HCS/SCS/SBs 300 & 306 - This act modifies provisions relating to elementary and secondary education. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FUNDS (Section 160.415): This act excludes funds designated by taxpayers in an urban district as early childhood education funds from the local tax revenue calculation used to provide funding to charter schools that declared themselves as a local education agency. This provision contains an emergency clause. This provision is identical to HB 254 (2017) and SB 485 (2017), is identical to a provision contained in HCS/SB 434 (2017), and is similar to HB 2593 (2016). MISSOURI COURSE ACCESS PROGRAM (Sections 161.669, 161.670, and 167.121): 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 Program 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, and the course is approved by the school principal through a procedure described in the act. 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. 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. 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 2 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. 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 authorization process shall provide for continuous monitoring of course providers and courses. 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 two years. The act requires the State Board of Education to provide an easily accessible link for course vendors on the Program website, allows anyone to submit course for approval, and requires 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. These provisions shall become effective on July 1, 2018. These provisions are identical to provisions contained in HCS/SB 434 (2017) and similar to SCS/HCS/SB 138 (2017) and SCS/SBs 327, 238 & 360 (2017). SEVEN-DIRECTOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS (Section 162.401): Current law requires the treasurer of a seven-director school district, when entering into a bond to the state, to do so with two or more sureties. This act authorizes the treasurer to use one or more sureties. This provision is identical to provisions contained in SCS/SB 93 (2017), CCS/HCS/SB 283 (2017), SCS/HCS/HB 353 (2017), HCS/SB 434, HCS/SB 478 (2017), SCS/HB 587 (2017), HB 1478 (2016), and HB 979 (2015). SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS (Section 162.492): This act modifies the initial terms of directors elected to the Kansas City Public Schools school board in 2019, such that the terms of office of directors are staggered. One at-large director and the directors of subdistricts one, three, and five shall be elected to an initial two-year term. The other at-large director and the directors of subdistricts two and four shall be elected to a four-year term. In subsequent elections, all directors shall be elected to four-year terms. These provisions are identical to provisions contained in SCS/SB 93 (2017), CCS/HCS/SB 283 (2017), SCS/HCS/HB 353 (2017), HCS/SB 434, HCS/SB 478 (2017), SCS/HB 587 (2017), HB 1478 (2016), and HB 979 (2015). CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (Sections 162.1115, 170.028, 178.550): This act defines several terms related to career and technical education and requires the Career and Technical Education Advisory Council to annually review, update, approve, and publish a list of industry certifications, state-issued professional licenses, and occupational assessments. A school district may use the list as a resource in establishing programs of study that meet their regional workforce needs. This act allows a school district to rely on technical coursework and skills assessments developed for industry-recognized certificates and credentials when entering into partnerships with various entities to develop and implement pathways for students to utilize career and technical education programs. The act also modifies the composition of the Career and Technical Education Advisory Council by adding the Director of the Department of Economic Development, or his or her designee. These provisions are identical to provisions contained in HCS/HB 253 (2017) and HCS/SB 434 (2017), and substantially similar to provisions contained in SS#2/SCS/SB 313 (2017), substantially similar to SCS/SBs 44 & 63 (2017), and similar to provisions contained in SB 1109 (2016), SCS/SBs 620 & 582 (2016), and HCS/SB 13 (2015). ESTIMATION OF REQUIRED FUNDS (Section 164.011): When revising the school district's tax rate each year, the aggregate increase in valuation of property assessed by the State Tax Commission for the current year over the previous year shall be considered new constructions and improvements. The school district shall revise its rates exclusive of new construction and improvements. This provision is identical to a provision contained in HCS/SB 434 (2017). VISITING SCHOLARS CERTIFICATE (Section 168.021): This act provides that the State Board of Education may grant an initial visiting scholars certificate as a license to teach in public schools. The hiring school district must verify that the applicant will be employed as part of a business-education partnership initiative designed to build career pathways systems for students. The applicant must also be employed in a content area in which the individual has an academic degree or professional experience. He or she may only teach classes for ninth grade or higher for which the applicant's degree or professional experience qualifies him or her. The certificate shall last one year, and the applicant may renew the certificate up to two times if certain requirements are met, as described in the act. These provisions are identical to HB 97 (2017), SB 401 (2017), and to provisions contained in HCS/SB 434 (2017). GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS (Section 170.018): This act requires that by July 1, 2018, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop a high school graduation policy that allows a student to fulfill one unit of academic credit with a district-approved computer science course for any math, science, or practical arts unit required for high school graduation. These provisions are identical to provisions contained in HCS/SB 434 (2017), and substantially similar to SCS/HB 469 (2017), SB 491 (2017), and HB 948 (2017). JAMIE ANDREWS