Weekly Update
February 11, 2022
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Headshot photos credit: Missouri Senate Webpage | |
Senate ladies in a league of their own | |
In the eleventh hour, 'The Eleven' plea for peace | |
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With hundreds of bills pre-filed and the chances of passage slim for many, Senator Cindy O'Laughlin wrote in a Facebook post earlier this month that she predicted "the women of the Senate will play a big part if anything is to get done. We can all sit in the same room and talk like adults. And laugh and work it out if there's any common ground at all. I like all my colleagues, but the women do add a special touch, I think."
In that vein, the women of the Senate, otherwise known as "The Eleven", banded together briefly this week to take control of the floor with hopes that their words of wisdom could ease the tension and foster a return to decorum.
As reported in the Missouri Independent, "Their sentiments were echoed by Gov. Mike Parson's spokeswoman Kelli Jones, who wrote on Twitter: "Once again, it's the Missouri Senate's women who restore common sense. It's about time we stop tip-toeing around a few mens' fragile egos."
Despite their valiant attempts to break the stalemate, the filibuster resumes this afternoon, not before Senator Holly Rehder made a plea to her colleagues, "And hope that today, that we all are here in this chamber, maybe we all take a deep breath and have gotten past our 'rah rah ree, kick 'em in the knee....rah, rah, rass, kick 'em the other knee."
Alas, as of 2:19 p.m., Senator Bob Onder is once again holding the floor, reading the Gettysburg Address, which recalls the bloodiest battle fought on American soil.
Read more below about a new children's book authored by 'The Eleven'.
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This week the Missouri House was a flurry of activity both in committee and on the floor. First, committees heard and voted on bills ranging from eminent domain to childhood vaccines to election reform. Then, on the House Floor, members sent their version of one of the governor’s supplemental budget bills to the Senate. The House also approved HJR 79 (Henderson), a constitutional amendment that changes the signature thresholds needed to place an initiative petition on the ballot.
On the Senate side of the building, the lack of activity tells a very different story. Few committees met, and senators failed to debate one piece of legislation for most of the week. On Monday evening, the Senate brought up the House’s map of the congressional districts, debating that map for over 30 hours before the Senate adjourned in exhaustion.
On Wednesday at noon, when the Senate reconvened, members of the conservative caucus filibustered for 6 hours before adjourning without even approving the journal for the previous day. Thursday was more of the same, and in frustration, Senate Majority Floor Leader Caleb Rowden adjourned. The Senate reconvened today (Friday). We expect the Senate to stay in session all weekend to force a vote on the House maps.
Failure to approve a map sets up a scenario that may result in the courts drawing the congressional districts. And will most certainly cause an enormous rift in the already fractured Republican Caucus.
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Emerging Issues committee hears Aligned Priority legislation
Early learning quality assurance report
Representative Brenda Shields presented HB 2365, a bill to remove the pilot designation and make permanent the voluntary early learning quality assurance report (QAR). In 2016, SB 638 established a voluntary pilot program to develop a quality assurance report for early learning programs to allow professionals and the early childhood sector to work together to consider various quality indicators and review resource materials to implement best practices. Lawmakers renewed the program again in 2018.
Aligned, Kids Win MO, MO Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, MO NEA, and MO School Administrators Coalition provided supporting testimony. No opposing testimony was provided.
Early education programs
Representative Brenda Shields also presented HB 2341, which increases the number of qualifying students that districts can calculate into the foundation formula for early education programs.
Aligned, Kids Win MO, MO NEA, MO Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Kansas City Public School District, MO School Administrators Coalition, MO Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and Opportunity Trust provided supporting testimony. No opposing testimony was provided.
The committee will vote on these bills next week.
Literacy and reading instruction
The Senate Education Committee convened Thursday morning to consider passage of SB 681 (O'Laughlin). This legislation changes the make-up of the Missouri Advisory Board for Educator Preparation (MABEP) and allows schools to apply to the State Board of Education for innovation waivers to align literacy and reading instruction with regular classwork. After no discussion, the committee passed the bill by an 8-0 vote. Aligned previously testified in favor of this bill.
