Section 161.625

Title XI EDUCATION AND LIBRARIES

Chapter 161

Effective - 28 Aug 2021   

  161.625.  Citation of law — postsecondary information, education costs and alternative career paths — report to department, contents. — 1.  This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Students' Right to Know Act".

  2.  Beginning on January 1, 2022, to help each high school student make more informed decisions about the student's future and ensure that the student is adequately aware of the cost of four-year college and other alternative career paths, the department of higher education and workforce development shall collect and compile the following information on an annual basis:

  (1)  The most in-demand jobs in the state, including starting salary and education level required for such jobs;

  (2)  The average cost for each public institution of higher education and vocational school in the state;

  (3)  The average monthly student loan payment of all students in attendance at a public institution of higher education or vocational school in the state, for each public institution of higher education or vocational school in the state;

  (4)  The average three-year student loan default rate for each public institution of higher education and vocational school in the state;

  (5)  The average graduation rate for each public institution of higher education and vocational school in the state;

  (6)  The completion rates for apprenticeship programs, high school credential programs, career and technical education programs, and military first-term enlistments;

  (7)  The average starting salary for individuals graduating from each public institution of higher education in the state; and

  (8)  The average starting salary for individuals graduating from each vocational school in the state.

  3.  Each public institution of higher education and vocational school shall report to the department the information listed in subsection 2 of this section that relates to the particular institution.  The department shall collect, compile, and add the information on the department's website.  On or before October fifteenth of each year, the link and all relevant instruction material shall be distributed to the department of elementary and secondary education for dissemination to public high schools in the state for public distribution to students by school counselors.

  4.  The department may execute a memorandum of understanding with any department, agency, or division for information required to be collected by this section.

  5.  To comply with the requirements of this section, any public institution of higher education, vocational school and the department may use preexisting databases including, but not limited to, the College Scorecard operated by the United States Department of Education and MoJobs.

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(L. 2021 H.B. 297)