Senator Andrew Koenig presents a bill on the Senate floor. Altered artwork from photo obtained by the Missouri Times.

Senator Andrew Koenig drew praise from his Democratic colleagues on Wednesday evening for his willingness to address the thorny sections of the charter funding bill. By adding some accountability measures to a Senate floor substitute, Koenig secured the votes needed to perfect HB 1552 (Richey). 

If passed, this legislation will allow charter schools located within the Kansas City Public School District boundaries to receive local tax revenue based on current year collections. At present, charter schools receive funding based on 2004-2005 property values. HB 1552 will eliminate the funding inequities between traditional districts and public charter schools in the Kansas City area. This language does not apply to St. Louis.

Senator Lauren Arthur, who represents parts of Kansas City, thanked Senator Koenig for his patience through the negotiation process. "Today's a good example of how we can work together and accomplish good stuff for kids," she added. "I'm hopeful that other senators in this body take note and understand that compromises can be reached, and we should always put students first."

As the only graduate of Kansas City Public Schools serving in the upper chamber, Senator Barbara Washington echoed Arthur's remarks adding, "I have to say, thank you for working with us. I appreciate some of the accountability (language) you were able to put in there." She joked that Koenig has become the "bill whisperer" for his ability to bring his colleagues together on contentious issues.

While Senator Karla May appreciated what she described as the "Kumbaya moment," she would not support the bill because she believes the people of St. Louis have yet to have their voices heard on the charter funding issue.

The Senate adopted the substitute by voice vote. The bill will now be sent to the Senate Committee on Governmental Accountability and Fiscal Oversight for further consideration.

This week the House wrapped up its work on the FY23 budget, passing 15 budget bills and sending them to the Senate. Despite a billion-dollar surplus, the House's $46.2 billion budget plan leaves nearly $1.8 billion in general revenue unspent and up for grabs by the Missouri Senate.

As revenues continue to exceed estimates, House Democrats insisted that it was foolish to leave large sums unspent, arguing that Missourians would benefit from additional funding for priorities like teacher pay, school transportation, and children's psychiatric care needs.

In an effort to tap into the surplus, Minority Floor Leader Crystal Quade unsuccessfully attempted to suspend the balancing rule, requiring increasing spending in one area without an equal reduction in another place.

Budget Chair Cody Smith argued against most budget amendments; however, Democrats scored a few victories on the floor, including $20 million to establish childcare for small businesses, essential workers, and state employees, and $21 million for a lead abatement program, and $500K for the creation of on-site child care at Vashon High School and Roosevelt High School in the St. Louis Public School District

Other highlights noted in the FY23 budget:

• $444 million for child care stabilization
• $114 million for student transportation
• $75 million to reimburse families for tutoring expenses
• $37 million for the K-12 educator career ladder program
• $73 million for First Steps
• $28 million for Parents as Teachers
• $100 million for broadband infrastructure

HB 3002, which includes all funding for K-12 education and the Office of Childhood, totals $10.1 billion. Federal funds comprise nearly half of that spending.

Now it's the Senate's turn to weigh in and we expect substantial changes.

The deadline to pass the FY23 budget is May 6th.

This section include updates only on legislation that is currently moving. Links to status reports for all priority areas are below.

Early Care and Education

The legislation to increase the state aid calculation for Pre-K is not moving and reports from inside the Capitol suggest there is not an appetite to boost state aid for early childhood for FY23. We will continue to push and monitor.

See the status of all early care and education legislation.

SB 800 (Hegeman) - Repeals the expiration date on the early learning quality assurance report program. Reported do Pass on 4-7-22.

HB 2365 (Shields) - Makes the early learning quality assurance report permanent. Reported Do Pass from the House Committee on Rules-Administrative Oversight in 3-24-22. Placed on Informal Calendar on 4-4-22.

SB 823 (White) - Modifies provisions relating to child protection. This bill includes legislation to move the Coordinating Board for Early Childhood (CBEC) away from DSS and place that board under DESE to align with the new Office of Childhood.

Third Read and Passed in Senate by a vote of 33-0 and reported to House and read first time on 4-7-22.

HB 2151 (Shields) - Third Read and Passed in House by a vote of 140-0 on 4/4/22. Reported to Senate and read first time on 4/4/22. Read second time on 4/5/22. Referred to Senate Committee on Seniors, Families, Children, and Military Affairs on 4/5/22.

SB 982 (Arthur) - Third Read and Passed - Consent by a vote of 33-0. Reported to House and read first time. Read Second Time. Referred to House Special Committee on Public Policy. Scheduled for Committee Hearing on 4/12/22.

Teacher Shortages

Alternative certifications

The following bills are moving and include language to amend the current visiting scholars' provisions:

HB 1750 (Basye) - Changes provisions relating to school boards. Referred to Senate Committee on Education on 3-31-22. NO CHANGE

HB 1753 (Basye) - Authorizes pilot recovery high schools. Referred to House Committee on Rules-Legislative Oversight. Voted and Reported Do Pass on on 4-7-22.

HB 2652 (Haffner) - Changes procedures and practices for public schools and school districts. Placed on informal calendar on 4-4-22.

Pay flexibility  

Differentiated pay will give school superintendents and local school boards greater flexibility to address teacher shortages.

The following bill permits an alternative pay structure.

HB 1770 (Lewis) allows school districts to create differentiated teacher salary schedules. Reported Do Pass as substituted on 4-5-22. Referred to House Committee on Rules - Legislative Oversight.

See the status of all teacher shortages-related legislation.

Personalized Learning

Competency-based education

A competency-based approach awards students credits within a more individualized time frame and demonstration of mastery. 

