Signed by Governor Jay Nixon

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends the state intervention process for school districts classified as unaccredited.

Highlights:

• Repeals the requirement that any school district classified as unaccredited for 2 successive school years by the State Board of Education have its corporate organization lapse (Sec. A). 

• Authorizes the Board to complete the following upon classification of a school district as unaccredited (Sec. A):
• The Board may authorize the continued governance by the existing local district board of education under terms established by the Board; and
• The Board may lapse the corporate organization of the district and complete certain tasks including, but not limited to, appoint a “special administrative board” for the district, determine an alternative governing structure for the district, or “attach” the territory of the district to another district.  

• Specifies that the Board is required to lapse the corporate organization of the district if a district remains under continued governance by the existing local school board and meets the following conditions (Sec. A):
• The district has been unaccredited for 3 consecutive school years and did not attain accredited status after the third school year; or
• The district has been unaccredited for 2 consecutive school years and the Board determines its “academic progress” is not consistent with attaining accredited status after the third school year.

• Prohibits a teacher from being dismissed from his or her position for certain reasons including, but not limited to, “incompetency” (Sec. A).

• Specifies that “incompetency” is cause for dismissal of a teacher only after the teacher has been notified in writing the nature of the “incompetency” at least 30 days prior to the presentment of charges by the superintendent of the school district (Sec. A).

• Specifies that if it is necessary to decrease the number of teachers because of insufficient funds or a “substantial” decrease in pupil population within the school district, the Board is authorized to place the necessary amount of teachers on leave of absence without pay in inverse order of the teacher appointments (Sec. A).

• Prohibits school districts from hiring teachers while there are available qualified teachers on unrequested leave of absence (Sec. A).

Full Bill Text