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SB 898 - This act changes the Missouri Virtual Instruction Program (MOVIP) to "The Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program" and allows any eligible student to enroll in virtual courses of his or her choice to be paid by the school district or charter school if the student has been enrolled full-time in a public school, including a public charter school, for at least one semester immediately prior to enrolling in the program. The one semester enrollment requirement shall not apply to children who are newly moved to a school district or whose parents are active military serving out of state. No more than 2% of the total number of students enrolled in public schools shall enroll in a full-time virtual school program. A school district or charter school shall pay, for any single, year-long course for a student, the market necessary costs or 14% of the state adequacy target as calculated at the end of the most recent school year. A school district or charter school shall pay no more than 7% of the state adequacy target as calculated at the end of the most recent school year for any single, semester-long course. School districts and charter schools may negotiate with the course providers for a lower cost. Payment for a full-time virtual school student shall not exceed the state adequacy target, unless the student receives additional federal or state aid. The school district or charter school that pays for the student's course or full-time virtual school shall include the student's attendance in such course or virtual school in determining the district's or charter school's average daily attendance. If a student who is a candidate for A+ tuition reimbursement enrolls in a course under the act, the school shall attribute no less than 95% attendance to any such student who has completed such course. Individual learning plans shall be developed for all students enrolled in more than two full-time program courses. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall establish an authorization process for course providers and authorize those providers that submit all necessary information and offer courses that align to state academic standards. A school district or charter school that applies to be a provider shall only be subject to certain compliance criteria, as set forth in the act. The Department shall publish the authorization process along with deadlines and guidance applicable to the submission process. If there are insufficient funds to evaluate and authorize course providers, the Department may charge applicant course providers a fee to ensure that evaluation occurs. The Department shall revoke, suspend, or take other corrective action if a provider or individual course no longer meets the requirements of the program. A provider shall be given a reasonable time period to take corrective action to avoid such revocation or suspension. Authorization renewal shall take place at least once every three years. The act requires the State Board of Education to: provide an easily accessible link for course vendors on the program website, allow anyone to submit a course for approval, and require vendors to accept monthly payments for students enrolled in their courses. Program providers shall annually report certain information, as set forth in the act, to the Department. Additionally, the Department shall annually submit a report to the Joint Committee on Education that includes information as set forth in the act. Courses already approved through MOVIP shall automatically be authorized to participate in the program. Additionally, the act repeals provisions relating to pupil residence for the purpose of enrolling in MOVIP. This act is similar to SB 576 (2018), SB 603 (2018), HB 1408 (2018), HCS/SB 434 (2017), SCS/HCS/HB 138, SBs 327, 328 & 360 (2017), and HCS/SCS/SBs 300 & 306 (2017). JAMIE ANDREWS
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