HB 2257 Summary

• Increases virtual course attendance credit from 94% to 95% of nonvirtual program hours for state funding calculation purposes, with 47.5% distributed at 50% completion and 47.5% at 100% completion.

• Establishes "virtual schools of choice" as full-time K-12 virtual programs that must use unified sequential curriculum, employ Missouri-certified teachers, allow flexible pacing, and develop individualized learning plans for all students.

• Limits virtual transfer students (from non-resident districts) to no more than 2% of a school district's total enrollment and bases their funding on the state adequacy target transferred from the student's district of residence.

• Requires virtual courses and programs to meet 12 quality standards including appropriate software, orientation training, privacy policies, academic integrity expectations, technical support, and accessibility for different learning styles.

• Allows school districts and charter schools to contract with multiple virtual course providers and permits special school districts to count virtual course completion the same as traditional courses for credit.