Cursive writing, physical education, free lunches among Missouri education bills this session

Stephanie Hein: Students should not go hungry at school.

Of the more than 2,000 bills Missouri lawmakers filed at the start of the 2026 legislative session, at least 200 aim to directly impact K-12 education.

Topics are vast but a majority involve increased accountability, enhanced student services, streamlined teacher certification, expanded school choice and funding levels.

Perry Gorrell, chief of governmental relations for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, said curriculum-related bills focus on improved literacy skills, more agriculture education, and the teaching of cursive writing. There is also interest in capping the amount of technology used in classrooms.

“Many times, legislators will file curriculum bills for us, things that they would like to see or standards they’d like to see updated,” said Gorrell, in a recent meeting with the state Board of Education.

Lawmakers have proposed new pathways to prepare and train more teachers, given the ongoing shortages. Gorrell said one option is “reciprocating agreements” that would allow Missouri to hire teachers from states with a similar certification process.

Gov. Mike Kehoe has called for more school choice, including passage of open enrollment and more funding for a private school voucher program.

Proposals with expensive price tags may struggle this year, given the tight state budget. “That does directly affect us because we are one of the biggest recipients of the state budget,” Gorrell said.

State Rep. Stephanie Hein, D-Springfield, said limited state funding and Kehoe’s proposal to eliminate state income tax will create challenges for her bill that proposes a Missouri Free School Meals Program.

If House Bill 2613 is approved, no students will pay for school breakfast or lunch and state funding will be used to cover costs beyond the federal reimbursement received for students who qualify for free and reduce-price meals.

Hein said she proposed the bill after a Kickapoo High School student told her about classmates who were struggling to afford school meals.

“The thought of any child – regardless if they are elementary, middle or high school – going hungry bothers me, and it doesn’t set them up for success for the day when they are trying to learn,” she said, in an interview with Springfield Business Journal.

Hein said lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have proposed similar bills. She said free school meals reduces the stigma.

“When you take that out, everyone is equal, everyone is more apt to take advantage of a meal,” she said.

State Rep. Jamie Gragg, R-Ozark, filed House Bill 1787 to require schools to cancel class for the general election days in April and November.

As a safety precaution, a growing number of districts including Springfield have closed on election days because certain schools serve as polling locations.

Gragg also filed House Bill 2878 to revise rules regarding the start of the school year. His proposal would allow the first day of class to be up to 21 days – not the current 14 days – before the first Monday in September, which is Labor Day.

Eight Ozarks districts, including Nixa, recently requested a start date waiver from the state Board of Education. A decision is expected Feb. 10.

State Rep. Bishop Davidson, R-Republic, filed House Bill 2748 to increase physical education, requiring students participate in a minimum of 60 minutes of moderate physical activity daily. The bill requires a daily recess, which can be part of the lunch period.

An amendment to the Missouri Constitution sought by state Rep. Brad Pollitt, R-Sedalia, aims to increase the bonding capacity or debt limit allowed by a school district from 15% to 20% of its taxable tangible property.

“I’ve had smaller school superintendents say we really need to improve our facilities, but we just don’t have the bonding capacity to do it,” Pollitt said. “That would sure open up the possibilities.”