CCR-1 Joins List Of Districts Opposing Open Enrollment

The Crawford County R-1 School Board on Thursday became the latest district to approve a resolution opposing open enrollment in Missouri.

Nearly 200 districts across the state have passed resolutions opposing HB 253, which would allow students to transfer out of their home districts.

HB 253 was passed out of the Missouri House of Representatives on March 8 by an 85-69 vote, with one voting present.

The Independent News incorrectly reported last week that Rep. Ron Copeland (R-Salem), who represents Crawford County in the House, voted for the bill.

Copeland was absent with leave during that vote and he voted against the bill a day earlier. 

The Independent News also incorrectly identified him as “Ron Coleman.”

The resolution against open enrollment states that the board of education “has resolved to focus resident taxpayer resources upon the education of students who reside in the district” and that “no credible research shows that open enrollment improves student achievement” and is “inconsistent with the principles of local control of schools.”

It also says open enrollment “will have an adverse educational impact on the resident students of the district” and “adverse financial impact on public schools.”

The resolutions come as public school districts gear up for another spring waiting to see if legislators can get the bill across the finish line.

The House was able to pass a version of open enrollment last spring, but it failed in the Senate.

The bill has narrowly passed the House on both occasions, getting just three votes over the minimum.

The Senate is next to take up the bill.

HB 253 was sponsored by Rep. Brad Pollitt (R-Sedalia). Pollitt’s bill will allow open enrollment to begin in the 2024-25 school year and initially cap 3 percent of the student population from transferring.

Schools will not be required to take transfers and any student that does transfer must stay in their new district for a full year.