CCS#2/HCS/SCS/SB 172 - This act modifies provisions relating to elementary and secondary education. SCHOOL DISCIPLINE POLICIES: This act expands the list of violent offenses that a school district's discipline policy requires school administrators to report to law enforcement to include making a terrorist threat. This section is identical to HB 242 (2015). (Section 160.261) DYSLEXIA SPECIALIST: This act requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to employ a dyslexia specialist. The dyslexia specialist will assist the department with developing and administering professional development programs no later than the 2016-2017 school year. This section is identical to a provision contained in CCS/SCS/HCS/HB 42 (2015), SB 548 (2015), and HB 921 (2015). (Section 161.1005) GIFTED EDUCATION: This act prohibits school districts from determining whether a child is gifted based on the child's participation in an advanced placement course or international baccalaureate course. Whether a child is gifted must be determined using the statutory definition of "gifted children." (Section 162.720) Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year and in each school year after that, if a district experiences a decrease in its gifted program enrollment of twenty percent or more from the previous school year, an amount equal to the product of the difference between the number of students enrolled in the gifted program in the current school year and the number of students enrolled in the gifted program in the previous school year multiplied by six hundred eighty dollars will be subtracted from the district's current year payment amount. (Section 163.031) These sections are similar to HCS/HB 637 (2015), SB 290 (2015), and HCS/SB 113 (2015). COMMITTEE ON SCHOOLS FOR THE SEVERELY DISABLED: This act establishes a committee on schools for the severely disabled in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The committee must examine the recommendations under which the Schools for the Severely Disabled operate and prepare a report with recommendations by December 1, 2015 to the Joint Committee on Education. This section is identical to HB 1262 (2015). (Section 162.732) TWO-YEAR COLLEGES: Currently, public high schools may, in cooperation with public community colleges and public or private four-year colleges and universities, offer postsecondary course options to high school students. This act changes "community colleges" to "two-year colleges." This section is identical to HB 1029 (2015). (Section 167.223) REMEDIATION PREVENTION: Each public school student, during his or her seventh grade year, may develop a personal plan of study with help from the school's guidance counselors. Such a plan must be reviewed at least annually by school personnel and the student's parent or guardian and updated based upon the needs of the student. Each plan must present a sequence of courses and experiences that conclude with the student reaching his or her postsecondary goals, with implementation of the plan of study transferring to the program of postsecondary education or training upon the student's high school graduation without need for remediation at the postsecondary level. Components to be included in the plan are described in the act. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must develop a process for recognition of a district's program for developing personalized plans of study for all students entering seventh grade. The following school districts are exempt from this section: St. Louis City, Kansas City, unaccredited districts in St. Louis County, provisionally accredited districts in St. Louis County, and districts in St. Louis County with a three year average APR score consistent with unaccredited or provisionally accredited. This section is similar to a provision contained in SCS/HCS/HB 377 (2015). (Section 167.903) By July 1, 2017, each school district must develop a policy and implement a measurable system for identifying students in their ninth grade year, or students who transfer into the school after their ninth grade year, who are at risk of not being ready for college-level work or for entry-level career positions. Each system is subject to approval by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Components to be included in policy are described in the act. By January 1, 2016, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must develop a process for recognition of a district's program of academic and career counseling for students who have been identified as being at risk of dropping out or at risk of not being ready for college-level coursework or for an entry-level career position. This section is substantially similar to a provision contained in SCS/HCS/HB 377. (Section 167.905) The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must conduct a review of its policies and procedures relating to remedial education in light of best practices, as described in the act. The Department must present its results to the Joint Committee on Education by October 31, 2016. By July 1, 2018, the Department of Higher Education, in consultation with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, must develop a report that analyzes the results of the Coordinating Board for Higher Education's annual report relative to student performance on the statewide assessments for English I and Algebra I. This section is identical to a provision contained in SCS/HCS/HB 377. (Section 173.750) PUBLIC SCHOOL RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF MISSOURI: Current law permits a person receiving a retirement allowance to nominate a successor beneficiary under certain