HCS/SB 13 – This act modifies provisions relating to career and technical education. 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 CCS#2/HCS/SCS/SB 172 (2015) and in SCS/HCS/HB 380 (2015) and is similar to HB 406 (2015). (Section 170.029) 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/SCS/SB 172 (2015). (Section 178.550) MICHAEL RUFF HA 1: THIS AMENDMENT CREATES THE MISSOURI COURSE ACCESS PROGRAM TO ALLOW PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS TO ENROLL IN ONLINE, BLENDED, AND FACE-TO-FACE COURSES TO SUPPLEMENT COURSEWORK OFFERED WHERE THE STUDENT IS ENROLLED. THIS AMENDMENT ALLOWS ANY ELIGIBLE PARTICIPATING STUDENT TO ENROLL IN STATE COURSE ACCESS PROGRAM COURSES WITH PRIOR APPROVAL FROM HIS OR HER GUIDANCE COUNSELOR. AN ELIGIBLE FUNDED STUDENT, AS DESCRIBED IN THE AMENDMENT, MAY ENROLL IN COURSES FUNDED BY THE PROGRAM UP TO A MAXIMUM OF SEVEN CREDIT HOURS PER SEMESTER. FAMILIES OF ELIGIBLE FUNDED STUDENTS AND OTHER ELIGIBLE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS MAY PAY TO ENROLL IN STATE COURSE ACCESS PROGRAM COURSES ABOVE THE LEVELS SPECIFIED IN THIS AMENDMENT. THE LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY WHERE ELIGIBLE FUNDED STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED FULL-TIME MAY REVIEW ENROLLMENT REQUESTS TO ENSURE COURSES ARE ACADEMICALLY APPROPRIATE, LOGISTICALLY FEASIBLE, KEEP THE STUDENT ON-TRACK FOR AN ON-TIME GRADUATION, AND DO NOT EXTEND A STUDENT BEYOND A FULL-TIME COURSE LOAD. THE LEA MAY ONLY REJECT COURSE REQUESTS FOR THESE SPECIFIC REASONS. EACH LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY MUST INFORM STUDENTS AND FAMILIES OF THEIR RIGHT TO APPEAL ANY ENROLLMENT DENIALS IN STATE COURSE ACCESS PROGRAM COURSES TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. THE DEPARTMENT MUST PROVIDE A FINAL ENROLLMENT DECISION WITHIN SEVEN DAYS. THE DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION MUST ESTABLISH AN AUTHORIZATION PROCESS FOR COURSE PROVIDERS THAT INCLUDES MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUBMISSION EACH YEAR. NO LATER THAN NINETY DAYS FROM THE INITIAL SUBMISSION DATE, THE DEPARTMENT MUST AUTHORIZE COURSE PROVIDERS THAT MEET THE CRITERIA DESCRIBED IN THE AMENDMENT AND PROVIDE COURSES THAT OFFER THE INSTRUCTIONAL RIGOR AND SCOPE REQUIRED. THE DEPARTMENT MUST PROVIDE A WRITTEN EXPLANATION TO ANY COURSE PROVIDER THAT IS DENIED AUTHORIZATION NO LATER THAN NINETY DAYS FROM THE INITIAL SUBMISSION DATE AND ALLOW A COURSE PROVIDER TO REAPPLY AFTER A DENIAL. THE DEPARTMENT MUST PUBLISH THE PROCESS, INCLUDING ANY DEADLINES AND GUIDELINES. THE DEPARTMENT MAY CHARGE APPLICANT PROVIDERS A FEE UP TO BUT NO GREATER THAN THE AMOUNT OF THE COSTS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT EVALUATION OCCURS IF THE DEPARTMENT DETERMINES THERE ARE INSUFFICIENT FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR EVALUATING AND AUTHORIZING COURSE PROVIDERS. THE DEPARTMENT MUST ESTABLISH AND PUBLISH A FEE SCHEDULE. THIS AMENDMENT SPECIFIES ACTIONS A PROVIDER MUST TAKE TO BE AUTHORIZED. THE DEPARTMENT MUST DEVELOP ADDITIONAL CRITERIA TO EVALUATE PROVIDERS AND MAY INCLUDE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED THIRD-PARTY QUALITY STANDARDS. THE DEPARTMENT MUST ESTABLISH A COURSE REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCESS THAT IT MAY IMPLEMENT OR THAT IT MAY ASSIGN TO ANOTHER ENTITY TO IMPLEMENT. THIS AMENDMENT DESCRIBES THE REQUIREMENTS THAT A COURSE MUST MEET TO BE APPROVED AND ADDED TO THE MISSOURI COURSE ACCESS CATALOG. IN ADDITION, THE DEPARTMENT MAY NEGOTIATE CHANGES IN THE PROPOSAL TO OFFER A COURSE IF IT DETERMINES THAT CHANGES NECESSARY TO AUTHORIZE IT. THIS AMENDMENT ALSO DESCRIBES THE AUTHORIZATION, REVIEW, PROBATION, EXCLUSION, AND REAUTHORIZATION PROCESSES FOR COURSE PROVIDERS. THE DEPARTMENT MAY ENTER INTO A RECIPROCITY AGREEMENT WITH OTHER STATES FOR THE PURPOSE OF AUTHORIZING AND APPROVING HIGH QUALITY PROVIDER AND COURSES FOR THE PROGRAM AND THE OPERATION