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House approves $4.8 billion supplemental budget | |
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By a vote of 114-11-25, the Missouri House approved HB 3014, a $4.8 billion supplemental budget bill. Highlights of the spending package include:
- An increase to the minimum wage for state workers to $15 per hour for those who provide direct care. (All other departments and agencies which do not give direct care will receive a minimum wage of $12/hour or a 5.5% bump in pay.);
- Federal funding for Medicaid expansion, namely the enhanced FMAP;
- An additional $81 million for physician services, with $11 million devoted to physicians for behavioral health;
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$25 million dedicated to non-institutional services, including optometry, audiology, and rehabilitation services;
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$75 million to address “learning gaps” (To be housed in DESE, this new "Close the Gap" grant program requires families to apply for reimbursements for additional learning services)
Also included in this supplemental bill is nearly $2 billion in federal ESSER III funds. Ninety percent of those "pandemic relief" dollars will flow directly to K-12 schools. Missouri has until March 24th to get 2/3rds of these funds out the door. With the current state of dysfunction, the risk of losing this federal money increases daily.
The bill now heads to the Senate for further consideration.
More on "Close the Gap"
What we know at present is that the funds will go directly to parents to reimburse them for up to $1,500 in costs associated with learning loss, for example, high dosage tutoring. Families with incomes up to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level are eligible*. There will be a third party vendor, unknown at this time, working with DESE to administer the funds.
*Brian Colby of the Missouri Budget Project estimates there are 340,000 kids eligible under the 185% FPL threshold (that would be $220 per child if the state used all $75 million).
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Status of Missouri Priorities | |
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Early Care and Education
💵 Pre-K funding
Legislation to increase the state aid calculation for Pre-K.
SB 816 (Arthur) - Modifies the calculation of average daily attendance for early childhood programs. Referred to the Senate Committee on Education on 1-20-22 NO CHANGE
HB 2341 (Shields) - Modifies the calculation of average daily attendance for early childhood programs. Hearing conducted on 2-8-22. Executive Session scheduled for 2-15-22.
✔️ Early childhood quality
The Quality Assurance Report (QAR), a voluntary pilot program to provide a framework for a statewide quality rating system for early care and education, will sunset this year.
Read Aligned's QAR explainer here.
HB 2365 (Shields) - Makes the early learning quality assurance report permanent. Hearing conducted on 2-8-22. Executive Session scheduled for 2-15-22.
SB 846 (Eslinger) - Repeals the expiration date on the early learning quality assurance report program. Referred to the Senate Committee on Education on 1-20-22. NO CHANGE
SB 800 (Hegeman) - Repeals the expiration date on the early learning quality assurance report program. Referred to the Senate Committee on Education on 1-20-22. NO CHANGE
🏛️ Early childhood governance
The legislation moves the Coordinating Board for Early Childhood (CBEC) away from DSS and places that board under DESE to align with the new Office of Childhood.
HB 2151 (Shields) - Referred to House Special Committee on Public Policy 1-27-22. Hearing scheduled for 12:00 p.m. in 2-16-22.
SB 982 (Arthur) - Read First Time on 1-5-22. NO CHANGE
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Teacher Shortages
🧑🏻🏫Alternative certifications
The following bills include language to amend the current visiting scholars' provisions.
HB 1928 (Pollitt) - Modifies requirements for a visiting scholar's certificate of license to teach. Referred to the House Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education on 1/27/22. NO CHANGE
SB 999 (Gannon) - Modifies provisions regarding employment of retired education personnel by school districts. Read first time on 1-5-22. NO CHANGE
Read our Visiting Scholars issue brief.
💸 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. Read second time on 1-6-22. NO CHANGE
SB 1098 (Burlison) Authorizes school districts to have differentiated teacher pay schedules. Introduced and read first time on 1-27-22. NO CHANGE
Read our Differentiated Pay Issue Brief.
