Missouri education

The record addresses high-school completion, equivalency, or adult education relevant to the diploma-or-higher share of adults age 25 and older. Current student programs affect only a potential future component of that adult population. This relationship does not establish an effect on the displayed statistic; actions after its measurement period cannot explain the earlier value.

Retained Missouri evidence context: Adults with at least a high school diploma. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

HB 1183 -- ADULT HIGH SCHOOLS SPONSOR: Hovis Currently, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is required to authorize the operation of four adult high schools across the state. This bill transfers such authority to the Department of Social Services and requires each nonprofit organization to submit an annual report to the Department. In addition, the Department shall authorize a fifth adult high school to be located in a county with more than 700,000 but fewer than 800,000 inhabitants, or a contiguous county. When this bill goes into effect, this will apply to Jackson County or an adjacent county. The Department shall administer funding to the adult high schools, subject to appropriations. For the existing adult high schools, the Department shall maintain authorization for the nonprofit organizations to operate the high school, provided that no more than one organization may be authorized to operate an adult high school in each of the current four locations. An organization may establish satellite campuses for any adult high school it is authorized to operate. By January 1, 2024, the Department shall select a Missouri-based nonprofit organization to operate the new adult high school, provided the organization meets current law requirements and demonstrates the ability to commit at least $500,000, rather than $2 million, for the necessary infrastructure to establish the school. The bill also provides that such organization must limit the administrative fee to no more than 10%.

The record addresses wages, paid leave, or cash benefits that can form part of household money income. Census household income is measured before taxes; a tax reduction alone is not an increase in this measure. This relationship does not establish an effect on the displayed statistic; actions after its measurement period cannot explain the earlier value.

Retained Missouri evidence context: Median household income. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

HB 3419 -- EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION SPONSOR: Fogle Beginning January 1, 2027, the minimum wage is required to be increased or decreased January 1st each year based on the cost of living. This bill reinstates the provisions of law establishing a system of earned paid sick time and creates new provisions for bereavement leave. The bill provides that all applicable employees will accrue a minimum of one hour of earned paid sick time for every 30 hours worked. Employees of an employer with 15 or more employees can use up to 56 hours of time in any given year but employees of an employer with fewer than 15 employees can only use 40 hours of time in any given year. Accrual begins January 1, 2027, or upon the commencement of employment, whichever is later. Employees may use earned paid sick time following 90 days of continuous employment, unless an employer's written policy allows the use of such leave prior to 90 days. The amount of sick time to be carried over, paid out, or transferred if employed by the same employer are specified in the bill. The bill outlines the reasons for which an employee may use earned paid sick time: (1) An employee's mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; an employee's need for medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; an employee's need for preventative medical care; (2) Care of a family member with a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; care of a family member who needs medical diagnosis, care, or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; care of a family member who needs preventative medical care; (3) Closure of the employee's place of business by order of a public official due to a public health emergency, or an employee's need to care for a child whose school or place of care has been closed by order of a public official due to a public health emergency, or care for oneself or a family member when it has been determined by the health authorities having jurisdiction or by a health care provider that the employee's or family member's presence in the community may jeopardize the health of others because of his or her exposure to a communicable disease, whether or not the employee or family member has actually contracted the communicable disease; or (4) Absence necessary due to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, provided the leave is allowed for the employee or an employee's family member to procure one or more of the services described in the bill. Earned paid sick time shall be provided upon the request of an employee. Such request may be made orally, in writing, by electronic means, or by any other means acceptable to the employer. When possible, the request shall include the expected duration of the absence. Employees shall provide notice of the need for using earned paid sick time when the use is foreseeable. Furthermore, the bill allows certain private employees to earn paid bereavement time in the same manner as earned paid sick time is accrued. Earned paid bereavement time can be used within 90 days of the death of a family member, as defined under current law, or in connection with an event resulting in reproductive loss. Earned paid bereavement time shall begin to accrue at the commencement of employment or January 1, 2027, whichever is later. All provisions applicable to the accrual and use of earned paid sick time are applicable to the accrual and use of earned paid bereavement time under this bill. Employers may request, but not require, employees to search for or find a replacement worker to cover hours during which the employee is using earned paid sick time. Additionally, an employer may require reasonable documentation, as described in the bill, for time used on three or more consecutive work days. Each day of violation or failure to comply and each employee affected shall constitute a separate offense. Furthermore, any individual who claims to have been aggrieved by a failure of an employer to comply with any portion of this bill, including but not limited to the failure to provide earned paid sick time or to allow employees to use such time, or who claims to have suffered a retaliatory personnel action prohibited by this bill, shall have a right of action and may commence a civil action in the appropriate court of jurisdiction within three years of the accrual of the cause of action, to obtain appropriate relief with respect to such unlawful violation. Such action may be brought without first filing an administrative complaint.

