CCS/HCS/SS/SCS/SB 68 - This act creates, repeals, and modifies provisions relating to elementary and secondary education. GET THE LEAD OUT OF SCHOOL DRINKING WATER (Sections 160.077 and 701.200) The act modifies provisions of the "Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water Act". The act provides that a school may filter water to reduce lead levels when the water supply is the source of lead contamination. The act prohibits a school from using flushing practices to reduce lead levels as part of the school's remediation plan. The act specifies that a filter used to reduce lead levels in a school's drinking water supply shall be installed in accordance with any relevant requirements set forth by the Department of Natural Resources. The act adds removal of a drinking water outlet from service to the list of steps a school may take if testing shows that the building's plumbing is causing lead contamination. The act repeals a provision exempting school buildings constructed after January 4, 2014, from the requirement to install, maintain, or replace filters. Finally, the act repeals provisions relating to testing for lead in school buildings constructed before 1996. These provisions are identical to HB 995 (2025) and substantially similar to SB 581 (2025). CALCULATION OF STUDENT ATTENDANCE (Section 160.265) The act provides that a student who has been suspended or expelled from a public school shall be counted as being in attendance for purposes of calculating the school's attendance rate under the Missouri School Improvement Plan and the school's weighted average daily attendance as used in the calculation of state aid. This provision is substantially similar to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025) and SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025). COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLANS (Section 160.480) Currently, school districts are authorized to adopt a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan addressing the use of school resources in the event of a natural disaster or other community emergency. Under this act, school districts and charter schools shall adopt a "comprehensive emergency operations plan" that addresses school safety, crises, and emergency operations; prevention, preparation, operations, and follow-up; collaboration with local law enforcement, fire protection services, and emergency management; and consideration of supporting mental health needs of all involved in any crisis. The emergency operations plan shall be shared with local law enforcement, fire protection services, and emergency management. The governing board of each school district and charter school shall ensure the completion of a physical security site assessment at each facility annually. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shall develop standards for emergency operations plans and ensure compliance with the adoption of these plans annually. DESE shall also develop standards for the annual physical security site assessments using nationally accepted methodology and shall ensure compliance with the completion of these assessments annually. This provision is identical to provisions in SCS/HB 232 (2025), SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025), and HB 416 (2025). CARDIAC EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS (Section 160.482) For the 2026-27 school year and all subsequent school years, this act requires every public school, including charter schools, to develop and implement a cardiac emergency response plan that addresses the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing sudden cardiac arrest or a similar life-threatening emergency while on a school campus. Members of each school's administration shall coordinate with local emergency services providers to integrate the public school's cardiac emergency response plan into the local emergency services providers' protocols. A cardiac emergency response plan shall integrate evidence-based core elements, such as those recommended by the American Heart Association guidelines, Project ADAM (Automated Defibrillators in Adam's Memory), or another set of nationally recognized, evidence-based standards or core elements. The act outlines certain guidelines that a cardiac emergency response plan shall integrate, including the establishment of a cardiac emergency response team, the placement of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) throughout the school campus, and the registration of AEDs with the Missouri 911 Service Board. Appropriate AED placement shall be dictated by the cardiac emergency response plan and in accordance with guidelines set by the American Heart Association or nationally recognized guidelines focused on emergency cardiovascular care. For schools with an athletic department or organized school athletic program, an AED shall be clearly marked and easily accessible in an unlocked location at each athletic venue and event. The AED shall be accessible during the school day and any school-sponsored athletic event or team practice. Appropriate school personnel shall be certified in first aid, CPR, and AED use, as provided in the act. The school personnel required to be trained shall be determined by the cardiac emergency response plan and shall include, but shall not be limited to, athletic coaches, school nurses, and athletic trainers. Schools shall not be required to purchase AEDs unless the General Assembly specifically appropriates funds. Nothing in the act