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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 the House Committee on Workforce Development on 1/27/22. NO CHANGE
SB 660 (Arthur) - Establishes the Show Me Success diploma Program, The Competency-Based Education Grant Program, The Competency-Based Education Task Force, and a competency-based credit system for high school students. Referred to Senate Committee on Education on 1-10-22. NO CHANGE
👷Work-based learning
District-provided liability coverage ensures students are protected during work-based learning experiences.
HB 2190 (Henderson) creates provisions relating to liability claims in educational settings. Scheduled for hearing in House Workforce Development on 2-14-22.
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Congressional maps chart a course to the courts | |
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This week, Kansas lawmakers passed and overrode a veto by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly on a new set of congressional districts, AdAstra2. Democrats argue that the map will weaken the chances of Democratic Incumbent Congresswoman Sharice Davids from holding on to the 3rd district covering Johnson and Wyandotte counties. Despite the passage in the legislature, opponents have promised to take the new maps to court. Republicans believe that the courts will uphold the map.
APEX Deal is Done
Last week, we reported on one of the most significant economic development incentive bills passed in Kansas. Both the Senate and Legislature passed a compromised version of this legislation this week, sending the final copy to the Governor’s desk. Many were uneasy about the “secretive” bill because leaders had yet to announce the company of interest. We are anxious to hear about this $4 billion manufacturing company bringing 4,000+ jobs to Kansas.
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Status of Kansas Priorities
Aligned Priorities
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.
Hearing was held on Wednesday, February 9 in the House Transportation Committee. Aligned testified in support of this bill.
HB2525 - Revising childcare subsidy access for custodial parents.
After a hearing on January 31, the Committee Report recommended the bill be passed as amended by Committee on Children and Seniors. Aligned submitted written testimony in support of this bill.
HB2414 - Eliminating the reduction of child daycare assistance tax credit in subsequent years and limitations on eligible corporations and providing credit for employer payments to organizations for child daycare 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. No Change. Aligned supports this bill.
Other education bills we are watching.
Read the report from our Kansas team.
See next week's hearings of interest
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"You Can, Too!" The front book cover artwork. Photo credit: Missouri Senate Website | |
'The Eleven' shares stories of women senators | |
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The Missouri Independent published a piece reported by Tessa Weinberg that tells how "The Eleven" women in the Missouri Senate joined forces to write a children's book.
"Titled, "You Can, Too!" the book recounts the stories of the 36 women who have served in the state Senate over the course of the chamber's history. The book is the product of a bipartisan effort of Missouri's women senators to improve literacy rates across the state," writes Weinberg.
In a statement posted on the Missouri Senate website, Senior Senator Jeannie Riddle explains that historically, female representation pales in the state's upper chamber compared to men.
"In the history of Missouri, there have been 1,118 male senators. There have only been 36 women. We come from different backgrounds and experiences, but we have one thing in common. We are part of a sisterhood of state legislators. We hope our stories will inspire young readers and provide an example of the many opportunities that await them."
Senator Jill Schupp added, "Our first goal with this project was to encourage children to read, but we also wanted to inspire young readers, especially girls, to aspire to great things. We don't expect every girl who reads this book will want to become a state senator, but we hope they'll see there is a world of opportunities waiting for them."
We salute these fine women and appreciate their sense of reason and grand ambitions for kids in the Show-Me State.
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Hot off the presses, check out our 2021 annual report. Inside, you can read how we pushed big ideas through the adversity of 2021.
- We scrutinized funding models in Kansas and Missouri, finding ways to rework formulas to bring more equity among districts and charters.
- We played a crucial role in launching a bold new governance structure for early care and education.
- We championed fresh ways to reward student achievement.
- We proposed policies to attract more teachers to the profession.
"In a year where schools across the nation faced turmoil over curriculums, pandemic-related learning hardships, and persistent teacher shortages, we will remember 2021 as one of the most challenging times for our students. COVID-19 turned our education system on its head, and schools may never be the same again."
Sending you all love in advance of Valentine's Day! 💖
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