A bill that would make Missouri an open enrollment state has reached the halfway point in the state legislature. By a vote of 88-69, the state House of Representatives has passed legislation that would let K-12 public schools decide for themselves if they want students from neighboring districts to enroll in their district.
Rep. Brad Pollitt, R-Sedalia, is sponsoring the bill for the fifth year. Pollitt, a former superintendent, said he wants public schools to “have a seat at the table” for students to have choices within the public school system.
“If we don’t give public schools a seat at the school choice table, then I’m afraid they’re going to be left out, where future choice bills, and we’ll have choice bills every year. This isn’t going to stop that, but if they don’t have that choice to go to another public school, future bills, to me, will give the only choice – to come out of the public school system,” said Pollitt.
His proposal would let districts restrict the number of outgoing transfer students to 3% of enrollment.
Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, D-Columbia, was a longtime teacher. She opposes the bill.
“We know that this door will swing wider and wider,” Steinhoff said.
She cited the expansion of charter schools and taxpayer-funded private schooling tax credits.
“I cannot stress enough – this is so much bigger than a reserved open enrollment bill,” she said. “It’s about maintaining our own public schools.”
Under Pollitt’s bill, participating districts would not be required to add teachers, staff, or classrooms to accommodate transfer students.
It would create a fund to reimburse for special needs education. It would also prevent high school students who open enroll from participating in varsity sports during the first year.
House Bill 711 is off to the Senate for more work.
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