prohibits schools from seeking alternative funding sources. This provision is substantially similar to SS/SCS/SBs 166 & 155 (2025) and provisions in SCS/HB 232 (2025) and SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025), and is similar to SCS/SBs 1032 & 1081 (2024) and provisions in HB 416 (2025) and HB 1991 (2024). STOP THE BLEED ACT (Section 160.485) The act establishes the "Stop the Bleed Act" requiring DESE to develop a traumatic blood loss protocol for school personnel to follow in the event of a serious injury. The protocol shall be developed before January 1, 2026 for implementation in each school district and charter school before the end of the 2025-26 school year. The act outlines the requirements of the protocol, including placing a bleeding control kit in areas where there is likely to be high traffic, such as auditoriums and cafeterias. Certain items shall be included in the bleeding control kit, such as bandages, protective gloves, and tourniquets. A bleeding control kit shall be restocked after each use, as provided in the act. Each school district and charter school shall designate school personnel in each school building who shall receive annual training in the use of a bleeding control kit. The act describes the topics to be covered in such training, such as the proper application of dressings or bandages. DESE shall, in collaboration with the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Missouri Department of Public Safety, include requirements in the traumatic blood loss protocol for school personnel to receive annual training in the use of bleeding control kits. The training requirements shall be satisfied by successful completion and certification under the "STOP THE BLEED" course as promulgated by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma or the American Red Cross. The training requirements may allow online instruction. A bleeding control kit may contain any additional items that are approved by emergency medical services personnel, as provided in the act. Quantities of each item required to be in a bleeding control kit may be determined by each school district. DESE, each school district, and each charter school shall maintain information about the Stop the Bleed Act on each entity's website. Upon request by a school district or a charter school, DESE may, in collaboration with the Department of Public Safety, direct the school district or charter school to resources that are available to provide bleeding control kits to the school district or charter school. All costs related to the provision of bleeding control kits, kit restocking, and training of school personnel shall be subject to an appropriation by the General Assembly. A school district or charter school may receive donations of bleeding control kits or funds for the purchase of bleeding control kits that meet the requirements of the act. This provision shall not be construed to create a cause of action against a school district, charter school, or school personnel. Any school personnel who in good faith use a bleeding control kit as provided in the act shall be immune from all civil liability for any act or omission in the use of a bleeding control kit unless the act or omission constitutes gross negligence or willful, wanton, or intentional misconduct. This provision is identical to HB 266 (2025), HB 1487 (2024), HB 116 (2023), and provisions in SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025), HB 416 (2025), HB 844 (2025), HCS/HB 1946 (2024), and HCS/HB 497 (2023), and is substantially similar to HCS/HB 1722 (2022) and a provision in HCS/SS/SB 690 (2022). GRADE-LEVEL EQUIVALENCE (Sections 160.518 and 160.522) The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shall develop and use a grade-level equivalence metric to assess students' knowledge and performance for grades 3-8. DESE shall define and categorize performance-level descriptors for advanced, proficient, grade level, basic, and below basic achievement, as described in the act, with each level representing varying degrees of mastery over educational content and readiness for the next grade level. The grade-level equivalence for each student shall be determined at the time of the statewide assessment and provided alongside the student's assessment score to both the student and his or her parent. DESE shall also ensure that data related to grade-level equivalence is made publicly accessible on a building, school, district, and statewide level, while ensuring that no data is disclosed in a way that allows for the personal identification of any student, except by the student and the student's parent. DESE may engage a third-party nonprofit entity to assist in developing the grade-level equivalence metric. The grade-level equivalence data shall be included in the annual performance reports DESE is required to compile under current law. These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025), substantially similar to provisions in HCS/HB 712 (2025), and similar to HB 371 (2025). SCHOOL SAFETY COORDINATORS (Section 160.660) The act requires school districts to designate a primary and secondary school safety coordinator, rather than one designated safety coordinator. Each school district shall ensure that school safety coordinators complete specific training within one year of being appointed. The training options include certain courses offered by the Federal Emergency Management Administration or the Missouri School Boards' Association's Center for Education