Section 161.800

Title XI EDUCATION AND LIBRARIES

Chapter 161

Effective - 28 Aug 2009, 2 histories, see footnote   (history) 

  161.800.  Program established — definitions — reimbursement of volunteers and parents donating time — rulemaking authority — fund established — sunset provision. — 1. This section establishes a program for public elementary and secondary schools to increase volunteer and parental involvement. The program shall be known and may be cited as the "Volunteer and Parents Incentive Program". The department of elementary and secondary education shall implement and administer the program.

  2. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall mean:

  (1) "At-risk student":

  (a) A student who is still of school age but whose continued education is in jeopardy because the student is experiencing academic deficits, including but not limited to:

  a. Being one or more years behind their age or grade level in mathematics or reading skills through eighth grade or three or more credits behind in the number of credits toward graduation from the ninth grade through twelfth grade;

  b. Having low scores on tests of academic achievement and scholastic aptitude;

  c. Having low grades and academic deficiencies;

  d. Having a history of failure and being held back in school;

  e. Having language problems or being from a non-English speaking home; or

  f. Not having access to appropriate educational programs.

  (b) A student may also be considered "at risk" if the student has any of the following:

  a. A parent or sibling who dropped out of school;

  b. Experienced numerous family relocations;

  c. Poor social adjustment, or deviant social behavior;

  d. Employment of more than twenty hours per week while school is in session;

  e. Been the victim of racial or ethnic prejudice;

  f. Low self-esteem and expectations of teachers, parents, and the community;

  g. A poorly educated mother or father;

  h. Children of their own;

  i. A deprived environment that slows economic and social development;

  j. A fatherless home;

  k. Been the victim of personal or family abuse, including substance abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse;

  (2) "Department", the department of elementary and secondary education;

  (3) "Institution of higher education", a four year college or university located in the state of Missouri;

  (4) "Program", the volunteer and parents incentive program;

  (5) "Qualifying public school", a school located in Missouri that:

  (a) Is located in a school district that has been classified by the state board of education as unaccredited or provisionally accredited; or

  (b) * Has a student population of more than fifty percent at-risk students.

  3. The department shall, subject to appropriation, provide a reimbursement to parents or volunteers who donate time at a qualifying public school. For every one hundred hours that a parent or volunteer donates to a qualifying public school, the department shall provide a reimbursement of up to five hundred dollars towards the cost of three credit hours of education from a public institution of higher education located in Missouri. The reimbursement shall occur after completion of the three credit hours of education. The reimbursement amount shall not exceed five hundred dollars every two years.

  4. A school district that participates in the program shall verify to the department the time donated by a parent or volunteer.

  5. If a school district that participates in the program becomes classified as accredited by the state board of education, the school district may continue to participate in the program for an additional two years.

  6. The department of elementary and secondary education shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2009, shall be invalid and void.

  7. There is hereby created in the state treasury the "Volunteer and Parents Incentive Program Fund", which shall consist of general revenue appropriated to the program, funds received from the federal government, and voluntary contributions to support or match program activities. The state treasurer shall be custodian of the fund and may approve disbursements from the fund in accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180. Upon appropriation, money in the fund shall be used solely for the administration of the volunteer and parents incentive program. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund. The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the fund in the same manner as other funds are invested. Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund.

  8. Pursuant to section 23.253 of the Missouri sunset act:

  (1) The provisions of the new program authorized under this section shall automatically sunset six years after August 28, 2009, unless reauthorized by an act of the general assembly; and

  (2) If such program is reauthorized, the program authorized under this section shall automatically sunset twelve years after the effective date of the reauthorization of this section; and

  (3) This section shall terminate on September first of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the program authorized under this section is sunset.

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(L. 2009 S.B. 291)

Sunset date 8-28-15, unless reauthorized

Termination date 9-01-16, unless reauthorized

*Word "That" appears in original rolls.