Missouri Senate

Perfected

MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL HEALTH EDUCATION - This act requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to establish a voluntary pilot program, beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, to provide for mental and emotional health education in elementary schools in the state. The purpose of the program is to determine whether and how to implement an elementary mental and emotional health education program statewide.

The Department shall select from among applications submitted by the public elementary schools a minimum of 16 public elementary schools for participation in the pilot program. If fewer than 16 schools apply to the program, the Department shall select as many eligible schools possible for participation in the pilot program. The Department is required to develop an application process for schools wishing to participate in the program.

The local school board for each elementary school selected to participate in the pilot program shall agree to implement and fully fund an elementary mental and emotional health program in such school and to continue to provide such mental and emotional health education program for a period of at least three years. The local school district may employ a mental and emotional health teacher to provide such program for the elementary school.

The Department and the local school districts are required, under this amendment, to collaborate to establish the instructional models for each elementary mental and emotional health education program. Such instructional model shall be grade-appropriate and include instruction on how to set and achieve positive goals, how to utilize coping strategies to handle stress, and shall have an increased emphasis on protective factors, such as problem-solving skills, social support, and social connectedness through positive relationships and teamwork.

The Department shall provide for a program evaluation regarding the success and impact of the pilot program, and shall report the results of such evaluation to the relevant House and Senate committees on health and mental health, and education.

The Department is required to maintain an adequate number of full-time employees, certified in mental and emotional health education, and distributed regionally throughout the state.

Nothing in the act shall be construed to require public elementary schools to participate in the program.

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS - Under this act, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is authorized to develop a pilot program, beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, to provide for agricultural education in elementary schools in the state. The purpose of the program is to determine whether and how to implement an elementary agricultural education program statewide.

The Department shall develop an application process for public elementary schools wishing to participate in the pilot program. The Department shall select a minimum of 16 public elementary schools that applied to participate in the program. The local school board for each elementary school selected to be in the pilot program shall agree to implement and fully fund an elementary agricultural education program in such school and to continue to provide such elementary agricultural education program for a period of at least 3 years. The local school district may employ an agricultural education teacher to provide such program for the elementary school.

The Department and local school districts shall collaborate to establish the instructional model for each elementary agricultural education program, and such instructional model must meet the criteria set forth in the act.

The Department shall provide for a program evaluation regarding the success and impact of the pilot program and shall report the results of such evaluation to the relevant House and Senate committees on agriculture and education.

The Department is required to maintain an adequate number of full-time employees, certified in agricultural education and distributed regionally throughout the state.

JOSIE BUTLER