Safety. This provision is identical to provisions in SCS/HB 232 (2025), SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025), HB 416 (2025), and HCS/HB 1946 (2024). SCHOOL SAFETY MEASURES (Section 160.663) The act requires school districts and charter schools to install anti-intruder door locks on all existing interior doors and all interior doors installed after August, 28, 2029. Notwithstanding these provisions, a school district or charter school shall not be required to equip an interior door with an anti-intruder door lock unless the General Assembly specifically appropriates funds. Additionally, a school district or charter school may equip each school with one or more master key boxes to contain the necessary keys and access tools for fire protection and law enforcement agencies to gain access to exterior or interior doors or entryways, including those equipped with an anti-intruder door lock. School districts and charter schools may receive donations of anti-intruder door locks and master key boxes or accept donations of funds to purchase such items. School districts and charter schools shall develop policies to control building access prior to, or in conjunction with, installing anti-intruder door locks. This provision is similar to provisions in SCS/HB 232 (2025), SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025), HB 416 (2025), and HCS/HB 1946 (2024). SCHOOL SAFETY INCIDENT REPORTS (Section 160.664) This act requires all local educational agencies (LEAs), defined as including any school district and any charter school that has declared itself an LEA, to report to DESE all school safety incidents and credible school safety threats that occur at each attendance center of the LEA, including all actual incidents or credible threats of school shootings or other incidents or threats involving a firearm, explosive, knife, or other weapon, as provided in the act. DESE may require LEAs to report acts of school violence or violent behavior, as such terms are defined in current law, or crimes required to be reported to law enforcement under current law. DESE shall establish procedures for LEAs to follow when reporting a school safety incident or credible threat. These procedures shall include, but shall not be limited to, criteria to assist LEAs in determining what constitutes a school safety incident or credible threat that is required to be reported; a time frame within which such incident or threat shall be reported; and any other information required by DESE. DESE shall maintain and regularly update a database of all school safety incidents and credible school safety threats that are reported pursuant to the provisions of the act. No record in the database shall contain personally identifiable information of a student. A record in the database shall contain only aggregate data by charter school, school district, or attendance center thereof, and shall be a public record. DESE shall share data relating to school safety incidents and credible school safety threats with the Department of Public Safety. This provision is similar to HB 1074 (2025) and a provision in HCS/HBs 408, 306 & 854 (2025). ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBERS (Section 160.701) The act provides that a statewide activities association that includes at least one public school district as a fee-paying member shall not require students who are on active duty in the United States Armed Forces, including members of the National Guard and Reserve on active duty orders, to attend a minimum number of practices as a condition of such student's membership on any group or team facilitated or overseen by such association. This provision is identical to provisions in SS#2/HB 419 (2025) and SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025). ADULT HIGH SCHOOLS (Sections 160.2700, 160.2705, and 160.2710) The act lowers the minimum age of a student who may enroll in an adult high school from 21 years of age to 18 years of age. To be eligible to operate an adult high school, an organization shall demonstrate success in providing job placement services to adults 18 years of age or older, instead of 21 years of age or older, in addition to satisfying certain other conditions set forth in current law. Additionally, a student transferring from a local education agency to an adult high school shall be considered a transfer student and not a dropout student from the local education agency. These provisions are identical to HCS/HB 32 (2025) and provisions in CCS/HCS/SS/SB 150 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025), SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025), and HCS/HB 712 (2025), and are similar to SB 426 (2025) and HB 1110 (2025). TEACHER REPRESENTATIVES ON THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION (Section 161.026) The act modifies the appointment of teacher representatives to the State Board of Education by providing that, for the second and succeeding appointments, the teacher representative shall not be appointed from the same congressional district as the two immediately preceding teacher representatives, rather than requiring all appointments to be made in rotation from each congressional district. The act further repeals the August 28, 2025, expiration date of these provisions. These provisions are similar to SB 737 (2025) and HCS/HB 1413 (2025). STEM CAREER AWARENESS (Section 161.264) This act creates the "STEM Career Awareness Activity Fund" for the purpose of establishing