MO HB1276

Requires the state board of education, school districts, and school administrators to create an environment encouraging students to explore scientific questions, develop critical thinking skills, and respectfully discuss controversial issues including evolution.

Prohibits the state board of education, school districts, superintendents, and administrators from preventing teachers from helping students analyze, critique, and review scientific strengths and weaknesses of biological and chemical evolution theories.

Limits the section to protection of scientific information only and specifies it shall not promote any religious or nonreligious doctrine or discrimination based on religious beliefs or nonbeliefs.

Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to notify all public school superintendents of these provisions no later than the start of the 2013-2014 school year, with superintendents required to disseminate the information to all employees.