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 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 3142 creates a new program for nonprofit organizations to operate "adult high schools" in specific Missouri counties, targeting adults facing barriers like educational disadvantages or homelessness. These schools must offer high school diplomas, industry certifications, and childcare, with strict location requirements (e.g., one per designated county type) and partnerships with postsecondary institutions. The bill sets academic standards for diplomas (matching traditional rigor without differentiating marks), allows flexible pacing, and requires schools to address student barriers like homelessness or disabilities. It also repeals and replaces existing camp licensing provisions, though the core focus is on the adult education program.
SB 1198 is a proposed bill requiring all public schools to provide instruction in human growth and development. It would directly affect students in public K-12 schools by mandating this curriculum be included in their education. The bill's key mechanism is a straightforward requirement for school districts to incorporate this subject into their instructional programs. The bill is currently in early stages (prefiled, awaiting first reading) and does not specify grade levels, content details, or exemptions.
HB 1628 modifies Missouri's higher education and workforce development laws by creating a "Ready to Work" endorsement program for high school seniors, allowing schools to certify students meeting specific academic and work-readiness standards by June 2007. It reorganizes the workforce development governance structure, renaming the "Missouri Workforce Investment Board" to the "Workforce Development Board" and aligning its operations with federal WIOA requirements. The bill also requires the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development to coordinate state and federal job training resources, including ensuring economically disadvantaged individuals have access to new job opportunities created through state business assistance programs. These changes directly affect high school students, local workforce boards, and state agencies managing job training and employment services.
HB 2217 requires public school districts and colleges to submit detailed information about their curricula and textbooks to a state-run online database. School districts must provide syllabi, textbook bibliographic details (title, author, website), and curriculum links every six months, while colleges must report course descriptions and textbook information. The database will be searchable by the public, with protections for copyright compliance (no digital reproduction or infringement required). The law applies starting in the 2026-27 school year for K-12 and 2026-27 academic year for higher education. It directly affects all public schools and colleges in the state by mandating transparency in instructional materials.
HB 2097 converts a temporary pilot program for agricultural education in elementary schools into a statewide program, effective for the 2027-28 school year. Public elementary schools can voluntarily apply to participate, with participating schools required to implement and fully fund the program for at least three years. The program must include grade-appropriate instruction, collaborative learning activities, and career development opportunities. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will oversee implementation, evaluate the program’s impact, and report results to relevant legislative committees.
HB 2062 changes Missouri's higher education residency rules for tuition purposes. It requires public and private Missouri colleges receiving state funds to treat as in-state residents any student who graduated from a Missouri high school (public, private, or home) or earned a high school equivalency in Missouri. Non-citizen students must provide a written statement agreeing to pursue legal status if eligible, but institutions cannot deny admission based solely on immigration status. The bill also mandates that all residency information collected during admission stays confidential.
SB 978 requires all public school districts and charter schools to provide instruction on human growth and development to students. This mandate directly affects K-12 schools and their curricula, though the bill does not specify exact content or grade levels. The bill's key provision is a new requirement for schools to incorporate this topic into their instructional programs. As of now, the bill is pending review by the Senate Education Committee after being prefaced and read for the first time in early 2026.
