The bill, HCS HB 2002, is an appropriation act that allocates approximately $8.5 billion for the expenses, grants, refunds, and distributions of the State Board of Education and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the fiscal year 2026-2027. It specifies that the funds must be used in accordance with Article IV, Section 28 of the Missouri Constitution and includes detailed provisions for various educational programs, such as the Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer program, the School Foundation Program, and pre-kindergarten education grants. Notably, the bill prohibits the use of funds for the distribution of identifiable student data for non-educational purposes and allows for flexibility in fund allocation between personal services and expenses. Key provisions of the bill include a one-time allocation of $752,000 for a statewide longitudinal data system and $2,000,000 for the Missouri Assessment Program Success Ready Student Assessment system. It also establishes a competitive grant program using federal Title I funds to support high-quality public schools, with grants of no less than $1,000,000 each, and introduces a pilot program for an online transparency portal for curriculum materials. Additionally, the bill mandates coordination between the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Office of Administration for Parent Education Services, ensuring these services remain voluntary. Overall, the bill aims to enhance educational quality and accessibility, particularly for disadvantaged students, while ensuring compliance with federal regulations regarding student data privacy.

Statutes affected:
81.00, 2.015, 2.005, 2.010, 2.455