Citizen Portal News Missouri

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12 hours ago

Missouri House adopts IHRA-linked definition of antisemitism for schools after heated debate The Missouri House on April 8 adopted a senate substitute to House Bill 2061 directing educational institutions to adopt a context-sensitive definition of antisemitism, extend coverage to charter schools and expand reporting requirements; the measure passed after sustained floor debate over speech and protections.

Missouri's House just passed a contentious bill redefining antisemitism in schools, sparking fierce debates about free speech and classroom discussions.

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#MO #CitizenPortal #EducationalPolicies #FreeSpeech #StudentProtection #MissouriEducation

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12 hours ago

Bosley proposes two graduation units — Black history and Black literature — and draws support and policy questions Representative LaKesha Bosley presented House Bill 2,965 to require one unit of Black history and one unit of Black literature for Missouri high school graduation beginning in 2026–27; committee members supported the aim but raised concerns about credit requirements and transfer-student waivers.

Missouri students may soon graduate with a richer understanding of American history by taking mandatory courses in Black history and literature starting in 2026!

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#MO #CulturalHistory #CitizenPortal #LiteracyDevelopment #CivicPreparation #MissouriEducation

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4 days ago

Union says administration declared impasse after three sessions; FFNEA urges board to honor successor-agreement provision A representative of the Ferguson Florissant National Education Association told the board the administration declared an impasse after three negotiation sessions and urged the board to honor Article 3, Section 2 of the collective bargaining agreement as the parties continue talks; the superintendent said negotiations will continue and expressed a pro-union stance.

Tensions rise as the FFNEA accuses the district of prematurely declaring an impasse in negotiations, urging the board to honor existing agreements for the sake of stability.

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#MO #CollectiveBargaining #CitizenPortal #TrustBuilding #MissouriEducation #LaborRelations

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6 days ago

Representatives propose Missouri‑specific civics materials; students and teachers back video and classroom resources House bills (HB 34‑83 and HB 35‑32) ask the General Assembly to create Missouri‑specific civic education materials — potentially including videos — for public schools; sponsors and multiple educators urged teacher involvement, suggested third grade and high school targets, and estimated modest production costs.

Missouri lawmakers are pushing for new civic education materials, including engaging videos, to help students understand how a bill becomes a law.

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#MO #CitizenPortal #EducationReform #CivicEngagement #DigitalResources #MissouriEducation

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6 days ago

House education committee adopts substitute to name campus liaisons for foster and McKinney‑Vento students The Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education adopted a House Committee Substitute for HB 27‑22 requiring higher‑education institutions to designate a liaison (to be housed in financial aid offices) for foster care, McKinney‑Vento and unaccompanied youth; the substitute passed committee 13–2.

Missouri's education committee just took a major step to support foster care and homeless students by designating on-campus liaisons to ensure they get the aid they need!

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#MO #CitizenPortal #FosterCareSupport #HigherEducation #StudentAccessibility #MissouriEducation

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6 days ago

Missouri Senate advances literacy reform measure amid debate over retention, costs and ELL exemptions Senate debate on Senate Bill 14-42 centered on new literacy-screening and third-grade retention rules, limits on 3-cueing in approved curricula, protections to prevent school districts from incurring new costs, and multiple amendment offers to narrow or expand exemptions for English-language learners and students with disabilities.

The Missouri Senate is in hot debate over a pivotal literacy reform bill that could reshape early-grade reading standards and retention policies.

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1 week ago

St. Joseph district to roll out 5% weight for end‑of‑course exams after committee recommendation District administrators told the board they will set end‑of‑course (EOC) exams to count for 5% of course grades this year as a phased rollout, after a committee recommended adding weight to increase student accountability; board members asked for safeguards and clearer grading practices.

The St. Joseph School District is shaking up grading policies by making end-of-course exams count for 5% of students' final grades this year, aiming to boost accountability and engagement.

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#MO #CitizenPortal #MissouriEducation #GradeEquity #AssessmentReform #StudentAccountability

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1 month ago

Mycologists, educators and children press committee to name smooth chanterelle Missouri's state mushroom Supporters, including scientists, conservation educators and students, testified in favor of HB 1960 to designate the smooth chanterelle (Cantharellus lateritius) as Missouri's state mushroom, citing abundance, ease of identification, ecological importance and educational value; the committee closed the hearing with no recorded opposition.