a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activity program for students in grades nine through twelve. Under the act, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) shall select a provider to deliver a teacher-led program that involves facilitating a cohort of students to conduct STEM activities at state, national, or international competitions. DESE shall select a provider that presents data demonstrating the effectiveness of the program in achieving certain goals specified in the act. DESE shall begin soliciting applications from providers by January 1, 2026, and select a provider by March 1, 2026. This provision is identical to HB 1111 (2025) and provisions in CCS/HCS/SS/SB 150 (2025), SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025), and HCS/HB 33 (2025), and is substantially similar to SB 265 (2025), HB 1972 (2024), SB 535 (2023), HB 887 (2023), and provisions in SCS/SB 976 (2024), HCS/SB 1039 (2024), HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 411 & 230 (2023), and HCS/HB 502 (2023). VIRTUAL ASSESSMENTS (Section 161.670) This act provides that any virtual school or program that is part of the Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program may administer any statewide assessment virtually, except for college readiness or workforce readiness assessments provided by a national college and career readiness assessment provider. The act outlines requirements for such virtual assessments, including the monitoring of students via a camera and the maintaining of a student-to-proctor ratio that is targeted at 10-1 or lower. This provision is identical to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025) and SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025), and is similar to SB 1049 (2024) and provisions in HCS/HB 220 (2025) and HCS#2/SS/SB 266 (2025). ELECTRONIC PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS DEVICES (Section 162.207) Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, each school district and charter school shall adopt a written policy regarding students' possession or use of electronic personal communication devices. Such a policy shall be designed to promote students' educational interests and ensure a safe, effective working environment for staff and volunteers. The act defines an "electronic personal communications device" as a portable device that is used to initiate, receive, store, or view communication, information, images, or data electronically. At a minimum, the policy shall prohibit students from using or displaying these devices from the beginning until the end of the school day, including, but not limited to, during instructional time, meal times, breaks, time between classes, and study halls. The policy shall also outline disciplinary procedures for violations and include exceptions for students who need devices due to specific educational or health needs, such as individualized education plans or 504 plans under federal law. Exceptions may allow device use in emergencies, as defined in the act, or for authorized educational purposes. The policy shall be published on the school district's or charter school's website, and school employees or volunteers shall be immune from liability if they act in good faith and follow the policy's disciplinary procedures. This provision shall expire on August 28, 2032. This provision is similar to SB 640 (2025), HB 2889 (2024), and provisions in HCS/HBs 408, 306 & 854 (2025) and HB 416 (2025). KINDERGARTEN ELIGIBILITY FOR CHILDREN WITH A DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY (Section 162.700) The act provides that a child identified as having a developmental delay before attaining the age of eligibility for kindergarten may continue such eligibility as a young child with a developmental delay. The category of young child with a developmental delay shall not be used to determine continuing eligibility for special educational services for a student who is seven years of age before August first of a given school year, but eligibility for special educational services may be determined for such students through any other disability category. This provision is identical to HB 305 (2025), and is similar to HB 654 (2025) and HB 1008 (2025). CONTRACTS FOR SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (Section 162.705) The act authorizes the State Board of Education to contract with an organization in an adjacent state to provide special educational services if a school district or special district fails or is unable to provide such services as required under current law. SMALL SCHOOLS GRANT (Section 163.044) Nonresident students who enroll in a school district through the Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program shall not be included in such school district's total pupil count for purposes of determining the district's eligibility for the Small Schools Grant under current law. This provision is identical to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025) and HCS/HB 220 (2025). STATE AID FOR SCHOOLS (Section 163.045) A school district shall not be deemed ineligible to receive certain state aid moneys on the basis that such school district was in session for fewer than 169 days in a school term because of exceptional or emergency circumstances or a reduction of the required number of school days authorized by the Commissioner of Education under current law. This provision is identical to HCS/HB 368 (2025) and a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025), and is similar to SB 