HB 2722 establishes a dedicated liaison position within Missouri's Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development to support homeless students pursuing postsecondary education. The bill creates a dedicated fund to finance this role and requires the liaison to develop databases tracking homeless students' graduation and retention rates, connect students to campus resources like housing and food banks, and collaborate with high schools and colleges. It directly affects homeless students in Missouri colleges by creating a centralized point of contact to address barriers like housing instability and access to support services. The liaison must be nonpartisan, independent of other homeless service providers, and focus exclusively on this role to improve educational outcomes for this population.
HB 3024 requires public and charter schools to implement suicide prevention measures for students and staff. Starting in 2023-24, all teachers and licensed educators must complete at least two hours of annual suicide prevention training, including Columbia Protocol risk assessment tools by 2027. Schools serving grades 7-12 must print the 988 suicide lifeline number on student ID cards starting July 2025, and all high schools must provide mental health awareness instruction to students during their four years of high school. The bill directly affects school districts, educators, and students by mandating training, policy updates, and visible crisis resources.
HB 3139 requires Missouri schools to establish standardized computer science courses covering topics like AI, cybersecurity, and algorithms for all grades. It allows these courses to count toward math or science graduation credits while mandating schools to inform students and parents about potential college admission impacts. The bill creates a dedicated fund for teacher training in computer science and requires all high schools to offer at least one CS course by 2023. Schools must also report student demographics in these courses to track participation across gender, race, and special education status.
HB 2900 expands Missouri's scholarship program to allow eligible students with disabilities or from low-income families to use state funds for private school tuition. It defines "qualified students" as those with IEPs/504 plans or from households earning under 300% of free lunch income, and requires participating schools (including private, charter, and virtual schools) to not discriminate based on protected characteristics. The bill ensures public schools retain state funding for students who leave for scholarship programs for up to five years. This maintains public school funding stability while expanding school choice options under specific eligibility criteria.
HB 2839 requires Missouri high schools to offer a course on U.S. and Missouri government, electoral processes, and American history (including specific coverage of the racial equality movement) to all students in grades 9-12. Students must pass a statewide exam on the U.S. and Missouri Constitutions, American history, and civics to graduate, with limited exemptions for transfer students from other states. School districts must annually nominate students for recognition based on academic achievement and community service related to government and citizenship. The requirements do not apply to foreign exchange students.
HB 3031 modifies Missouri's teacher certification rules by expanding grounds for license discipline and revocation. It automatically revokes teaching licenses for teachers convicted of specific serious offenses, including sexual crimes against children, murder, and certain felonies, as listed in subsection 6. School districts and the state education department can file disciplinary charges for violations like fraud, incompetence, or criminal convictions, with hearings requiring 30 days' notice. Teachers facing license revocation can appeal to the state board of education within 90 days, with a hearing process outlined in the bill.
HB 2017 is a 2026-2027 fiscal year appropriations bill that allocates specific state funds for education-related projects. It authorizes $1.59 million for facility upgrades at Special Acres School for the Severely Disabled, $2.02 million for Autumn Hill State School renovations, $4.27 million for career-technical equipment in specific school districts, and additional funds for school safety training, vocational grants, and other education programs. The bill directs these funds through designated state revenue accounts to support existing projects previously authorized under prior bills. As a procedural appropriations measure, it does not create new policy but provides funding for designated educational facilities and programs during the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
HB 2744 requires Missouri public schools to implement specific human growth and development instruction, beginning in the 2026-27 school year. The curriculum must include medically accurate information on abstinence as the preferred choice, sexually transmitted diseases, contraception (including success rates), emotional consequences of teen pregnancy, consent, sexual harassment, violence, online safety, and fetal development through two mandated videos. Schools must notify parents about the content and allow them to remove students from the instruction. The bill prohibits the use of abortion-related materials in this curriculum.
HB 3077 requires all public school districts to develop and implement a mandatory curriculum on responsible social media use for students, beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The curriculum must cover specific topics including social/emotional effects on teens, mental health impacts, disinformation risks, online safety, cyberbullying identification, and reporting procedures. School districts may use third-party approved materials instead of creating their own, and must also provide families with resources on parental controls, screen time limits, and digital well-being. The bill directly affects K-12 students and school districts across the state by mandating structured education on navigating social media safely.
HB 3140 creates a mileage reimbursement component for Missouri's existing dual enrollment scholarship program. It provides eligible high school students with reimbursement for transportation costs (37 cents per mile) when attending dual enrollment courses at locations other than their high school, if the school doesn't offer transportation. To qualify, students must meet standard eligibility requirements including Missouri residency, a 2.5 GPA, and one indicator of economic need (like SNAP or free lunch eligibility). Reimbursements are calculated based on round-trip mileage, require record-keeping, and are paid quarterly. The program is funded through the newly established "Dual Credit and Dual Enrollment Scholarship Fund."