Missouri might soon have an official state mushroom, the smooth chanterelle, thanks to passionate advocates highlighting its ecological importance and educational benefits!

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#MO #OutdoorEducation #EcologicalLiteracy #CitizenPortal #ForagingSafety #MissouriEducation

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1 month ago

Teach For America returns to St. Louis, drawing praise and skepticism After a four-year pause in placing classroom teachers, Teach For America will again assign corps members to St. Louis-area schools beginning with the 2026-27 academic year — a return welcomed by some school leaders and approached cautiously by others. Missouri Executive Director Julie Gronquist said the organization did not fully exit the region during the […]

'Teach For America returns to St. Louis, drawing praise and skepticism'

🖋 Leah Gullet
📸 Photo from Canva

#stlamerican #stlnews #stlouis #TeachForAmerica #Education #MissouriEducation #SLPSEducation

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1 month ago

Votes at a glance: House advances teacher-licensure compact, auction sales-tax change, tobacco retail preemption and other measures On Feb. 24 the House perfected and ordered multiple committee substitutes and amendments: the interstate teacher mobility compact (HB 22 74) and auction sales-tax changes (HB 18 83) were ordered perfected; the tobacco retail preemption measure (HB 20 85) was adopted as a committee substitute. Several other bills were moved through perfection and printing.

Missouri lawmakers made significant strides on Feb. 24, advancing key bills that could reshape teacher mobility, auction sales tax, and tobacco regulations.

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#MO #CitizenPortal #PublicPolicy #TaxReform #HealthImpact #MissouriEducation

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1 month ago

Senate appropriations chair unveils 16‑bill operating package that restores cuts to education and services Sen. Greene, chair of the Senate Appropriations effort, presented a 16‑bill operating package that he says comes roughly $175 million under the governor’s general‑revenue recommendation while restoring $105 million in cuts to services for people with disabilities and fully funding the K–12 foundation formula.

A new 16-bill operating package has been unveiled, promising to restore cuts to education and vital services while coming in $175 million under the governor’s budget proposal.

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#MO #K12Funding #CitizenPortal #BudgetReform #DisabilityServices #MissouriEducation

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1 month ago

Mehlville R-IX officials unveil $50M capital plan covering restrooms, doors, playgrounds and athletic turf District leaders presented a three-year capital project plan that estimates roughly $34M available in FY26 with conservative planning for $50M–$55M across FY26–28; priorities include restrooms, door/security upgrades, parking lots and athletic facilities.

Mehlville R-IX is launching a $50 million capital plan to transform schools with crucial upgrades, from restroom modernizations to enhanced security features.

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#MO #AccessibilityUpgrades #CitizenPortal #FacilityImprovements #CommunitySafety #MissouriEducation

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1 month ago

Superintendent spotlights student leaders, foundation support and flags legislative changes that could hit district funding At the Feb. board meeting the superintendent recognized student leaders and coaches, promoted the Education Foundation's March fundraiser, and outlined several state bills — including proposals to move local elections, cap growth funding and lower the minimum levy — that could affect district revenue.

The Smithville R-II superintendent reveals pressing legislative changes that could threaten local school funding while celebrating outstanding student leaders and community support.

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#MO #CitizenPortal #StudentLeadership #LegislativeUpdates #FundingChallenges #MissouriEducation

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1 month ago

House approves measure to adopt IHRA guidance for schools amid free‑speech concerns HB 20‑61, which incorporates the IHRA working definition of antisemitism for public schools and ties enforcement to Title VI, passed the House after floor debate over whether the bill could chill criticism of Israel; vote was 109–21.

The Missouri House just passed a controversial bill to protect Jewish students, but critics warn it could silence free speech on important issues like Israel.

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#MO #CitizenPortal #AntiDiscrimination #FreeSpeechIssues #StudentSafety #MissouriEducation

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2 months ago

Missouri committee hears narrow timing fix for Most Scholars tax-credit program House Bill 3037 would let certain Most Scholars education tax credits be carried back to the prior tax year beginning in 2028, a limited timing change sponsors say preserves program caps and safeguards while easing donor uncertainty about year-to-year tax liability.

A new Missouri bill aims to ease donor uncertainty by allowing education tax credits to be applied retroactively, potentially transforming the funding landscape for local schools.

