School Start Date = Joplin Schools

The bill, initially sponsored by Sen. Jack Goodman, whose district includes the tourist destination of Branson, would prohibit schools from starting 10 days before Labor Day unless the district first holds a public meeting. School boards would have to vote every year to approve the earlier start date. The measure also allows schools to decide not to make up more days missed because of bad weather. Under current law, schools that exceed their scheduled snow days must add up to an additional eight days to make up for missed classes. After that, schools need to make up for only half the lost time. The legislation would drop that requirement to making up six lost days and half the lost time above six days. But days lost because of heat would not be counted toward bad-weather days and would have to be made up. The House and Senate have already passed separate measures that would permit school districts to skip classes canceled because of a January ice storm. Currently House and Senate negotiators are trying to agree on a final version. Lawmakers also approved an amendment that would allow students to enroll in an Internet-based "virtual school" program if their school districts are provisionally accredited or unaccredited for two consecutive years by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The amendment would affect students in 13 school districts. Those students' school districts would be required to pay for the students to enter a virtual school. Their enrollment would not bump others out of the program. Last year, the state created a virtual school program that allows students to take public school courses over the Internet at home. The proposed state budget for next year includes at least $2.6 million for the program. Rep. Tim Flook said the state should offer a choice to parents who would otherwise need to send their children to a school district that is not performing. "If everything around you is failing, what's wrong with giving a parent an opportunity for a virtual public school?" said Flook, R-Liberty. Democratic critics said the Legislature should concentrate on fixing problem districts. "We're going to invest in virtual schools without investing in real schools. This is ridiculous," said Rep. Paul LeVota, D-Independence. Because the House made changes to the Senate bill, senators must agree to the House version or negotiators from both bodies could meet to try to work out their differences. -- School bill is SB64. On the Net: Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov -- http://www.bransonedge.com http://www.bransonmissouri.blogspot.com