Transportation Hardship Legislation Passes for School Families

A bill that would change Missouri law to make it easier for a child to attend a public school in another district, if that district is closer to the child's home, passed prior to the state legislative session ending at 6 p.m. Friday. HB 1789 was sponsored by Sen. Brian Nieves, R-Washington, who represents West St. Louis County as well as Franklin and Warren counties.

The provision would allow children to transfer districts if the driving distance to one’s home school is at least 17 miles and another district’s school is at least seven miles closer. A public hearing about the topic was held May 1.

Nieves told Patch on Monday that HB 1789 was sent to Gov. Jay Nixon.

This legislation is hitting closer to home than what first meets the bus. Reportedly, the Washington School District is paying for six students who live in St. Albans near to attend public schools in St. Louis County. St. Albans is 18.8 miles from Washington High School and Middle School.

Some points of debate regarding this legislation revolve around:

1. Students' home school districts having to pay the tuition when students are allowed to attend another district.
2. For districts that receive transfer students, what about class size and space, as well as who would provide the transportation for those students and who selects what school they attend?
3. Distance to schools is something all potential homebuyers should weigh when buying in a particular area, especially for those who live near the outer edges of a school district’s boundary.
4. Developers targeting a certain area where homeowners could benefit from a lower tax rate of one school district while their children attend another.

In an article published by the Washington Missourian, Washington School District Superintendent Lori VanLeer stated while she appreciates families’ dislike of long bus rides, it is not unusual in many rural school districts. For example, the Washington district is more than 260 square miles.

VanLeer said in the Missourian article it was not just St. Albans' children who have long bus rides, and there are other areas in the district where students could be eligible for a transfer under this new rule if it goes into effect.

As referenced in the article, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education commissioners presently decide if students qualify for a transfer under what is considered a travel hardship. Requests for students traveling 75 minutes or more to get to school usually get approved.

Although the six St. Alban' students were able to attend Rockwood schools this year, VanLeer stated in the article that the Washington District has made adjustments to bus routes in that area, now making the ride about 31 to 35 minutes to the middle school and high school—obviously less than the 75 minutes to qualify for a travel hardship.

VanLeer stated adding another bus route was costly, especially in addition to the tuition being paid for the six students.

State education department officials denied three other transfer requests due to the route changes, according to the article, and VanLeer said state representatives may now insist the six students who attended the Rockwood schools this year go back to the Washington schools. The travel hardships are valid for only one year at a time, she stated.

The bill indicates for a pupil to be eligible to be assigned to another district, the pupil must have been enrolled in and attending a public school in the pupil's school district of residence. A pupil who has been paying tuition to attend a school district other than his or her district of residence also will be eligible to apply to the Missouri Commissioner of Education for a transportation hardship assignment. Pupils who become eligible for kindergarten or first grade will be eligible to transfer. A pupil not enrolled in a public school district will become eligible to transfer after he or she enrolls in and attends a public school in the district of residence for a full school year.

For any pupil who was assigned to another district by the Commissioner prior to August 28, 2012, the assignment will apply to the pupil's siblings and also remain in effect until the pupil completes the course of study in the receiving district.

Currently, the tuition amount cannot exceed the pro rata cost of instruction. This act specifies the tuition amount will be the lesser of the two districts' current expenditure per average daily attendance. Pupils with an individualized education program only will be included in the pupil count of the student's district of residence. If there is disagreement as to the tuition amount, the facts will be submitted to the State Board of Education.