364 (2025) and a provision in HCS/HB 712 (2025). MINIMUM TEACHER'S SALARY (Section 163.172) This act repeals the requirement for a teacher's master's degree to be in an academic teaching field directly related to the teacher's assignment in order for such teacher to qualify for the minimum salary for teachers with a master's degree and at least 10 years of teaching experience. This provision is identical to provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025) and HCS/HB 712 (2025). BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENTS AND PERSONAL SAFETY PLANS (Sections 167.020 and 167.022) The act adds behavioral threat assessments and personal safety plans, as defined in the act, to the records to be requested by school officials when enrolling a pupil. These provisions are identical to provisions in SCS/HB 232 (2025) and are similar to provisions in SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025), HB 416 (2025), and HCS/HB 1946 (2024). JUVENILE COURT (Section 167.115) Currently, a school district shall be notified if a petition is filed against a student in juvenile court with specific allegations. Under this act, a school district shall also be notified if a charge or indictment is filed against a student. The act adds the local prosecutor to the list of individuals required to notify the school district. Notice shall be given within 24 hours following the filing of the charge, indictment, or petition, and a summary of facts shall be provided to the superintendent of the school district no later than two business days, rather than five days, following the case disposition. Additionally, the act authorizes school districts to request an injunction to exclude students from educational services if there is a substantial likelihood of danger to the safety of other students or employees in the school district. The information reported to the school district may be used to provide an alternative environment for the student's educational services. This provision is identical to provisions in SCS/HB 232 (2025), SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025), HB 416 (2025), and HCS/HB 1946 (2024). AGREEMENTS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT (Section 167.117) The act authorizes school districts and charter schools to enter into written agreements with law enforcement on reporting procedures for certain criminal offenses specified in the act. These procedures may authorize the reporting of offenses committed by students under 11 years of age to the Children's Division within the Department of Social Services, rather than law enforcement. This provision is identical to provisions in SCS/HB 232 (2025), SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025), and HB 416 (2025). CHILDREN OF SCHOOL CONTRACTORS (Section 167.151) Under this act, a school district or charter school may, upon a majority vote of the school board of the school district or governing board of the charter school, adopt a policy to allow the child of a contractor or regular employee, as defined in the act, to attend school in the school district or charter school, even if the child is not a resident student. The nonresident district or charter school shall provide the child with the same access to education as other pupils entitled to free instruction and without requiring tuition fees. The child shall be considered a resident of the nonresident district for the purpose of average daily attendance. Charter schools shall receive an amount of state aid for each transferring student as described in the act. If the child wishes to attend a magnet or academically selective school within the nonresident district, the parent shall provide proof that the child meets the admission requirements. The nonresident district or charter school may require contractors or regular employees to provide documentation showing they meet the necessary qualifications and may also require a contractor or regular employee to work a minimum number of days, not exceeding 60, for the child to be eligible to attend school in the nonresident district or charter school. Neither the resident district or charter school nor the nonresident district shall be responsible for providing transportation services. If the parent ceases to be a contractor or regular employee of the school district or charter school, the child may continue attending school in the nonresident district or charter school for the remainder of the school year. This provision is similar to HCS/HB 1238 (2025). ZERO-TOLERANCE DISCIPLINARY POLICIES (Section 167.167) This act requires school districts to prohibit, in name and practice, any zero-tolerance disciplinary policy that results in an automatic consequence against a pupil without the discretion to modify such disciplinary consequence on a case-by-case basis. This provision is identical to HB 454 (2025) and provisions in SCS/HB 232 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025), HCS/HBs 408, 306 & 854 (2025), and HCS/HB 712 (2025). CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION (Section 167.624) Currently, school boards are authorized to develop and implement a program to train students and employees on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other lifesaving methods. This act requires school districts and charter schools to provide such training for all employees. The act repeals a provision authorizing school boards to make completion of the program a graduation requirement. This provision is identical to