HB 2914 establishes new standards for teacher training in Missouri to improve early literacy instruction. It requires all teacher education programs to include specific evidence-based training in reading components (like phonics, fluency, and vocabulary) for educators preparing to teach kindergarten through fifth grade. The bill creates the Missouri Advisory Board for Educator Preparation (MABEP) to advise on teacher training and mandates annual reviews of programs starting in 2027 to ensure compliance. It also creates a dedicated fund to reimburse school districts for literacy-focused initiatives, including teacher training, tutoring, and evidence-based reading materials. This bill directly affects teacher preparation programs, public school educators, and elementary students statewide.
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 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 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 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 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 1998 prohibits Missouri public schools and colleges from using state funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. This applies to all public K-12 schools and public postsecondary institutions receiving state funds, including federal funds administered through the state. The bill requires institutions using state funds for DEI to repay those funds, lose all state funding for the current fiscal year, and face withheld future funding until compliance. It also mandates departments to monitor compliance, accept public complaints, and publish annual enforcement reports.
