Pollit’s bill would also not require participating districts to add teachers, staff, or classrooms to accommodate transfer students.
During Wednesday’s Senate session, proponents of the bill argued that it mimics the “free market” and motivates districts to improve.
This bill includes funding for transportation, which was not included in past iterations of the bill. It also includes open enrollment into charter schools.
However, the Senate Floor began discussing a provision from Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern (D- Clay County) that would exclude charter schools from open enrollment.
Nurrenbern argued that in March, 255 schools across the state passed a resolution in opposition to the education reform bill.
“447,359 students attend these schools, and those school leaders are saying loud and clear that this is not good for our community,” Nurrenberg said on the Senate floor Wednesday.
Just after 5 pm, that bill was placed on the Senate’s informal calendar for a third reading on Thursday.