The record addresses registration, access to voting, or the handling of cast ballots. Registered-voter turnout uses registered voters as its denominator, so registration and voting rules can concern different components of the displayed rate. This relationship does not establish an effect on the displayed statistic; actions after its measurement period cannot explain the earlier value.

Retained Missouri evidence context: Registered-voter turnout. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

HB 3020 -- VOTER IDENTIFICATION SPONSOR: Fogle This bill adds a nonexpired student ID card issued by a Missouri high school or an accredited institution of higher education to the list of acceptable identification required to vote. This bill is similar to HB 1320 (2025) and HB 2379 (2024).

The record addresses registration, access to voting, or the handling of cast ballots. Registered-voter turnout uses registered voters as its denominator, so registration and voting rules can concern different components of the displayed rate. This relationship does not establish an effect on the displayed statistic; actions after its measurement period cannot explain the earlier value.

Retained Missouri evidence context: Registered-voter turnout. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

HB 1320 -- VOTER IDENTIFICATION SPONSOR: Fogle This bill adds a nonexpired student ID card issued by a Missouri high school or an accredited institution of higher education to the list of acceptable identification required to vote. This bill is similar to HB 975 (2023) and the same as HB 2379 (2024).

The record addresses registration, access to voting, or the handling of cast ballots. Registered-voter turnout uses registered voters as its denominator, so registration and voting rules can concern different components of the displayed rate. This relationship does not establish an effect on the displayed statistic; actions after its measurement period cannot explain the earlier value.

Retained Missouri evidence context: Registered-voter turnout. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

HB 2379 -- VOTER IDENTIFICATION SPONSOR: Fogle This bill adds a nonexpired student ID card issued by a Missouri high school or an accredited institution of higher education to the list of acceptable identification required to vote. This bill is similar to HB 975 (2023).

The record addresses registration, access to voting, or the handling of cast ballots. Registered-voter turnout uses registered voters as its denominator, so registration and voting rules can concern different components of the displayed rate. This relationship does not establish an effect on the displayed statistic; actions after its measurement period cannot explain the earlier value.

Retained Missouri evidence context: Registered-voter turnout. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

HB 219 -- VOTER PHOTO IDENTIFICATION SPONSOR: Fogle This bill adds a nonexpired student or employee identification card issued by a Missouri high school or institution of higher education to the list of acceptable forms of photo identification required to vote.

The record addresses access to firearms, firearm safety, or prevention of firearm injury. Missouri’s firearm-death count includes suicides, homicides, and other intents; the policy’s target may cover only part of that total. This relationship does not establish an effect on the displayed statistic; actions after its measurement period cannot explain the earlier value.

Retained Missouri evidence context: Firearm deaths. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

HB 571 -- FIREARMS SPONSOR: Allen This bill provides that a school officer commissioned by the district school board or a school protection officer, as described under Section 160.665, RSMo, shall not be prohibited from carrying a firearm into any school, onto any school bus, or onto the premises of any function or activity sponsored or sanctioned by school officials or the district school board. This bill is the same as HB 2806 (2022).

The record addresses high-school completion, equivalency, or adult education relevant to the diploma-or-higher share of adults age 25 and older. Current student programs affect only a potential future component of that adult population. This relationship does not establish an effect on the displayed statistic; actions after its measurement period cannot explain the earlier value.

Retained Missouri evidence context: Adults with at least a high school diploma. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

HCS HB 32 -- ADULT HIGH SCHOOLS (Davidson) COMMITTEE OF ORIGIN: Standing Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education Currently, to enroll in an adult high school as outline in Sections 160.2700 to 160.2725 an individual must be 21 years of age. This bill changes the age for enrollment for adult high schools in the state to 18. A student who transfers from a local education agency to an adult high school will be considered a transfer student and not a dropout student by the state for the purposes of the compiling and tracking dropout rates.

The record addresses high-school completion, equivalency, or adult education relevant to the diploma-or-higher share of adults age 25 and older. Current student programs affect only a potential future component of that adult population. This relationship does not establish an effect on the displayed statistic; actions after its measurement period cannot explain the earlier value.