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#MO #TaxCredits #FiscalPolicy #CitizenPortal #EducationFunding #MissouriEducation

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2 months ago

Missouri education department warns lawmakers: formula recalculation leaves $190.6M funding gap Department of Elementary and Secondary Education staff told the House budget committee the FY27 call on Missouri’s school foundation formula exceeds prior funding by about $190.6 million; absent that new‑decision funding the department would lower the state adequacy target (SAT) and effectively prorate payments, reducing per‑student aid paid to many districts.

Missouri's education department reveals a staggering $190.6 million funding gap that could drastically reduce per-student aid if lawmakers don't act now.

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#MO #CitizenPortal #EquityInEducation #EducationPolicy #SchoolFunding #MissouriEducation

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2 months ago

Missouri pushes science‑of‑reading training as literacy gains and teacher pay debates intensify DESE highlighted progress on literacy and teacher training — nearly half of K–8 teachers have science‑of‑reading training — while committee members pressed on career‑ladder uptake, the teacher baseline $40,000 minimum and program funding lapses tied to local matches.

Missouri is making strides in literacy with nearly half of K–8 teachers trained in the science of reading, but the debate on teacher pay and program sustainability is heating up!

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#MO #TeacherRecruitment #CitizenPortal #EducationFunding #LiteracyReform #MissouriEducation

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2 months ago

Committee advances substitute creating tiered teacher‑certification pathway, adds mentor release‑time amendment The committee adopted a substitute for House Bill 2776 that establishes tiered (Tier 1/2/3) certification for pre‑K/elementary teachers, sets a minimum starting pay for pathway hires, links Tier 3 to PSRS retirement eligibility, and adopted an amendment allowing mentor compensation in release time; roll call was 12‑5‑1.

Missouri is stepping up to tackle teacher shortages with a new tiered certification pathway that promises better pay and retirement benefits for educators!

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#MO #MentorshipSupport #CitizenPortal #CertificationPathway #TeacherShortages #MissouriEducation

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2 months ago

Committee hears emotional testimony on anti‑bullying bills including 'Sawyer’s Law'; no vote taken Lawmakers heard testimony on two companion anti‑bullying bills — House Bill 1698 and House Bill 2120 (called "Sawyer’s Law" by one sponsor) — which focus on mandatory reporting to administrators and notification of parents and school boards; witnesses recounted a student's suicide and urged immediate notification rules.

Emotional testimonies echoed in a Missouri committee as lawmakers consider merging anti-bullying bills, with one heartbreaking account revealing the tragic consequences of inaction.

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#MO #CitizenPortal #ParentalNotification #BullyingPrevention #MissouriEducation #StudentSafety

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2 months ago

Senator proposes state oversight of high‑school activities association; floor debate questions scope Senate substitute to SB 863 would create a governor‑appointed oversight board housed in DESE to oversee the Missouri State High School Activities association (MSHA), handle appeals and collect public school dues. Sponsors framed the bill as accountability for students; critics warned it risks an unwarranted state takeover of a long-standing nonprofit. Sponsor laid the bill on the informal calendar after extensive questioning.

A new bill could reshape the governance of Missouri high school activities by establishing a state oversight board, sparking intense debate on accountability versus autonomy.

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#MO #StudentInterests #CitizenPortal #OversightAccountability #GovernanceReform #MissouriEducation

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2 months ago

Committee hears bills to restore cursive instruction in elementary schools Lawmakers and witnesses debated HB 1876 and HB 2115, proposals to require cursive instruction and a teacher-constructed competency test by fifth grade; questions focused on implementation timelines, assessment design, teacher preparation and costs.

Missouri lawmakers are debating a return to cursive writing in schools, emphasizing its importance for literacy and historical access—could this be the revival of a lost art?

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#MO #MissouriEducation #CursiveInstruction #LiteracyDevelopment #HistoricalLiteracy #CitizenPortal

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2 months ago

House committee advances interstate teacher-licensing compact after fiscal questions The House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee voted HB 2274 'due pass' after brief debate on its fiscal note; DESE said the bulk of the first-year cost is IT setup with ongoing software and consortium fees thereafter.

Missouri's House committee has moved forward with a new interstate teacher certification compact, sparking debate over its initial costs and potential to boost the state's teacher supply!

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#MO #EducationReform #MissouriEducation #InterstateReciprocity #TeacherCertification

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2 months ago

Lengthy hearing on HB 2776: advocates tout AAS teacher pathway, higher education urges caution Representatives, community colleges, superintendents and higher-education institutions debated HB 2776, which would create an Associate of Applied Science pathway and temporary two-year authorization certificate for teachers; supporters cited workforce shortages and rural access, opponents warned of lower content preparation and resource burdens for mentorship.

