Missouri House Democrats lay out K-12 education priorities

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade speaks during a Democratic news conference Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019, in the House Lounge.
House Minority Leader Crystal Quade speaks during a Democratic news conference Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019, in the House Lounge.

Missouri House Democrats announced Tuesday specific legislation and general priorities intended to support public K-12 education in the state - including accountability for charter schools, commitments to funding for schools and student transportation, and acts against "food shaming."

Rep. Ian Mackey, of St. Louis, and Rep. Raychel Proudie, of Ferguson, have filed bills against "food shaming," which Mackey described at a Tuesday news conference at the Capitol as students "basically being shaken down" for lunch debt at school - being singled out as not being able to pay, through requiring a student to wear a wristband or hand stamp, for example, or by having a student's meal thrown away after being served because of a student's lunch debt or inability to pay.

"There should be no child in the greatest state in the country, in the greatest country on Earth (that) ought to be ostracized for needing a little grace," Proudie said in a news release from the House Minority Caucus.

Mackey and Proudie's bills also state that, "A school shall not require a parent or guardian to pay fees or costs from collection agencies hired to collect meal debts."

Rep. Kip Kendrick, of Columbia, said the state needs to commit more money to student transportation than it has.

"The more the state short changes student transportation costs, the more local districts have to take drastic measures, like going to a four-day school week, to make up the difference," Kendrick said in the news release.

He said at the news conference the state ought to have a conversation about whether a four-day school week is enough to adequately educate students, and that anecdotally, transportation costs are one of the main reasons for schools to opt for a four-day week.

"Although the $61 million increase in basic state education funding recommended by the governor in the FY 2020 state operating budget would allow the state to claim 'full funding' (for the public K-12 education system) under the law, because the state's share of student transportation would remain $188 million underfunded, the governor's plan falls well short of actual full funding," according to the caucus' news release.

House Joint Resolution 26, sponsored by Rep. Judy Morgan, of Kansas City, seeks to put a constitutional amendment on the November 2020 ballot for voters to approve a commitment to raise minimum funding of K-12 education in Missouri from 25 percent to one-third of state revenue.

Bills by House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, of Springfield, and Rep. Bruce Franks Jr., of St. Louis, aim to increase oversight of charter schools. Quade's bill would only allow for the expansion of new charter schools based upon the approval of voters in the school district where the new charter school would be.

Charter schools are currently only in Kansas City and St. Louis.

"The Legislature imposed charter schools on Kansas City and St. Louis without giving local residents a say in the matter," Quade said in the caucus' news release, adding "That is a mistake that can't be repeated. If charter schools are an option a community wants, then they should have it, but only if clearly expressed at the ballot box and not dictated to them from on high."

Franks' bill would also prevent the sponsor of a charter school from opening another if the existing school is substandard in terms of academic performance.

House Democrats also will continue to oppose "the diversion of taxpayer resources to private schools through tuition vouchers."

This week is National School Choice Week, which is a time of advocacy for education options that include public charter and magnet schools, private schools, online learning and homeschooling.

More than 400 students, parents, teachers, school leaders and supporters are expected at a student showcase from noon-1 p.m. Thursday at the state Capitol.

"Re-imagining education means that all options must be at the ready. We can no longer ignore the plight of children stuck in schools that don't fit their needs. Instead of closing doors, we need to open all of them wide," said Peter Franzen in a news release last week from the Children's Education Alliance of Missouri, of which Franzen is associate executive director.

"Local public schools form the foundation of every Missouri community, and when that foundation cracks, the whole community feels it. For our communities and state to thrive, we must strengthen the public education foundation and avoid policies that could cause long-term harm," Quade said in the caucus' news release.