OF THE CATALOG. PUBLISHING CRITERIA, A TIME FRAME, WITHDRAWAL DATES, AND AN INFORMED CHOICE REPORT ARE ESTABLISHED IN THE AMENDMENT. THE DEPARTMENT MUST SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION. THE REPORT MUST BE PUBLISHED ONLINE IN AN OPEN FORMAT. SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS MUST NOTIFY STUDENTS AND PARENTS AS PART OF ANY COURSE ENROLLMENT PERIOD OR PROCESS OF THE AVAILABILITY OF PROGRAM COURSES IN CORRESPONDENCE THAT IS WRITTEN IN SIMPLE AND ACCURATE LANGUAGE, PROVIDE INFORMATION BY LETTER OR EMAIL TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS AT HOME AND BY AT LEAST TWO OTHER MEANS, AND PUBLISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES ON THEIR WEBSITES. EACH DISTRICT MUST ESTABLISH A POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR ELIGIBLE PARTICIPATING STUDENTS REGARDING CREDIT TOWARD THE REQUIREMENTS OF ANY APPROVED STATE DIPLOMA AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF REQUIRED STATE ASSESSMENTS. THE PERFORMANCE DATA OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN SUCH COURSES MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE SCHOOL PERFORMANCE SCORE FOR THE STUDENTS' SCHOOL OF FULL-TIME ENROLLMENT. THIS AMENDMENT DESCRIBES THAT THE FUNDING MECHANISM FOR THE PROGRAM MUST BE PAID FROM THE DEPARTMENT TO THE LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY AND THEN FROM THE LEA TO THE COURSE PROVIDER FOR ANY COURSES IN WHICH THE STUDENT IS ENROLLED. ANY REMAINING FUNDS MUST REMAIN WITH THE LEA IN WHICH THE STUDENT IS ENROLLED FULL-TIME. TUITION PAYMENT TO COURSE PROVIDERS WILL BE BASED ON STUDENT SUCCESS AND THE RATIO, AS DESCRIBED IN THE AMENDMENT. THIS PROGRAM SUNSET AFTER SIX YEARS UNLESS REAUTHORIZED BY AN ACT OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. THIS AMENDMENT IS SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO HCS/HB 565 (2015). HA 2: THIS AMENDMENT 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) THIS AMENDMENT ALSO REPEALS A SIMILAR OBSOLETE PENALTY ON DISTRICTS WITH REDUCTIONS IN GIFTED PROGRAM ENROLLMENT. THIS PENALTY EXPIRED AT THE END OF THE 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR. (SECTION 163.031) THE FINANCIAL PENALTY PROVISION AND REPEAL OF THE OBSOLETE PENALTY WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON JULY 1, 2016. THIS AMENDMENT IS IDENTICAL TO HCS/HB 637 (2015) AND IS SIMILAR TO SB 290 (2015). HA 3: THIS AMENDMENT REQUIRES THAT ANY FUNDING APPROPRIATED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF SCHOOL BOARD TRAINING REIMBURSEMENT MUST BE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL STATEWIDE ORGANIZATIONS THAT RECEIVED STATE FUNDING FOR SCHOOL BOARD TRAINING IN FISCAL YEAR 2013. HA 4: THIS AMENDMENT PERMITS ELIGIBLE STUDENTS TO BE ABLE TO USE FUNDS FROM THE ACCESS MISSOURI FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AT AN APPROVED VIRTUAL INSTITUTION. AN APPROVED VIRTUAL INSTITUTION IS AN EDUCATION INSTITUTION THAT MEETS THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS: IS RECOGNIZED AS A QUALIFYING INSTITUTION BY GUBERNATORIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER PRIOR TO AUGUST 28, 2015 AND THROUGH A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING; IS A NONPROFIT INSTITUTION; IS ACCREDITED BY A REGIONAL ACCREDITING AGENCY RECOGNIZED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; HAS ESTABLISHED AND CONTINUOUSLY MAINTAINS AT LEAST TWENTY-FIVE FULL-TIME MISSOURI EMPLOYEES, AT LEAST ONE-HALF OF WHICH MUST BE FACULTY OR ADMINISTRATORS ENGAGED IN MISSOURI OPERATIONS; ENROLLS AT LEAST ONE THOUSAND MISSOURI RESIDENTS AS DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE SEEKING STUDENTS; AND MAINTAINS A GOVERNING BODY OR ADVISORY BOARD BASED IN MISSOURI WITH OVERSIGHT OF MISSOURI OPERATIONS. THE AWARD AMOUNT RANGE FOR A STUDENT ATTENDING AN APPROVED VIRTUAL INSTITUTION IS A MAXIMUM OF $2850 AND A MINIMUM OF $1500. THIS AMENDMENT IS IDENTICAL TO HCS/HB 1254 (2015).