circumstances. This act requires a nomination of a successor beneficiary to be filed within one year, instead of the current ninety days, of the remarriage. This act allows a retired member of PSRS who has elected to receive a reduced retirement allowance in order to nominate a successor beneficiary for his or her retirement allowance to receive his or her full retirement allowance under Option 1 if: the retired member becomes divorced from the nominated beneficiary on or after September 1, 2015, the dissolution decree provides for sole retention by the retired person of all rights in the retirement allowance, and the person would have received a reduced retirement allowance. This section is identical to HB 1086 (2015) and provision contained in HCS/SCS/SB 270. (Section 169.141) This act modifies the provisions that permit a retired member to return to work for up to 550 hours or up to fifty percent of compensation without having his or her retirement allowance suspended. This act provides that if a person is employed in any capacity by a district in excess of these limitations, the retirement allowance will be suspended. In addition, this act extends this provision to any person retired and receiving a retirement allowance from the system who is employed by a third party or is performing work as an independent contractor in a district included in the retirement system as a temporary or long-term substitute teacher or in any other position requiring teacher certification if the person was employed by the district. The retirement system may require the district, the third-party employer, the independent contractor, and the retiree to provide documentation showing compliance. If documentation is not provided, the retirement system may deem the retiree to have exceeded the limitations. This section is identical to a section contained in HCS/HB 1085 (2015) and in HCS/SCS/SB 270 (2015). (Section 169.560) KANSAS CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL RETIREMENT SYSTEM: Currently, in any school year, if a retiree returns to work in excess of 600 hours or receives more then fifty percent of the annual salary or wages he or she was last paid, payment of the person's retirement allowance will be suspended. This act extends this provision to any person retired and receiving a retirement allowance from the system who is employed by a third party or is performing work as an independent contractor in a district included in the retirement system as a temporary or long-term substitute teacher or in any other position requiring teacher certification if the person was employed by the district. The retirement system may require the district, the third-party employer, the independent contractor, and the retiree to provide documentation showing compliance. If documentation is not provided, the retirement system may deem the retiree to have exceeded the limitations. This section is identical to a section contained in HCS/HB 1085 (2015) and HCS/SCS/SB 270 (2015). (Section 169.324) PUBLIC EDUCATION EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SYSTEM: Current law permits a person receiving a retirement allowance to nominate a successor beneficiary under certain circumstances. This act requires a nomination of a successor beneficiary to be filed within one year, instead of the current ninety days, of the remarriage. This act allows a retired member of PEERS who has elected to receive a reduced retirement allowance in order to nominate a successor beneficiary for his or her retirement allowance to receive his or her full retirement allowance under Option 1 if: the retired member becomes divorced from the nominated beneficiary on or after September 1, 2015, the dissolution decree provides for sole retention by the retired person of all rights in the retirement allowance, and the person would have received a reduced retirement allowance. This section is identical to HB 1086 (2015) and a provision contained in HCS/SCS/SB 270 (2015). (Section 169.715) CIVICS EDUCATION: This act creates the "Missouri Civics Education Initiative." A student of a college or university, who, after earning a passing grade in a course of instruction for United States or Missouri history or constitution, transfers to another college or university, is not required to earn a passing grade in another such course as a condition precedent to graduation. This act repeals the prohibition on students receiving a certificate of graduation without having satisfactorily passed an examination on the provisions and principles of the United States and Missouri constitutions, American history, and American institutions. However, to receive a certificate of graduation, public or private schools other than private trade schools may require a passing score on an examination of the provisions and principles of the United States constitution, Missouri constitution, or both. (Section 170.011) Any student entering ninth grade after July 1, 2016, who is attending a public, charter, or private school, except for private trade schools, or a student seeking to complete a high school equivalency certificate, must, as a condition of high school graduation or its equivalent, take and receive a passing grade on a basic civics test similar to the civics portion of the United States naturalization test, produced by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The test will consist of the 100 questions used by the USCIS. In order to receive a passing score on the test, a student must answer at least sixty percent of the questions correctly. A student may take the test as many times as necessary for passage but must receive a passing score. Each public