Education (K-12 Education)

in committee · Missouri · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2303: Requires the department of elementary and secondary education to develop a curriculum on personal finance to be used by school districts

HB 2303 requires Missouri public school districts to implement a personal finance course as a half-unit graduation requirement starting in the 2027-28 school year. The bill mandates the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to form a work group - including educators, banking representatives, and financial industry experts - to develop course standards. Students must complete this course after ninth grade to earn a high school diploma, with limited exemptions for transfer students or those with approved academic plans. The course content must cover money management, budgeting, and financial tools needed for adulthood. School districts will have until 2027 to adopt these standards, which must be reviewed every seven years.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates personal finance curriculum as graduation requirement, enhancing student financial literacy and curriculum standards in K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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in committee · Missouri · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 1792: Establishes the Media Literacy and Critical Thinking Act

HB 1792 establishes a two-year pilot program (2027-2029) to integrate media literacy into K-12 public schools across 5-7 diverse districts. The program requires schools to teach students to analyze news, identify misinformation, understand algorithms, practice digital safety, and recognize bias in media - including social media and online content - while connecting these skills to First Amendment rights. The Department of Education will study pilot outcomes and develop statewide guidelines and potential standards by 2030, focusing on practical classroom strategies for critical media evaluation. This bill directly affects public school districts, educators, and students in the participating schools during the pilot period.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIntegrates media literacy into K-12 curriculum, teaching critical analysis of media and bias, enhancing student skills per First Amendment rights.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyTeaches digital safety, algorithm analysis, and critical media literacy for online content - directly advancing responsible technology use and digital rights education in schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education School Safety Social Media

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in committee · Missouri · House Apr 29, 2026

HB 2195: Establishes the "Missouri Integrated Safe Driving Program"

HB 2195 requires Missouri public high schools (grades 9-12) to offer a state-approved driver education program as a graduation requirement starting in the 2027-28 school year. The program teaches safe driving knowledge - covering graduated licensing rules, distracted driving risks, proper traffic stop procedures, and current safety data - without requiring students to operate vehicles. Schools may integrate this content into existing courses, and districts must use vetted sample lessons from the state. This directly affects all Missouri public high school students seeking graduation, focusing on practical safety education rather than hands-on driving practice.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates driver education curriculum as graduation requirement, enhancing student safety education within K-12 programs per bill's explicit requirement.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationTeaches safe driving practices including distracted driving risks and traffic procedures, directly enhancing transportation safety standards for future drivers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Driver Licensing Traffic Safety

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 1744: Establishes a quality control committee for oversight and enacts education reforms

HB 1744 establishes a Quality Control Committee for Oversight to define student success metrics and reform Missouri's education system. It abolishes the current Department of Education, transferring its duties to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and requires all schools (including public, private, charter, home, and early childhood programs) to incorporate specific "Key Performance Indicators" (KPIs) into curricula. These KPIs include measurable student behaviors like attendance, respect, initiative, and work ethic, which must be demonstrated by high school graduates before receiving diplomas or equivalency certificates. The committee, composed of state department representatives and legislators, will define standards, monitor compliance, and validate post-graduation outcomes using data like employment and education participation. The bill directly affects every educational entity in Missouri by mandating alignment with these new performance standards.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates KPIs for all schools to define student success metrics, reforming oversight structure to improve education outcomes per its summary.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HB 2487: Modifies provisions relating to higher education tuition

HB 2487 modifies Missouri's higher education residency rules to automatically treat as Missouri residents students who graduated from a Missouri high school (public, private, or homeschool), unless they establish residence elsewhere. Non-citizen students must provide a written statement agreeing to pursue legal status when eligible. Missouri colleges receiving state funds cannot deny admission based solely on immigration status if these conditions are met, and all applicant information collected under this section must remain confidential. The bill also requires colleges to verify students' legal status for financial aid but does not change tuition rates.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access by automatically granting in-state residency to MO high school graduates and prohibiting denial of admission based on immigration status.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill prohibits denial of higher education admission based solely on immigration status, protecting access to education services for non-citizen students meeting residency conditions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid DACA & Dreamers