A heated debate in Missouri over House Bill 2776 is igniting discussions about a new pathway for aspiring teachers, but will it address workforce shortages without sacrificing quality?

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#MO #WorkforceDevelopment #MissouriEducation #TeacherPreparation #RuralAccess

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2 months ago

House clerk reads three bills for first reading on education, lottery and motorcycle lighting The clerk read House Bills 2992, 2993 and 2994 for first reading (grants for post-secondary education; lottery games; motorcycle auxiliary lighting). No debate or votes occurred on the measures during the session.

Three new House bills on education, lottery games, and motorcycle lighting just made their debut—what's next for these proposals?

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#MO #TransportationSafety #MissouriEducation #PublicEducation #CitizenPortal #LotteryRegulations

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2 months ago

CTE and Fast Track apprenticeship programs cited as tools to bring industry experts into classrooms Officials from the Office of College and Career Readiness and University of Central Missouri told lawmakers that CTE teacher roles are hard to fill because private-sector wages and tuition for pedagogy courses discourage industry experts; Fast Track apprenticeship and grant limits were discussed as partial solutions.

Career and technical education (CTE) teacher roles are in crisis as industry experts face pay cuts and costly tuition for essential training, but innovative programs like Fast Track may hold the key to reversing this trend.

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#MO #MissouriEducation #TeacherRecruitment

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2 months ago

Representatives present bills to expand elementary agriculture education statewide; DESE collaboration amendment offered A special committee heard testimony supporting HB 2097 and HB 1905 to expand an elementary agriculture education pilot statewide. Sponsors offered an amendment requiring DESE to collaborate with Missouri agricultural commodity groups; witnesses described program reach, curriculum, and an expected DESE staffing need.

Missouri representatives are pushing to expand a successful elementary agriculture education program statewide, ensuring hands-on learning reaches every district that opts in.

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#MO #MissouriEducation #CurriculumDevelopment #AgricultureEducation #CommunityPartnerships

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2 months ago

Missouri bill would require universal screening to identify gifted students Rep. Brenda Shields introduced HB 17-57 to require defensible, research‑based universal screenings so districts identify gifted students early; witnesses urged DESE guidance and cautioned about staffing and funding for small districts.

A groundbreaking bill in Missouri aims to ensure every gifted student is identified through universal screenings, tackling the alarming gap that leaves 20,000 potential talents unrecognized.

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#MO #MissouriEducation #GiftedEducation #UniversalScreening #CitizenPortal

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2 months ago

Missouri education officials: certification pathways exist, but retention and funding limit teacher supply DESE told the House committee that Missouri offers multiple certification routes — traditional, reciprocity, provisional and alternate pathways — and reported rising enrollment in teacher programs but ongoing shortages that improved modestly after recent investments; officials urged restoring funding for Grow Your Own grants and other supports.

Missouri's teacher certification landscape is expanding, yet alarming shortages persist despite rising enrollment and recent investments.

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#MO #MissouriEducation #CertificationPathways #TeacherRetention #CitizenPortal #EducationInvestment

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2 months ago

Board approves reduced half-day preschool tuition, expands full-day seats and raises vacation-station fees slightly The board approved lowering half-day preschool tuition from $70 to $10 by leveraging state reimbursement, keeping full-day rates flat, expanding full-day classrooms at several elementary schools, and a 3% increase to vacation-station fees to bring programs toward financial sustainability.

The Francis Howell School District is slashing half-day preschool tuition from $70 to just $10, making quality early education more accessible than ever!

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#MO #EarlyChildhood #MissouriEducation #TuitionAffordability #SpecialEducation #CitizenPortal

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2 months ago

Parkway board hears budget task force warning, approves new early‑childhood site name The Parkway Board of Education on Jan. 14 received a budget task force report urging protection of a 40–45 percent fund balance, stabilization of rising health‑care costs and community engagement as the district prepares preliminary budget actions; the board approved routine agenda items and named the new center Early Childhood South Mason.

The Parkway Board of Education is facing a crucial budget warning that could lead to deficit spending if urgent action isn’t taken to protect financial reserves.

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#MO #CommunityEngagement #FiscalResponsibility #MissouriEducation #EducationFunding #CitizenPortal