school, charter school, or private school, except for private trade schools, and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must certify that a student has taken and received a passing grade on the test. (Section 170.345) Each district must adopt a policy permitting a student with a disability to receive a waiver from the basic civics test requirement if the student's IEP committee recommends it. (Section 170.345) These provisions are similar to SCS/HCS/HBs 578, 574 & 584 (2015), SB 271 (2015), SB 273 (2015), and provisions contained in HCS/SB 113 (2015). CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATE: This act requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Career and Technical Education Advisory Council, to establish minimum requirements for a career and technical education certificate that a student can earn in addition to a high school diploma. Students entering high school in school year 2016-2017 and thereafter will be eligible to earn a CTE certificate. The CTE requirements are intended to provide students with the necessary technical employability skills to be prepared for an entry-level career in a technical field or additional training in a technical field but must not be a means of tracking students, as described in the act. The State Board must work with local districts to ensure tracking does not occur. Each local district will determine the curriculum, programs of study, and course offerings based on the needs and interests of the students in the district. The State Board must work with individual districts to stipulate the minimum number of CTE offerings. Each local district must strive to offer programs of study that are economically feasible. By January 1, 2016, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must develop a process for recognition of a district's career and technical education program that offers a career and technical education certificate. This section is identical to a provision contained in HCS/SB 13 (2015) and in SCS/HCS/HB 380 (2015) and is similar to HB 406 (2015). (Section 170.029) YOUTH SUICIDE PREVENTION POLICIES: Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, any licensed educator may annually complete up to two hours of training or professional development in youth suicide awareness and prevention as part of the professional development hours required for State Board of Education certification. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must develop guidelines for training or professional development in youth suicide awareness and prevention. The Department must also develop materials that may be used for such training or professional development. Each district must adopt a policy for youth suicide awareness and prevention by July 1, 2017. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must develop a model policy by July 1, 2016, that districts may adopt. The Department must cooperate, consult with, and seek input from organizations that have expertise in youth suicide awareness and prevention. By July 1, 2020, and at least every three years thereafter, the Department must request information and seek feedback from districts on their experience with the policy for youth suicide awareness and prevention. The Department shall review this information and may use it to adapt the department's model policy. The Department must post the information it receives from districts on its website that it deems relevant. The Department must not post any confidential information or any information that personally identifies a student or school employee. These sections are identical to SCS/SB 328 and provisions contained in CCS/SS/SCS/HB 458 (2015), SS/SCS/HB 556 (2015), HB 1293 (2015), and HCS/SCS/SB 146 (2015). (Sections 170.047 & 170.048) MISSOURI SUPREME COURT CONSTITUTION PROJECT: This act permits a school district to develop a policy that allows student participation in the Missouri Supreme Court's Constitution Project to be recognized in two ways. First, by the granting of credit for some portion of, or collaboration with any of the following: the community service or citizenship requirements of the A+ program, the Missouri and United States Constitution course requirement, or any relevant course or instructional unit in American government or a similar subject. Second, by district or school-level awards, including, but not limited to, certificates or assemblies. This section is identical to HCS/HB 658 (2015). (Section 170.350) CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL: This act modifies the composition of the Career and Technical Education Advisory Council. Instead of the Governor appointing the Advisory Council's current eleven members, the Commissioner of Education will make these appointments. This act also expands the Advisory Council's membership to include two senators, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and two representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The four legislative members will serve on the Advisory Council until they resign, are no longer members of the General Assembly, or are replaced by new appointments. This section is identical to a provision contained in HCS/SB 13 (2015) and in SCS/HCS/HB 380 (2015). (Section 178.550) LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE ON DYSLEXIA: This act creates the Legislative Task Force on Dyslexia. The task force will make recommendations for a statewide system for identification, intervention, and delivery of supports for students with dyslexia. This section is identical to a provision contained in SB 548 (2015), CCS/SCS/HCS/HB 42 (2015), and HB 921 (2015). (Section 633.420) MICHAEL RUFF