MO HB419

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must ensure all school districts implement criteria to remove educational barriers for foster care children due to frequent moves.

Receiving schools must initially honor course and program placements from sending schools, including honors, advanced placement, vocational, technical, gifted and talented, and English as a second language programs, without requiring prerequisite waivers.

Schools must provide comparable services to foster care students with disabilities based on existing Individualized Education Programs and make reasonable accommodations under IDEA, Section 504, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Receiving schools must waive specific graduation requirements if similar coursework was completed at the sending school, or provide alternative means to complete requirements on time; schools may accept exit exams, national achievement tests, or alternative testing from sending schools.

If a foster care student transferring in senior year cannot meet receiving school graduation requirements after exploring all alternatives, the sending school must issue the diploma if the student meets sending school requirements.