Title XI — EDUCATION AND LIBRARIES

160.011. Definitions, certain chapters. — As used in chapters 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 167, 168, 170, 171, 177 and 178, the following terms mean: (1) "District" or "school district", when used alone, may include seven-director, urban, and metropolitan school districts; (2) "…

160.012. Delayed effective date. — The repeal and reenactment of sections 160.011, 160.041, 163.021, 171.031, and 171.033 of this act* shall become effective July 1, 2026. ­­-------- (L. 2024 S.B. 727 § B) * "This act" (S.B. 727, 2024) contained numerous sections. Consult Disposi…

160.021. Classes of school districts. — The public school districts existing under the laws of this state are divided into the following classes; namely, seven-director, urban, and metropolitan school districts. ­­-------- (L. 1963 p. 200 § 1-2, A.L. 1973 H.B. 158, A.L. 1997 H.B.…

160.031. School districts formed of cities or towns, defined. — For the purpose of taxation under Section 11 of Article X of the Constitution, the term "school districts formed of cities or towns" includes any seven-director district in which is located any town or incorporated c…

160.041. School day, school month, school year, defined — reduction of required number of hours and days, when. — 1. A "school month" consists of four weeks of five days each for schools with a five-day school week or four weeks of four days each for schools with a four-day schoo…

160.045. Standards for teaching required. — 1. Each public school shall develop standards for teaching no later than June 30, 2010. The standards shall be applicable to all public schools, including public charter schools operated by the board of a school district. 2. Teaching st…

160.051. Public school system established — child attains age five, when — board shall provide free instruction for children between ages of five and six years — literacy programs — summer school for prekindergartners. — 1. A system of free public schools is established throughou…

160.053. Child eligible for prekindergarten, kindergarten, and summer school, when — child eligible for first grade, when — state aid exception. — 1. If a school district maintains a prekindergarten program, a child is eligible for admission to that prekindergarten program only i…

160.054. Metropolitan districts — child eligible for prekindergartens, kindergarten, and summer school, when, how determined — child eligible for first grade, when, how determined — exceptions. — 1. Notwithstanding any provisions of sections 160.051 and 160.053, to the contrary, …

160.055. Urban districts — child eligible for prekindergarten, kindergarten, and summer school, when, how determined — child eligible for first grade, when, how determined. — 1. Notwithstanding any provisions of sections 160.051 and 160.053, to the contrary, beginning with the 19…

160.061. Records transferred from county superintendent of schools — duties. — In all counties in this state the county clerk shall be responsible for maintaining records of a historical, statutory or informational nature that were formerly maintained by the county superintendent…

160.065. School information furnished by charter, private or parochial schools, limited liability. — Charter, private and parochial schools shall not be civilly liable for providing to other schools any information required to be provided pursuant to this chapter. ­­-------- (L. …

160.066. Expenditures and revenue, searchable document or database required — updates — template. — 1. By September 1, 2019, each public school district and each charter school shall develop, maintain, and make publicly available, at a minimum, a searchable expenditure and revenu…

160.069. Policy on consequences of possession or drinking alcohol at school or during extracurricular activities. — Every school district shall develop a policy by June 30, 2006, detailing the consequences that will result for a student at school if the student is found to be in …

160.075. American Sign Language courses, treatment as a foreign language, when. — 1. Any public school or public institution of higher education in this state may offer one or more courses in American Sign Language (ASL). American Sign Language shall be treated as a foreign langu…

160.077. Get the lead out of school drinking water act — definitions — lead concentration level limit — duties of schools — testing requirements — funding — report — rules. — 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water Act". 2…

160.082. Discrimination based on hair texture or hairstyle prohibited — definitions — safety exceptions — inapplicable, when. — 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Missouri Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (Missouri CROWN) Act". 2. As used…

160.1990. Criteria to facilitate transition of foster children — definitions — receiving school duties — on-time graduation procedures. — 1. In order to remove barriers to educational success imposed on foster care children because of frequent moves, the department of elementary …

160.2000. Text of compact. — Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children ARTICLE I PURPOSE ­­ ­ A. Facilitating the timely enrollment of children of military families and ensuring that they are not placed at a disadvantage due to difficulty in the transfer…

160.250. Citation of law — statutes involved. — The provisions of sections 37.710*, 160.250, 160.261, 160.262, 162.014, 162.068, 162.069, 168.021, 168.071, 168.133*, 210.135, 210.145*, 210.152*, 210.915, 210.922, and 556.037 relating to protecting children from sexual offenders s…

160.2500. Citation of act — discrimination based on religious viewpoint or expression prohibited — prayer and religious activities in school permitted, when — religious clothing and jewelry permitted — limited public policy forum authorized. — 1. This section shall be known and m…

160.2505. School chaplains as screened volunteers, purpose — teaching certificate not required — criminal background check — registered sex offenders ineligible. — 1. A school district or charter school may employ a chaplain or accept a chaplain as a screened volunteer, as the te…

160.251. Purpose. — Whereas a general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence is essential to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people, and whereas education directly affects the future of the citizens of our state, and whereas at few times in the history of thi…

160.254. General assembly joint committee on education created — appointment, meetings, chairman, quorum, duties, expenses. — 1. There is hereby established a joint committee of the general assembly, which shall be known as the "Joint Committee on Education", which shall be compo…

