Vetoed by Governor Jay Nixon

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that amends school transfer laws.

Highlights:

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

• Another public school in the student’s district;

• An approved charter school upon application acceptance; or

• An accredited school within an accredited district located in the same or adjoining county if the student is unable to transfer within their district.

• Requires the district to coordinate transfers from unaccredited schools to accredited schools within the district (Sec. A).

• Authorizes a student who has attended an unaccredited school in an unaccredited district for at least A semester to choose to enroll in a virtual school funded by the school district (Sec. A).

• Authorizes a school district or approved charter school receiving students due to unaccredited status of the sending school to negotiate a reduced tuition rate for the incoming students (Sec. A).

• Requires the district of residence to coordinate transportation to at least one school district accredited by the State Board of Education (Sec. A).

• Establishes the St. Louis Area Education Authority, the Kansas City Area Education Authority, and the Statewide Education Authority to coordinate student transfers from unaccredited schools in unaccredited districts to accredited districts (Sec. A).

• Requires the school board of any district in which a charter school is operated to convey to any charter school a sum equal to the fair market value of any school building and grounds that are not occupied by the district, subject to conditions including, but not limited to (Sec. A):

• The charter school must submit a written proposal to the district with a plan for the charter school to bring the property into compliance with all applicable codes and  for paying the costs for operating a school on the property; and

• The district accepts the proposal within 60 days of receipt.

• Specifies that if the district rejects the proposal, the charter school has 30 days to appeal the district’s decision to the Commissioner of Education (Sec. A).

• Requires school boards to list on their website any buildings that are no longer occupied (Sec. A)

Full Bill Text