Missouri Senate Leader Robert Mayer, R-Dexter, recently named six members of the upper chamber to serve on the Joint Interim Committee on School Accreditation.
The committee is charged with examining the potential impact of court decisions related to school accreditation on local school districts.
“Two court decisions have come down in the past year determining students in non-accredited school districts have the right to attend an accredited school district,” Mayer stated in a news release. “Every student should have an equal opportunity for a world-class education. Based on these recent court decisions, it is important this committee understand these students’ options and the impact their families’ decisions will have on both the non-accredited districts as well as neighboring accredited districts.”
The state Supreme Court ruled last year in Turner vs. School District of Clayton that students residing in unaccredited school districts are entitled to attend an accredited school in the same or adjoining county.
In June, St. Louis County Circuit Court Judge Barbara Wallace ordered the Webster Groves School District to enroll a St. Louis city student at Webster Groves High School.
Members serving from the Senate include Co-Chair Sen. Jane Cunningham, R-Chesterfield; Sen. David Pearce, R-Warrensburg; Sen. Bill Stouffer, R-Napton; Sen. Brian Nieves, R-Washington; Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-St. Louis; and Sen. Shalonn “Kiki” Curls, D-Kansas City.
Rep. Scott Dieckhaus, R-Washington, will co-chair the committee with Sen. Cunningham. The other five House members serving on the panel have yet to be announced.