HB 1956 (Richey) - Establishes the Competency-based Education Grant Program and Competency-based Education Task Force. Referred to House Committee on Rules-Legislative Oversight on 3-29-22. NO CHANGE

See the status of all personalized learning legislation.

Reports

See the current status of all Aligned Priority legislation.

See the status of all the bills we are tracking.

See all upcoming hearings on education-related bills.

See all the bills which we have testified "in support".

Lawmakers leave with unfinished business

A House amendment that would allow out-of-state students to access a career and technical training scholarship program proved to be the sticking point that brought negotiations on the state's $6.4 billion K-12 school finance bill to a screeching halt.

After working into the wee hours of Saturday morning, lawmakers adjourned without approving S Sub for HB2567, which contains spending authority for the state's elementary and secondary education system, marking the second year that the Legislature has not passed an education budget during the regular session. 

When the Legislature convenes on April 25th for the veto session, they must reach a compromise on the education budget. In addition to the cross-border scholarship provision, which will confuse the state's funding formula by altering enrollment counts, lawmakers must decide whether or not to appropriate funds for a controversial supplemental math program. 

What they did pass...

Work-Based Learning & Student Liability: House Sub for SB 91 provides liability protection for businesses, municipalities and educational institutions that participate in high school work-based learning programs and providing schools are responsible for injuries to students participating in such programs. 

Parents Bill of Rights: Senate Bill 58 establishes the Parents Bill of Rights that states all parents have a right to direct the upbringing, education, care, and mental health of their child. 

Ban on Transgender Athletes: SB 160, which bans transgender athletes on girls' teams, was approved 74-39 in the House and 25-13 in the Senate. Kelly vetoed a similar measure last year. It would take 84 votes in the House and 27 in the Senate to overturn a veto. 

Read the full report from our Kansas team.

Status of Kansas Priorities

Aligned Priorities

Priority Bills headed to the Governor:

H sub for SB91 - Providing liability protection for businesses, municipalities and educational institutions that participate in high school work-based learning programs and providing that schools are responsible for injuries to students participating in such programs.

• Passed House on 4/7 and Senate on 4/1. This bill will now move onto the Governor’s desk.

Other Priority Bills:

HB 2414 - Eliminating the reduction of child day care assistance tax credit in subsequent years and limitations on eligible corporations and providing a credit for employer payments to organizations for child day care services access. Right now, due to a change in tax policy in 2013, only large corporations and financial institutions are eligible for the credit. HB 2414 would allow any business – large or small – to offset the cost of providing childcare for their employees.

• Passed in Senate as an amendment to HB 2237 that extends the Rural Opportunity Zone Act.
• Conference Committee work yielded agreement from both Chambers after nonconcurrent that this language would be stripped away from Rural Opportunity Zone language and was agreed to a full vote on 4/1/22. Must be revisited in veto session to survive.

HB 2596 - Allows school districts to contract with a transportation network company (TNC) to transport eight or fewer students to and from school functions. Under this bill, the same State Board of Education rules and regulations used to govern school buses would be changed to address single passenger cars and vans. 

• Language moved into SB215 where conference committee reports were adopted by both chambers on 3/31. Must be revisited in veto session to survive.

Other education bills we are watching.

Students compete Greater Kansas City Regional FIRST Robotics Competition this past March. PHOTO CREDIT: Kansas City FIRST Facebook page

Nothing beats the thrill and excitement of watching middle and high-schoolers engage in engineering-based live robotic competitions. In addition, students enjoy putting their STEM smarts to work as many find their passion for robotics which opens doors to numerous careers.

As the pandemic wanes, students from the Kansas City region are innovating again and honing their skills for a chance to reach nationals in May. 

As the go-to site for battle bot competition in the KC region and beyond, BotsKC will host 33 middle, high school, and collegiate teams from six states to build and battle light-weight robots in a gladiator-style competition. 

Students utilize their engineering smarts and form teams that test their ability to communicate effectively, think critically, and demonstrate teamwork. As participants enter their robots in the ring, you can feel the excitement and watch the fruits of STEM education in action. 

This year's event is open to spectators!

BotsKC 2022

April 22nd and 23rd

Rockhurst High School in Kansas City

9301 State Line Road

Kansas City, MO 64114

You can also follow their favorite teams via live stream on the BotsKC YouTube channel. 

A statement from the organization reads, "BotsKC would like to thank the very dedicated group of professionals and organizations who believe in the importance of training and educating the next generation of our manufacturing workforce. Business aligned with education means BotsKC can FEEL THE IMPACT."

Aligned would also like to congratulate all of the local First Robotics Competition (FRC) teams that qualified for nationals later this month in Houston! 

By combining the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology,  FIRST Robotics Competition has earned the reputation as the ultimate "Sport for the Mind," as high-school participants call it "the hardest fun you'll ever have."

Under the strict rules of the FRC competition, students have limited time to raise funds, design a team "brand," hone teamwork skills and build and program industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. And organizers say, "It's as close to real-world engineering as a student can get." 

Volunteer professional mentors lend their time and talents to guide each team. At the end of each season, teams can attend FIRST Championship, an annual international event that celebrates science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

🏇🏽 We are about to enter the home stretch in both the Kansas and Missouri legislatures. As we have watched, an election year coupled with redistricting brings unique challenges. For those feeling pessimistic about the fate of our education priorities, remember that the political winds that blow across the Midwest prairies will often shift in surprising ways.

Chin up and head down!

Torree Pederson

President

Aligned

Torree@WeAreAligned.org

(913) 484-4202

Linda Rallo

Vice President

Aligned

Linda@WeAreAligned.org

(314) 330-8442

Download our 2021 Annual Report.

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