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Legislative update: HB 711 open‑enrollment changes, Senate funding boost for foundation formula
Summary
The board's legislative representative briefed members on House Bill 711 (open enrollment), Senate movement to add $300 million to fully fund the foundation formula and ongoing work on an omnibus education bill that could address inclement-weather calendar rules.
At the April 28 meeting the Board received a legislative briefing covering open‑enrollment legislation and the state budget.
The board’s legislative representative summarized House Bill 711, which had passed the Missouri House and was under consideration by the Senate. As reported to the board, the Senate education committee approved the bill and placed it on the formal calendar. The representative said the Senate made changes including increasing the allowable student transfer cap from 3% to 5%, removing a district transportation requirement for transferring students, and permitting charter school participation.
The representative urged board members and community members to contact state Senator Burger and other legislators to express views. She listed several district concerns related to broader open‑enrollment proposals: diversion of local resources, potential reduction of extracurricular programs, disproportionate effects on special education students and erosion of community support.
On the budget, the representative said the Missouri Senate Appropriations Committee allocated an additional $300 million to fully fund the foundation formula and removed $50 million in general revenue that had been proposed for a voucher program. She said the Senate action was expected to be debated and possibly finalized before the May 9 deadline for this legislative session stage.
The representative also said an omnibus education bill remains in committee; among provisions the district is watching is language to address inclement-weather calendars and the use of AMI (online) days.
No formal board action was taken on the legislative matters at the meeting.
