HB 2251 establishes Missouri's "Free School Meals Program," requiring participating public, charter, and private schools to provide all students with free breakfast and lunch daily. Schools must qualify by participating in the USDA National School Lunch Program and meeting specific student eligibility thresholds. The state reimburses schools for the difference between federal meal reimbursement rates and the actual federal funds received per meal, covering up to one free breakfast and one free lunch per student each day. This program applies only to schools already enrolled in USDA meal programs with identified student poverty rates meeting federal criteria. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education administers the state aid payments and sets implementation rules.
HB 1934 establishes a 15-member "College Admission and Financial Aid Letter Consistency Task Force" to create standardized forms for public colleges and universities in Missouri. The task force, appointed by specified groups including students, parents, college administrators, and counselors, must develop standard admission and financial aid letters by January 1, 2027. The standardized financial aid letter must clearly list estimated costs (tuition, fees, books, etc.), all aid types with repayment explanations, graduation rates, and a glossary of terms. This bill directly affects public Missouri colleges/universities, requiring them to adopt these standardized letters for student communications.
SB 1097 prohibits the establishment of new charter schools in St. Louis City starting August 28, 2026. This directly affects organizations seeking to open new charter schools in St. Louis City after that date, though it allows renewal of existing charter contracts and transfers of sponsorship. The bill amends Missouri law to restrict new charter school operations in St. Louis City while maintaining exceptions for current charter school renewals and sponsorship changes. The key mechanism is a specific cutoff date (August 28, 2026) for new charter school authorization in that city.
SB 1123 prohibits school staff from providing explicit sexual material to students in an official capacity, defining such material as depictions of sexual acts or genitalia (excluding educational science materials, art, or anthropology). It classifies this as a class A misdemeanor and bars school districts employing convicted individuals from receiving state funds. The law specifically covers teachers, librarians, coaches, and other school-affiliated personnel but excludes students and educational materials used in biology or sex education classes. This bill directly affects school districts and staff members found guilty of violating its provisions, with the primary mechanism being the loss of state funding for affected districts.
HB 2500 repeals Missouri's current charter school laws and replaces them with new restrictions on where charter schools may operate statewide. The bill limits charter schools to specific districts - such as unaccredited districts, large urban areas (>350,000 population), or districts with prolonged provisional accreditation - and restricts enrollment in larger districts to 35% of total students. It also changes who can sponsor charters, allowing only school boards, certain colleges, or the Missouri charter commission, while removing previous exceptions for counties like Boone. The bill does not specifically target Boone County (the title is misleading), as the changes apply uniformly across all Missouri school districts.
HB 2417, the "Parents' Bill of Rights of 2026," grants parents and guardians specific access rights regarding their minor child's education in public schools and charter schools. It requires schools to provide parents with syllabi, reading lists, and teaching staff information; prohibit nondisclosure agreements for curriculum access; obtain parental consent for diversity, equity, and inclusion activities; and notify parents within 48 hours of specific safety incidents like assaults or weapon incidents. The bill also mandates access to student records, financial information about third-party contracts, and the right to object to classroom materials related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Parents can file complaints with local prosecutors if denied these rights, who may seek court orders to enforce them. This bill directly affects all parents of K-12 students in participating school districts.
SB 1341 would authorize a tax credit for eligible taxpayers who pay certain educational expenses, such as tuition or qualified training costs. The bill would allow these taxpayers to reduce their state income tax liability by a specified amount based on their qualifying expenses. However, the official abstract does not specify which educational expenses qualify, the credit amount, or the exact eligibility criteria for taxpayers. As a prefiled bill (first read on 2026-01-07), it remains under consideration and has not yet become law.
SB 855 - Under this act, the State Board of Education shall convene a work group called the "Humanity Education Curriculum Framework Work Group" for purposes of developing a curriculum framework that teachers may use when teaching students in grades 6-12 about the dehumanization of marginalized groups in Missouri. The act defines "dehumanization" as the violation of a person's human rights or bodily autonomy. A "marginalized group" may include persons who have been subjected to dehumanization for reasons that may relate to their national origin, race, or sex. Members of the work group shall include, but shall not be limited to, educators or other experts in the areas of history, human rights, or social science. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shall develop the curriculum framework in consultation with the work group. The act outlines the topics that the curriculum framework shall address. Such topics shall include, but shall not be limited to, a study of the dehumanization practices that have occurred in Missouri's history and the interventions that may be available to prevent such dehumanization practices in the future. The curriculum framework shall also include the story of Celia, a victim of chattel slavery and sexual violence who was executed in Missouri in 1855 for defending herself against her owner, Robert Newsom. The act describes certain marginalized groups that shall be included in the curriculum framework and awareness weeks or months with which the curriculum framework may be aligned. DESE shall conduct a pilot program to study the impact and success of the curriculum framework in consultation with the work group in up to 25 school districts or schools within a school district in the 2027-28 and 2028-29 school years. All participating schools or districts shall be provided the curriculum framework and offered the opportunity to participate in the "Celia Professional Development Program for Teachers" that shall be developed by the work group and DESE. Such program shall include instructional guidance and examples of curriculum resources that are age appropriate and consistent with the curriculum framework, as described in the act. The program shall also include instructional guidance on class visits to historic sites in Missouri relating to the story of Celia's enslavement, abuse, and execution. All schools or districts that participate in the pilot program shall provide a plan of professional development to such district's or school's teachers and may voluntarily participate in the Celia Professional Development Program for Teachers. Upon the completion of the first year of the pilot program, DESE shall evaluate the success and impact of the pilot program and shall report the results of such evaluation to the General Assembly, as specified in the act. Beginning in the 2029-30 school year and in all subsequent school years, the curriculum framework and Celia Professional Development Program for Teachers shall be made available to all school districts and charter schools in the state. This act is identical to SB 21 (2025) and substantially similar to SB 1446 (2024). OLIVIA SHANNON
HB 1757 requires school districts to establish state-approved gifted education programs if 3% or more of students are identified as needing specialized services, starting in the 2024-25 school year. It mandates universal screenings for all students before third grade using multiple assessment methods (like academic achievement and creativity), prohibits using Advanced Placement courses alone for identification, and sets teacher certification requirements based on district size. Districts must also create parent notification processes and appeal procedures for gifted program eligibility decisions. The bill directly affects school districts, teachers, gifted students, and their families by standardizing how districts identify and serve gifted students.
SB 1040 would allow metropolitan school districts to seek voter approval for a 0.25% sales tax specifically to fund special educational services. The tax would be listed separately on receipts and require a majority "yes" vote in a general election. If approved, revenue would go into a dedicated trust fund, with 1% covering collection costs, and all funds must stay separate from state money. The tax cannot be imposed without voter consent and can only be used for special education programs within the district.