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in committee · Missouri · Senate Jan 8, 2026

SB 874: Requires public schools to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students

SB 874 requires all public schools in the state to provide free breakfast and lunch to every student, regardless of family income. This policy change eliminates the current system where eligibility for free or reduced-price meals depends on household financial status. The bill mandates that schools cover these meal costs through state funding, shifting the responsibility from individual families to the public education system. It directly affects all K-12 students attending public schools across the state, ensuring universal access to school meals without income-based barriers.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates state funding for universal school meals, increasing public education spending and directly advancing fiscal responsibility for essential services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates universal school meals via state funding, eliminating income barriers and expanding access for all K-12 students.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProvides universal school meals, improving student nutrition access - a public health initiative supporting child health outcomes and reducing disparities in access to essential services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Health

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in committee · Missouri · House May 15, 2026

HJR 129: Proposes a constitutional amendment that Increases the debt limit for school districts

HJR 129 proposes a constitutional amendment to raise Missouri school districts' debt limit from 5% to 20% of their taxable property value. This would allow school districts to borrow more money for projects like building construction or renovations, subject to voter approval. To pass, the amendment requires a 4/7 vote at general elections or a 2/3 vote at other elections. As a constitutional amendment proposal (not a law), it must be approved by voters in a future election. (Bill: HJR 129)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases school districts' debt limit for infrastructure projects, expanding funding capacity for K-12 facilities through constitutional amendment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · Missouri · House Apr 15, 2026

HB 2123: Modifies provisions governing funding for higher education

HB 2123 creates a merit-based scholarship program for Missouri students attending in-state colleges. It provides up to $3,000 annually for students in the top 3% of Missouri ACT/SAT test-takers and up to $1,000 for those in the top 4-5%, covering tuition at Missouri public or private institutions. Eligibility requires Missouri residency, high school graduation, and a qualifying test score, with special provisions for military service, medical leave, or nonprofit work. The program is administered by the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education, starting before the 2027-28 academic year.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded scholarship program allocating public funds for higher education, directly advancing state budget spending on education programs.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates merit-based scholarships funding higher education access for top students, directly advancing educational opportunity through new financial support.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransSpecial provision for military service in scholarship eligibility directly supports veterans' education access under higher education funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Missouri · Senate Mar 10, 2026

SB 1370: Modifies the "Workforce Diploma Program" and establishes new provisions regarding adult eligibility for virtual school courses and programs

SB 1370 establishes new rules allowing adults (18+) to enroll in virtual school courses and programs. The bill directly affects adult learners seeking flexible, remote education options. It requires school districts to create clear eligibility criteria and enrollment processes for adult students in virtual programs. However, the provided abstract does not specify details about the eligibility criteria, enrollment procedures, or any specific requirements for school districts. Without additional context or bill text, a more detailed summary cannot be provided.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access for adults by enabling enrollment in virtual school programs, directly advancing access to flexible learning options.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · Missouri · House Jan 8, 2026

HB 2154: Enacts provisions governing adult student access to virtual schools

HB 2154 allows Missouri adult students (aged 21+, without a high school diploma or equivalent, needing fewer than 12 credits to graduate) to enroll in state-approved virtual school programs offered by school districts or public colleges. The bill establishes a specific funding mechanism where providers receive 14% of the state adequacy target per completed course, paid monthly from state funds separate from regular school revenue. It also prohibits school districts from reporting adult student enrollment data for certain state reports under sections 160.522 or 161.670. This directly affects adult learners seeking diplomas and the school districts or institutions offering these virtual programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates dedicated state funding (14% of adequacy target per course) for adult education virtual schools, explicitly allocating state funds separate from regular revenue.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates new access for adult students via virtual schools with dedicated state funding (14% of adequacy target per course), directly expanding educational access and providing financial support.92% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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