SCS/SB 996 - Under current law, for purposes of calculation and distribution of state school aid, all students enrolled in the Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program shall be included in the student enrollment of the school district in which the student physically is enrolled. Under this act, full-time equivalent students shall not be included in the student enrollment of the school district in which such student resides. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall pay any Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program an amount equal to the average daily attendance for the student's district of residence. A virtual school program serving full-time equivalent students shall be considered an attendance center as defined in current law. Current law requires a school district or charter school to allow any eligible student who resides in such district to enroll in Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program courses if, prior to enrolling in any such course, a student has received approval from his or her school district or charter school. This act repeals the provision requiring a student to receive approval from his or her school district. If the school district or charter school believes a student's request to enroll in a virtual program is not in the best educational interest of the student, the reason shall be provided in writing to the student's parent or guardian, who shall have final decision-making authority. The Department, rather than each school district or charter school, shall adopt a policy that delineates the process by which a student may enroll in courses provided by the Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program. Current law requires costs associated with such virtual courses to be paid by the school district or charter school directly on a pro rata monthly basis based on a student's completion of assignments and assessments. Under this act, costs shall be paid by the school district or charter school, or by the Department for full-time equivalent students, to the provider on a pro rata basis once per semester based on a student's completion of assignments and assessments. Current law also requires the Department to monitor student success and engagement and report such information to the school district or charter school. Under this act, the Department shall report such information to the parent or guardian of the student, who may withdraw the student at any time if the course is not meeting the educational needs of the student. This act also repeals the provision setting forth the responsibility of school districts and charter school to monitor full-time student progress and success. Virtual school providers are required, under this act, to monitor student progress and success, and may remove a student from the program if the provider believes it to be in the best educational interest of the student. A full-time virtual school shall, under this act, submit a notification to a parent or legal guardian of a student who is not consistently engaged in instructional activities, as defined in the act. Such school shall also develop a policy setting forth the consequences for a student's failure to attend school and complete instructional activities, including disenrollment from the virtual school. School districts or charter schools are required, under current law, to inform parents of their child's right to participate in the virtual schools program. Under this act, any school district or charter school that fails to notify parents of their child's right to participate in the program shall be subject to civil penalties in an amount equal to $100 for each day such school district or charter school is in violation of this requirement, including reasonable attorney's fees. This act is similar to SB 929 (2020), HCS/SS/SCS/SB 528 (2020), and HCS/HB 2491 (2020). JOSIE BUTLER