JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Representative Aaron McMullen’s education reform efforts have reached a pivotal moment with the inclusion of his legislation, HB 1828, into SB 727, which passed out of the Missouri Legislature last week as part of an innovative approach to bolstering public schools and enhancing school choice across Missouri.
As part of the legislative education reform package, SB 727 included a number of provisions and amendments, which would:
- Prioritize teachers through pay increases, career ladder programs, and the establishment of a retention and recruitment program
- Enhance the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program by increasing annual funding from $50 million to $75 million and linking the cap to the funding formula
- Introduces a balanced funding model, allocating 50% based on area and 50% on enrollment rather than attendance
- Establish the Elementary Literacy Fund, offering grants for home reading programs
- Implement funding mechanisms for full-time students enrolled in the Missouri Course Access and Virtual School Program
“This comprehensive education reform measure will strengthen public schools and school choice in Missouri. Senate Bill 727 offers a better funding formula for public schools and broadens school choice options for families with children who need an environment outside of public education to learn,” McMullen, R-Independence, said. “I believe Senate Bill 727 pushes Missouri in the right direction when it comes to education by pairing significant funding and salary increases for public schools with better options for homeschool and private school parents.
In addition, SB 727 also included language from McMullen’s HB 1848, which addresses concerns with the four-day school week.
“Under Senate Bill 727, schools in counties or cities with more than 30,000 people – which includes the Independence School District – must take a proposed four-day schedule to voters when the provisions take effect on July 1, 2026,” McMullen said. “That means Independence School District will need to take the four-day school week to voters in two years. The bill also incentivizes a five-day school week by increasing funding to schools that opt for it instead of moving to a four-day schedule.”
With passage from both the Missouri House and Senate, SB 727 and its companion bill, HB 2287, now head to the governor’s desk, where they await his signature into law.