MO HB2594

Establishes the Local Economic and Academic Partnership (LEAP) Program to encourage public schools to partner with local businesses, trade unions, and higher education institutions for workforce training and economic development

Creates an 11-member LEAP Council appointed by the joint committee on education, with 6 business representatives and 5 education community members, to review and approve partnership applications within 30 days

Participating schools receive incentives including full attendance credit for students meeting performance measures regardless of actual attendance, 100% average daily attendance reimbursement for online/hybrid courses, and authority to employ "visiting scholars" as classroom teachers

Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to update data systems by the 2017-18 school year to accommodate proficiency-based instruction and promotion systems

Creates the Local Economic and Academic Partnership Fund in the state treasury to support the program, with an automatic sunset provision 6 years after the effective date unless reauthorized by the General Assembly