MO HB2333

Beginning with school year 2011-2012, all high school students seeking to drop out who are beyond their district's compulsory attendance age must attend a dropout prevention seminar.

School districts must offer seminars lasting a minimum of four hours outside regular school hours, featuring speakers such as teachers, counselors, community leaders, employers, military recruiters, and former dropouts discussing challenges faced without a high school diploma.

Districts may charge students up to $45 enrollment fee, which shall be refunded if the student later graduates from high school; students attending seminars outside their home district are ineligible for fee reimbursement.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must promulgate rules by January 1, 2011, establishing specific curriculum guidelines for the dropout prevention seminars.

The program automatically sunsets six years after the effective date unless reauthorized by the general assembly, and if reauthorized, sunsets twelve years after the reauthorization date.