MO HB1689

Establishes age eligibility requirements for prekindergarten (age 3 by August 1), kindergarten (age 5 by August 1), and first grade (age 6 by August 1), with flexibility for metropolitan and urban school districts to set dates between August 1 and October 1.

Creates a new early childhood education program (section 163.018) allowing pupils ages 3-5 eligible for free and reduced lunch to be included in average daily attendance calculations, limited to 4% of total eligible pupils.

Modifies the definition of "free and reduced lunch pupil count" to accommodate districts using the USDA Community Eligibility Option by calculating the percentage of eligible students from prior household applications.

Requires the state adequacy target funding formula adjustment when appropriations are insufficient, with no payment reductions allowed for districts with 350 or fewer students in average daily attendance.

Limits the number of "performance districts" used in adequacy target calculations to no more than 25% of all public school districts for fiscal years after 2018.

Adjusts local effort calculations for school districts undergoing boundary changes, consolidations, reorganizations, or dissolutions by using calendar year 2004 assessed valuation data applied to new district boundaries.