Open school enrollment gets House approval, heads to Senate
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that would allow students to transfer to surrounding school districts.
The open enrollment bill was the first issue to be debated and pass through the House this legislative session. Democratic and Republican lawmakers in Columbia identified education as an early priority this session.
The House has third read and passed HB 1989, Admission of Nonresident Students, 86-73. https://t.co/5VgN2U3wYB#MOLeg #MOHouse
— House Communications (@MOHOUSECOMM) January 31, 2024
The bill is sponsored by Rep. Brad Pollitt (R-Sedalia). It would allow students to leave their current school and go to a district that participates in open enrollment.
Rep. Cheri Toalson Reisch (R-Hallsville) voted in favor of the bill and thinks parents should have a choice in how their children get educated.
"This is a very baby step toward what's best for the parent and the child," Toalson Resich said. "I do not believe there will be any serious or major impacts to school distracts.
But others say the opposite.
The Missouri State Teachers Association has spoken out against open enrollment, claiming it would create competition among school districts. MSTA's Todd Fuller said other states that have allowed open enrollment see the competition begin almost immediately.
"The bigger issue is going to be consolidation, because when you have students leaving some of the rural school districts in the state, it's going to be challenging for those districts to remain open," Fuller said.
When a student transfers out of a district, they are taking state money away from that district. Fuller said the state needs to look at how to make more quality school districts rather than abandon those districts with less offerings.
Meanwhile, Toalson Reisch stresses there are some safeguards in the bill. School districts wouldn't be required to accept any transfer students into their district, and only 3% of a district's enrollment number will be allowed to leave said district.
"If you have a great school district, students and parents would not want to leave it," Toalson Resich said.
If passed, the bill would create an $80 million Parent Public School Choice Fund to pay for transportation services. Fuller said another almost $500,000 would be needed to create a student portal to keep track of students transferring.
He said this is money that could instead be spent on teacher retention.
"What can we do to help get (teachers) to some of those smaller school districts?" Fuller said. "I guarantee you, many of them would be willing to do it if they're compensated for it."
If passed, transfers can begin in the 2025-2026 school year.
The bill now goes to the Senate.
