Vetoed by Governor Jay Nixon

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that amends school transfer laws.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a student who has attended an unaccredited school in an unaccredited district for at least 1 semester to transfer to an accredited school in the student’s district of residence, unless the transfer will cause the class size of the receiving school to exceed state standards (Sec. A).

• Authorizes a student who has attended an unaccredited school in an unaccredited district for at least 1 semester, and is unable to transfer to an accredited school in the student’s district of residence, to apply for a transfer to 1 of the following schools (Sec. A.):
• An accredited school in an accredited school district in the same or an adjoining county; or
• A nonsectarian private school in the district of residence.

• Specifies that the option for a student to transfer from an unaccredited school in an unaccredited district to a non-sectarian private school must be approved by the unaccredited district’s voters (Sec. A).

• Authorizes a student in an unaccredited district to transfer to a nonsectarian private school if the district remains unaccredited for 3 consecutive years, regardless of whether the voters authorize the option (Sec. A).

• Requires an unaccredited school district to pay the tuition for transferred students attending a nonsectarian private school or an accredited school in another district as a condition for state financial aid (Sec. A).

• Prohibits a receiving school district from receiving tuition from a sending school district that exceeds the receiving school district’s per pupil expenditure for resident students (Sec. A). 

• Authorizes a receiving district that chooses to charge a sending district 70 percent or less of the normal tuition rate to not include any transfer student assessment and performance scores in statewide performance evaluations for 5 years and to have this choice included in the consideration to classify the district as “accredited with distinction” (Sec. A).

• Specifies that the state Supplemental Tuition Fund will pay for 10 percent of the receiving district’s tuition, if the receiving district chooses to charge a sending district 90 percent or less of the normal tuition rate (Sec. A).

• Prohibits a district receiving a transfer student from being required to provide transportation for the student (Sec. A).

• Establishes the St. Louis Area Education Authority to coordinate local student transfers from unaccredited schools in accredited districts to accredited districts and, if applicable, to nonsectarian private schools (Sec. A).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that amends school transfer laws.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a student who has attended an unaccredited school in an unaccredited district for at least 1 semester to transfer to an accredited school in the student’s district of residence, unless the transfer will cause the class size of the receiving school to exceed state standards (Sec. A).

• Authorizes a student who has attended an unaccredited school in an unaccredited district for at least 1 semester, and is unable to transfer to an accredited school in the student’s district of residence, to apply for a transfer to 1 of the following schools (Sec. A.):
• An accredited school in an accredited school district in the same or an adjoining county; or
• A nonsectarian private school in the district of residence.

• Specifies that the option for a student to transfer from an unaccredited school in an unaccredited district to a non-sectarian private school must be approved by the unaccredited district’s voters (Sec. A).

• Authorizes a student in an unaccredited district to transfer to a nonsectarian private school if the district remains unaccredited for 3 consecutive years, regardless of whether the voters authorize the option (Sec. A).

• Requires an unaccredited school district to pay the tuition for transferred students attending a nonsectarian private school or an accredited school in another district as a condition for state financial aid (Sec. A).

• Prohibits a receiving school district from receiving tuition from a sending school district that exceeds the receiving school district’s per pupil expenditure for resident students (Sec. A). 

• Authorizes a receiving district that chooses to charge a sending district 70 percent or less of the normal tuition rate to not include any transfer student assessment and performance scores in statewide performance evaluations for 5 years and to have this choice included in the consideration to classify the district as “accredited with distinction” (Sec. A).

• Specifies that the state Supplemental Tuition Fund will pay for 10 percent of the receiving district’s tuition, if the receiving district chooses to charge a sending district 90 percent or less of the normal tuition rate (Sec. A).

• Prohibits a district receiving a transfer student from being required to provide transportation for the student (Sec. A).

• Establishes the St. Louis Area Education Authority to coordinate local student transfers from unaccredited schools in accredited districts to accredited districts and, if applicable, to nonsectarian private schools (Sec. A).

Full Bill Text