SS/SCS/HB 2896 - This act creates, repeals, and modifies provisions relating to education. WORKFORCE DIPLOMA PROGRAM (Section 173.831) The act repeals the August 28, 2028, sunset on the Workforce Diploma Program. This provision is identical to SA#4 to SS/HCS/HBs 2097 & 1905 (2026) and to provisions in SCS/SB 1207 (2026) and in HCS/SS/SB 1196 (2026), and is similar to provisions in SCS/SB 1370 (2026) and in HCS/HB 3239 (2026). HIGHER EDUCATION GOVERNING BODIES (Sections 174.300, 174.332, 174.450, 174.453, 174.610, 175.020, and 178.632) Under this act, no more than half of the governing body members of the following institutions of higher education shall reside in the county in which the institution's principal administrative office is located: - Harris Stowe State University, Saint Louis City (Section 174.300); - Northwest Missouri State University, Nodaway County (Section 174.332); - Missouri Southern State University, Jasper County (Sections 174.450 and 174.453); - University of Central Missouri, Johnson County (Section 174.450); - Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau County (Section 174.453); - Truman State University, Adair County (Section 174.610); - Lincoln University, Cole County (Section 175.020); and - State Technical College of Missouri, Osage County (Section 178.632). The act repeals other geographical restrictions on the makeup of such governing bodies. The act also modifies the governing body of Missouri State University. Currently, at least one but no more than two voting members of the governing board of Missouri State University shall be appointed from each congressional district. Under this act, no fewer than seven members shall be residents of different congressional districts, and no more than one member shall be appointed from any one congressional district. Two members shall be appointed at-large and shall not be required to reside in a congressional district not otherwise represented on the board. These provisions are similar to SB 989 (2026). AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION (Section 178.530) This act ends the current pilot program for agricultural education in elementary schools and authorizes the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to establish an ongoing agricultural education program beginning in the 2027-28 school year. DESE shall develop a process for public elementary schools to participate in such program, and the local school board for each participating school shall fully fund the program and may employ an agricultural education teacher. DESE shall collaborate with Missouri agricultural commodity groups to establish instructional models for the program, as provided in the act. DESE shall evaluate the success and impact of the agricultural education program and report the results of such evaluation on the DESE website. Provisions of state law requiring the State Board of Education to form a work group to develop academic performance standards shall not apply to the provisions of this act. This provision is identical to SS/SCS/SB 1383 (2026) and to a provision in SS/HCS/HBs 2097 & 1905 (2026). OLIVIA SHANNON