Retained Missouri evidence context: Adults with at least a high school diploma. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

The SBE shall adopt and implement the performance standards relating to health and family education beginning with the 2024-25 school year. ADULT HIGH SCHOOLS (Sections 160.2705, 160.2720, and 160.2725) Currently, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is required to authorize the operation of four adult high schools across the state. This bill transfers such authority to the Department of Social Services (DSS) and requires each nonprofit organization that operates an adult high school to submit an annual report to DSS. In addition, DSS shall authorize a fifth adult high school to be located in a county with more than 700,000 but fewer than 800,000 inhabitants, or a contiguous county. When the bill goes into effect, this will apply to Jackson County or an adjacent county. DSS shall administer funding to the adult high schools subject to appropriations. For the existing adult high schools, DSS shall maintain authorization for the nonprofit organizations to operate the high school, provided that no more than one organization may be authorized to operate an adult high school in each of the current four locations. An organization may establish satellite campuses for any adult high school it is authorized to operate. By January 1, 2024, the DSS shall select a Missouri-based nonprofit organization to operate the new adult high school, provided the organization meets current requirements and demonstrates the ability to commit at least $500,000 for the necessary infrastructure to establish the school. GRANT AWARDS AUTHORITY (Sections 161.243 and 205.565) DESE shall provide grants directly to private entities, as defined, for the provision of early childhood education services, subject to appropriations.

The record addresses access to firearms, firearm safety, or prevention of firearm injury. Missouri’s firearm-death count includes suicides, homicides, and other intents; the policy’s target may cover only part of that total. This relationship does not establish an effect on the displayed statistic; actions after its measurement period cannot explain the earlier value.

Retained Missouri evidence context: Firearm deaths. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

HB 2806 -- FIREARMS SPONSOR: Davidson This bill provides that a school officer commissioned by the district school board or a school protection officer, as described under Section 160.665, RSMo, shall not be prohibited from carrying a firearm into any school, onto any school bus, or onto the premises of any function or activity sponsored or sanctioned by school officials or the district school board.

The record addresses high-school completion, equivalency, or adult education relevant to the diploma-or-higher share of adults age 25 and older. Current student programs affect only a potential future component of that adult population. This relationship does not establish an effect on the displayed statistic; actions after its measurement period cannot explain the earlier value.

Retained Missouri evidence context: Adults with at least a high school diploma. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

HCS HBs 2618 & 2492 -- ADULT HIGH SCHOOLS SPONSOR: Davidson COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education by a vote of 14 to 0. This bill allows synchronous instruction connecting students to a live classroom in a Missouri adult high school to be treated the same as in-person learning. The bill defines "adult high school" to mean the same as a "secondary school system" and to be exempt from child care licensure under Section 210.211, RSMo. The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing.

The record addresses high-school completion, equivalency, or adult education relevant to the diploma-or-higher share of adults age 25 and older. Current student programs affect only a potential future component of that adult population. This relationship does not establish an effect on the displayed statistic; actions after its measurement period cannot explain the earlier value.

Retained Missouri evidence context: Adults with at least a high school diploma. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

No offender who has been sentenced to death or life without probation or parole is eligible for good time credit, nor is any offender committed to the Department after conviction of crimes specified in the bill. The Department must award credit between five and 360 days for programs and activities to any qualifying offender who successfully: (1) Receives a high school diploma or equivalent, college diploma, or a vocational training certificate; (2) Completes an alcohol or drug abuse treatment program, excluding those treatment programs ordered by either the court or parole board;

The record addresses high-school completion, equivalency, or adult education relevant to the diploma-or-higher share of adults age 25 and older. Current student programs affect only a potential future component of that adult population. This relationship does not establish an effect on the displayed statistic; actions after its measurement period cannot explain the earlier value.

Retained Missouri evidence context: Adults with at least a high school diploma. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

Earned time credit will not be awarded for programs completed prior to an offender's sentence. The Department will specify the types of programs or activities for which earned time credit will be awarded, including but not limited to the following: receiving a high school diploma or equivalent, college diploma or professional certificate, or vocational training certificate, and participating in successful employment, parenting, and financial literacy courses, alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs, and restorative justice and faith-based programs. From January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2026, eligible offenders may petition for earned time credit for programs completed between January 1, 2010 and August 28, 2025.

The record addresses high-school completion, equivalency, or adult education relevant to the diploma-or-higher share of adults age 25 and older. Current student programs affect only a potential future component of that adult population. This relationship does not establish an effect on the displayed statistic; actions after its measurement period cannot explain the earlier value.

Retained Missouri evidence context: Adults with at least a high school diploma. This record’s connection to the topic does not establish an effect on the measured result.

SS SCS HB 2896 -- EDUCATION This bill modifies certain provisions relating to the governing bodies of certain public institutions of higher education. WORKFORCE DIPLOMA PROGRAM (Section 173.831) Current law provides for the Workforce Diploma Program to assist students with obtaining a high school diploma and developing employability and career technical skills, with such program scheduled to sunset on August 28, 2028. This bill repeals the sunset provision for this Section.