MO HB575

Establishes a Joint Committee on Education composed of 7 Senate members and 7 House members appointed by the President Pro Tem and Speaker, respectively

Committee shall meet at least twice yearly and may remove members with three consecutive absences; leadership includes a Senate and House co-chair

Committee duties include reviewing public school and higher education progress, studying education funding equity and adequacy, monitoring performance measures, and analyzing higher education financing and financial aid programs

Beginning August 28, 2011, the committee shall review (rather than approve or deny) expenditures made by the Commissioner of Education under the $18 million annual fund for statewide areas of critical need for learning and development

Commissioner of Education must present the joint committee with a list of programs and proposed budget for each program before distributing funds for statewide critical needs, and the committee reviews this list and proposed budgets