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SB 242 – A student whose residence is located closer to a school in an adjoining district than to his or her assigned school in the district of residence may enroll in the adjoining district upon receiving approval from the adjoining district. In addition, a student whose residence is so located that attendance in the district of residence is an unusual or unreasonable transportation hardship may enroll in an adjoining school district upon approval of the adjoining district's school board. Examples of a transportation hardship include natural barrier or unsafe barrier, including but not limited to lake, river, lagoon, or the crossing of a multi-lane highway. The pupil's parent or guardian must contact the receiving district by January 15 of the preceding school year unless good cause is shown, as described in the act. The pupil's school district of residence must pay tuition to the receiving district in an amount equal to the lesser of the two districts' per pupil cost. The district of residence must also pay the receiving district all other aid attributable to the pupil, including any other federal or state aid received on account of the pupil. The school district of residence must pay the adjoining district at least twice a year. For late payments, a late charge of two and a half percent for every two weeks will be incurred. When a payment is more than three months past due, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must, upon notice from the receiving district, withhold the amount, including interest, from the school district of residence's state school aid and send payment in full to the receiving district. If the parent or guardian is dissatisfied after enrolling his or her child in the receiving, he or she may return the child to the school district of residence upon notification to both districts. However, the parent or guardian may not reenroll the child in the receiving district although the child may be eligible to enroll in another adjoining district. For a child who enrolls in another district, the parent or guardian will be responsible for transportation without reimbursement. A school district may voluntarily provide transportation, as described in the act. The parent or guardian of a child who is denied enrollment by an adjoining district may appeal such denial to the State Board of Education if the following conditions are met: the pupil has met the qualifications for transfer and the receiving district has available space in the district based on teacher-pupil ratios established in Missouri School Improvement Program resource standards. The State Board may assign the pupil to the adjoining school district if it finds the district improperly denied enrollment to the pupil. The State Board may also charge an administrative fee of up to five hundred dollars to either the school district of residence or adjoining school district. MICHAEL RUFF
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