St. Louis Public Schools legislative committee hears updates on A–F grading, open enrollment and vouchers

St. Louis Public Schools legislative committee members heard a legislative briefing March 19, 2026, on several state bills that district staff said could affect enrollment, funding and facility sales if enacted.

Mr. Carol, the committee’s legislative presenter, told members that the state budget is moving quickly during the eight-week sprint to adjournment and that the foundation funding formula is “about $190 million” short of full funding. He said the governor’s budget included an additional $10 million for the voucher program and that debates over that funding will continue as the budget moves through the legislature.

Mr. Carol identified three bills of immediate concern. He said Senate Bill 971 (open enrollment) has been placed on the informal calendar and “has not been brought up for debate,” and that the House removed a $7.5 million implementation allocation, which he interpreted as a sign the measure may face diminished prospects this year. He described open enrollment as a program in which “state aid will follow” a student who transfers to another district while local tax dollars would still fund resident students, adding that districts must report available seats under the bill’s framework.

On House Bill 2710, which would create an A–F classification for school buildings and districts, Mr. Carol said he plans to testify against the measure when it is scheduled in the Senate education committee. “It doesn’t take into consideration all the variables that school districts have to deal with, whether it’s poverty or homelessness, crime,” he said, arguing the proposed model would unfairly label schools and neighborhoods.

Mr. Carol also described House Bill 2404, a proposal he said would give charter schools a right of first refusal to purchase district buildings. He characterized that provision as unconstitutional, citing “Article 1, Section 13” and saying the bill “isn’t worth the ink or the paper that it’s written on.”

On vouchers, Mr. Carol explained the current program uses state general-revenue dollars routed through the state treasurer’s office and may cover up to $6,375 per pupil (the state adequacy target), with additional funds for English-language learners and low-income students. He warned there is limited oversight of how voucher funds are spent and said prior proposals for $50 million had been pared back in amendments to roughly $20 million in some proposals.

Committee members asked whether A–F legislation could be amended to require charter and voucher-funded private schools to follow the same grading system. Mr. Carol said Senator Lincoln Huff has an amendment to include charters and to reduce the voucher appropriation; he recommended tracking amendment language as it moves through committee.

No formal policy actions or votes on these bills were taken by the committee. The meeting included routine business votes (approval of Oct. 9 minutes) and concluded with scheduling discussions for the next meeting.

The A–F bill was scheduled for a hearing in the Senate education committee the following Tuesday at 8:00 a.m., according to Mr. Carol. The committee said it will continue to monitor developments and circulate weekly updates to district leaders and parents.