provisions in SCS/HB 232 (2025), SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025), HB 416 (2025), and HCS/HB 1946 (2024). RECOVERY HIGH SCHOOLS (Section 167.850) Currently, a recovery high school is a public high school established by one or more school districts to serve students diagnosed with substance use disorder or dependency. Under this act, a recovery high school is a school established by a sponsoring entity, which may include the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), a school district, a magnet school, a charter school, a private school, or any combination of such entities. Currently, the sending district of an eligible student enrolled in a recovery high school shall pay tuition to the recovery high school in an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the tuition rate set by the recovery high school or (b) the state adequacy target, as defined in current law, plus the average sum produced per child by the local tax effort above the state adequacy target of the sending district. The sending district is responsible for paying any costs associated with the provision of special education and related disability services that exceed the tuition paid to the recovery high school. Under this act, a recovery high school shall be reimbursed by the sending district in an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the tuition rate set by the recovery high school or (b) the current expenditure per average daily attendance of the sending district. Any tuition costs exceeding the actual payment to the recovery high school from the sending district shall be reimbursed by DESE. If costs associated with the provision of special education and related disability services to a student with an individualized education program exceed three times the current expenditure per average daily attendance of the sending district, the sending district shall claim such excess costs for reimbursement as provided in current law, and shall be responsible for paying such excess costs to the recovery high school, provided the sending district is reimbursed for such excess costs by DESE. This provision is similar to HB 1386 (2025) and a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025). TEACHER CERTIFICATION (Section 168.021) The act provides that the alternative online teacher preparation program developed and maintained by DESE under current law may, instead of "shall", be accepted by private schools and private school accrediting agencies. Additionally, the act adds Teachers of Tomorrow to the list of certificating entities from which the State Board of Education shall accept a teacher's credentials for purposes of granting a license to teach in the public schools of this state, provided that the individual also meets certain other conditions outlined in current law. The act further adds "gifted education" to the list of subject areas for which the State Board of Education shall not issue a teaching license based on certification by such a certificating entity. This provision is similar to SB 639 (2025), HCS/HB 1153 (2025), and provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025) and in SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025). TEACHER EXTERNSHIPS (Section 168.025) The act repeals the August 28, 2024, expiration of the teacher externship program. This provision is identical to HB 1945 (2024) and provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025), SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025), and HCS/HB 267 (2025). SUBSTITUTE TEACHING IN RETIREMENT (Section 168.036) Currently, the limitations for members of the Public School Retirement System and the Public Education Employee Retirement Systems (PSRS/PEERS) to work as a substitute teacher after retirement are waived until June 30, 2025. This act waives such limitations until June 30, 2030. This provision is identical to HB 1039 (2025) and provisions in SS#2/SCS/SB 10 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025), SB 705 (2025), SB 708 (2025), SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025), HCS/HB 267 (2025), HCS/HBs 296 & 438 (2025), HCS/HB 965 (2025), HCS/HB 712 (2025), and HCS/HB 1153 (2025). PRINCIPAL-ADMINISTRATOR ACADEMY (Sections 168.407, 168.409, and 168.500) The act modifies provisions relating to programming for the Principal-Administrator Academy by specifying that programming shall include a review of preparation programs of school administrators, a mentoring program, and an early career coaching program. The act repeals a provision authorizing DESE to charge a reasonable fee to cover the costs of operating the Principal- Administrator Academy. Instead, the act provides that funding for such programming may include federal funding, money appropriated to the Excellence in Education Fund, or up to 5% of funding appropriated for Career Ladder. DESE may also require matching funds to be provided by individuals or school districts, as provided in the act. These provisions are identical to provisions in SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025), and are similar to a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025). MODELS OF READING INSTRUCTION (Section 170.014) Phonics instruction for decoding and encoding words shall be the primary instructional strategy for teaching word reading in school districts and charter schools. Instruction in word reading shall not rely primarily on strategies based on the three-cueing system model of reading or visual memory. Visual information may be used in reading instruction to improve background and add context, but shall not be used to teach word reading. This provision is identical to a provision in SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025) and is similar to SB 556 (2025), HCS/HB 941 (2025), and provisions in SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025) and SCS/HCS/HB 1569 (2024). ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING (Section 170.315) The act modifies the Active Shooter and Intruder Response Training for Schools Program (ASIRT). For the 2026-27 school year and all subsequent school years, each school district and charter school shall annually train employees on how to respond to students who provide information about a threatening situation, how to address situations involving a potentially dangerous or armed intruder or active shooter, how to identify potential threats or safety hazards, and protocols for emergencies listed in the act. All school personnel may, rather than "shall", participate in a simulated active shooter and intruder response drill. School safety drills required under current law may be led by school safety professionals, in addition to law enforcement professionals. Each drill shall, rather than "may", include an explanation of its purpose and a safety briefing. The act repeals the requirement that each participant in a safety drill shall know and understand how to respond in the event of an actual emergency on school property or at a school event. The act further repeals a provision that drills may allow school personnel to respond to a simulated emergency based on their previous training or attempt new methods of response if previous methods were unsuccessful. The act provides that public schools shall "actively" foster an environment in which students feel comfortable sharing information regarding potentially threatening or dangerous situations with responsible adults. As part of these efforts, each public school shall annually provide age-appropriate information and training on the Highway Patrol's Courage2ReportMO (C2R) reporting mechanism or its successor reporting mechanism. For the 2026-27 school year and all subsequent school years, each school district and charter school shall hold an age-appropriate active shooter exercise in which students, teachers, and other school employees practice the procedures for safety and protection. This provision is identical to a provision in SS/SCS/HCS/HB 711 (2025) and substantially similar to provisions in HB 416 (2025) and HCS/HB 1946 (2024). TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION SCHOLARSHIPS (Section 173.232) The act adds "educational costs" related to teacher preparation to the costs covered by the Teacher Recruitment and Retention State Scholarship Program. If the number of scholarships or maximum amount awarded does not exceed limits established in current law, the act requires DESE to use any remaining funds to award additional scholarships to students who are in the final semester of a state-approved baccalaureate-level teacher preparation program and are student teaching. DESE shall determine the amount of each scholarship awarded under this provision based on equal distribution of remaining funds among all eligible students. No amount granted shall exceed the amount of tuition charged a Missouri resident at the University of Missouri-Columbia for attendance for one semester. The act provides that DESE "shall", rather than "may", sell to the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority loans of scholarship funds that were awarded to scholarship recipients who failed to teach in a hard-to-staff school or hard-to-staff subject area as required under the Program. The act repeals a provision that a school district that hires such an individual as a teacher shall repay 25% of the 1/8 portion of such teacher's scholarship that is not subject to repayment as a loan. This provision is identical to HB 792 (2025) and provisions in SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025) and HCS/HB 712 (2025). INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE EXAMINATIONS (Section 173.1352) This act requires public institutions of higher education to adopt a policy to award undergraduate course credit to student who receives a score of four or higher on an International Baccalaureate exam. This provision is identical to provisions in SS#2/HB 419 (2025) and SCS/HCS/HB 607 (2025), and is substantially similar to SB 243 (2025), HB 291 (2025), HCS/HBs 1017 & 291 (2025), and provisions in HCS/HB 606 (2025), SCS/HCS/HB 1569 (2024), HB 1578 (2024), HB 2051 (2024), and HB 2415 (2024). SCHOOL BUS ENDORSEMENTS (Sections 302.177, 302.272, and 302.735) Currently, driver's license applicants aged 70 or older seeking a school bus endorsement are required to renew their endorsed noncommercial driver's licenses annually rather than every 3 years, are eligible for waiver of the license renewal fee, are required to perform a school bus driver's skills test annually rather than every 3 years, and are required to renew endorsed commercial driver's licenses annually rather than every 3 years. This act increases, from 70 to 75, the age at which these requirements begin, and changes the annual requirements to biennial requirements. These provisions are identical to provisions in HCS/HBs 296 & 438 (2025), substantially similar to provisions in HCS/HB 538 (2025) and SCS/HCS/HB 572 (2025), and similar to HCS/HBs 1626 & 1940 (2024). OLIVIA SHANNON