160.257. Pupil testing for competency in certain subjects — each school district to establish — department of elementary and secondary education, duties, limitations. — 1. The commissioner of education shall direct the department of elementary and secondary education to insure th…

160.261. Discipline, written policy established by local boards of education — contents — reporting requirements — additional restrictions for certain suspensions — weapons offense, mandatory suspension or expulsion — no civil liability for authorized personnel — spanking not chi…

160.262. Mediation, office of the child advocate to coordinate, when — procedures — binding agreement, when. — 1. The office of the child advocate as created in section 37.705 shall be authorized to coordinate mediation efforts between school districts and students and charter sc…

160.263. Confinement of a student in seclusion, when — definitions — certain restraint techniques prohibited — policy on restrictive behavioral interventions required — model policy to be developed. — 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean: (1) "Mechanical restraint…

160.265. Suspension or expulsion, effect on attendance. — A student who is subject to suspension or expulsion as provided under this chapter or chapter 167 shall be counted as being in attendance for the following purposes: (1) Calculating the attendance rate under the Missouri s…

160.268. Excellence in education revolving fund established — purposes — funding, administration of fund — exempt from transfer to general revenue. — 1. There is hereby created a revolving fund for the department of elementary and secondary education which shall be known as the "…

160.2700. Adult high school defined. — For purposes of sections 160.2700 to 160.2725, "adult high school" means a school that: (1) Is for individuals who do not have a high school diploma and who are eighteen years of age or older; (2) Offers an industry certification program or …

160.2705. Adult high schools authorized, where — funding administration — operation by nonprofit organization, criteria — academic requirements, diplomas. — 1. The department of social services shall authorize Missouri-based nonprofit organizations meeting the criteria of this se…

160.2710. Minimum enrollment age — preference given to students receiving certain income-based assistance — transfers to adult high schools, effect on dropout rates. — 1. Any person who is eighteen years of age or older may enroll in an adult high school if he or she has not earn…

160.2715. State and local funding restrictions — permissible public or private funding sources — outcome expectations. — 1. An adult high school shall not receive state funding under section* 160.415 or 163.031 and shall not receive any local funding that is intended to benefit t…

160.272. Rules and regulations, promulgation. — No rule or portion of a rule promulgated under the authority of this chapter shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to the provisions of section 536.024. ­­-------- (L. 1985 H.B. 463 § 8, A.L. 1993 S.B. 52, A…

160.2720. Annual report, contents. — The nonprofit organization who receives the authorization described under section 160.2705 shall submit to the department of elementary and secondary education, the department of social services, the joint committee on education, and the offic…

160.2725. Rulemaking authority. — The department of social services may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of sections 160.2700 to 160.2720. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this …

160.276. Scholarships for qualified students pursuing teacher education degree — amount — colleges and universities participating to provide matching fund. — 1. Within the limits of amounts appropriated therefor, the department of elementary and secondary education shall make one…

160.278. Scholarships, how awarded — students applying to indicate preferences. — 1. The department of elementary and secondary education shall develop criteria, with input from teacher educators in this state, to select which of the eligible applicants shall receive the scholars…

160.281. Loan paid back with interest if student fails to obtain degree — loans may be sold. — If a student ceases his study prior to receiving a degree, any scholarship received under the provisions of sections 160.276, 160.278, 160.281 and 160.283 shall be treated as a loan to …

[Repealed or reserved.]

160.350. Missouri award of recognition for student athletes, how chosen, qualifications. — There is hereby established a "Missouri Award of Recognition" which may be presented to any student athlete who is attending any elementary school, high school, university or college locate…

160.360. Operation recognition, honorary high school diplomas awarded to certain veterans and civilian POWs, when. — 1. The department of elementary and secondary education, with the cooperation of the Missouri veterans' commission, shall develop and administer a program to be kn…

160.400. Charter schools, operated where, permitted — sponsors — change in accreditation — organization of charter schools — affiliations with college or university — criminal background check required — sponsor policies and procedures — sponsor noncompliance — closure of school.…

160.403. Sponsoring a charter school, annual application and approval, contents of application, approval requirements. — 1. The department of elementary and secondary education shall establish an annual application and approval process for all entities eligible to sponsor charter…

160.405. Proposed charter, how submitted, requirements, submission to state board, powers and duties — approval, revocation, termination — definitions — lease of public school facilities, when — unlawful reprisal, defined, prohibited — performance report. — 1. A person, group or …

160.408. High-quality school, defined, replication in unaccredited districts. — 1. For purposes of this section, "high-quality charter school" means a charter school operating in the state of Missouri that meets the following requirements: (1) Receives eighty-five percent or more…

160.410. Admission, preferences for admission permitted, when — information to be made publicly available — move out of school district, effect of. — 1. A charter school shall enroll: (1) All pupils resident in the district in which it operates; (2) Nonresident pupils eligible to…

160.415. Distribution of state school aid for charter schools — powers and duties of governing body of charter schools — performance report. — 1. For the purposes of calculation and distribution of state school aid under section 163.031, pupils enrolled in a charter school shall …

160.417. Financial stress, review of report information by charter school sponsor, when — criteria for financial stress. — 1. By October 1, 2012, and by each October first thereafter, the sponsor of each charter school shall review the information submitted on the report required…