HB 3228 provides legal protection for teachers who intervene in school violence to protect themselves or students. It shields teachers and their school districts from lawsuits if they follow school procedures or act in good faith with a reasonable belief the intervention was justified. The bill explicitly excludes protection for cases involving willful misconduct or gross negligence. It also prohibits schools from creating policies that prevent teachers from intervening in such incidents. This bill directly affects educators and school districts by changing liability rules for on-the-ground safety responses.
HB 3275 reorganizes how school districts manage four specific funds: Teachers', Incidental, Capital Projects, and Debt Service. It specifies where revenue sources (like property taxes, tuition, bond proceeds, and energy savings contracts) must be deposited and sets strict rules for transferring balances between funds - such as limiting incidental fund transfers to teachers' funds to no more than 25% of annual teacher costs, and requiring excess incidental fund balances over 50% of prior-year combined fund spending to be transferred. The bill directly affects all public school districts by changing their financial management procedures for these designated funds, including new requirements for energy savings contract payments only after realized energy savings.
HB 2773 requires all public elementary schools in the state to teach cursive writing, ensuring students can produce legible cursive handwriting by the end of fifth grade. Students must pass a teacher-created test demonstrating proficiency in both reading and writing cursive. The law directly affects elementary students and school districts, mandating this instruction as part of their curriculum. It does not specify teaching methods but sets a clear proficiency standard for fifth-grade students.
SB 1600 requires Missouri school districts to screen all students at least once before third grade to identify gifted students. The bill mandates universal screening using multiple measures - including academic achievement, creativity, and teacher referrals - and requires review by at least three trained staff members. It also prohibits identifying gifted students solely based on advanced course participation and sets standards for teacher certification in gifted education for larger districts. The policy directly affects all K-2 students and school districts statewide, with screening requirements taking effect for the 2027-28 school year.
HB 2776 creates a new pathway for teachers holding temporary teaching certificates in Missouri to earn full certification. It requires completing an approved 18-hour online training program (developed by the state or eligible charitable organizations) and either passing a teaching exam or meeting specific evaluation criteria through school district assessments. This change directly affects current temporary certificate holders seeking to teach in Missouri public schools, streamlining their transition to full certification without requiring additional degree programs. The bill also updates existing certification rules but focuses on simplifying the process for temporary certificate holders to qualify for permanent teaching roles.
HB 2913 provides legal immunity to teachers who intervene in school violence to protect themselves or students. Teachers gain immunity if they follow school procedures or act in good faith with a reasonable belief their actions are justified under self-defense law. Schools also receive immunity for teachers' actions when following this law, but immunity does not cover willful misconduct or gross negligence. The bill prohibits school districts from creating policies that prevent teachers from intervening in violent incidents.
HB 2704 requires school districts to establish state-approved gifted education programs if 3% or more of students are identified as gifted. It mandates universal screenings for all students before third grade using valid methods and multiple evidence areas (like creativity, problem-solving, and teacher referrals), while prohibiting identification based solely on advanced course enrollment. Districts with over 350 students must have teachers certified in gifted education, while smaller districts require annual professional development for those teachers. The bill also sets standards for program approval, requires parental notification about screening, and outlines appeal processes for denied referrals. These changes apply starting the 2024-25 school year for program requirements and 2026-27 for screenings.
HB 2872 requires Missouri teacher preparation programs to train future educators in evidence-based reading instruction methods, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and vocabulary. It prohibits the use of the "three-cueing system" in coursework and mandates that programs align with specific literacy components. The bill establishes a new Missouri Advisory Board for Educator Preparation (MABEP) to advise on teacher training and creates an Office of Literacy within the state education department. It also funds school districts through a new "Evidence-based Reading Instruction Program Fund" for tutoring, teacher training, and evidence-based reading materials, with compliance reviews starting in 2027. This directly affects teacher training institutions, new educators, and public school districts.
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 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.
