MO SB161

Expands the definition of bullying to include conduct that substantially interferes with educational performance or disrupts school operations, and adds a formal definition of cyberbullying covering electronic communications via phones, computers, and pagers

Requires school district antibullying policies to include procedures for reporting and investigating incidents, anti-retaliation protections, annual staff training, student education on bullying's harmful effects, and counselor-led support for victims

Mandates response-to-intervention reading instruction beginning July 1, 2016 for public schools in the St. Louis metropolitan district and Kansas City urban district, with reading assessments for grades K-10 at the beginning and middle of each school year

Requires personalized learning plans beginning January 1, 2016 for kindergarten and first grade students reading below grade level, with parent consultation and written consent for implementation

Restricts promotion to third grade for students not reading at second-grade level by end of second grade unless: the school provides summer instruction demonstrating readiness, the student continues in a "looping" classroom with the same teacher, or parents sign a notice preferring promotion despite below-grade reading