As the Missouri General Assembly convenes for its 2025 session, over 100 proposed bills aim to reshape education in the state.
These bills tackle diverse topics, including restricting cellphone use in classrooms, revisiting cursive writing instruction, and addressing teacher pay and benefits.
Here’s a detailed overview of the most significant proposals and their potential impact on Missouri’s schools.
Cracking Down on Cellphone Use in Classrooms
Lawmakers are focusing on minimizing distractions by limiting cellphone usage during instruction. Two notable bills aim to enforce stricter policies:
- House Bill 306 (Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, Democrat, Columbia)
- House Bill 408 (Rep. Jamie Gragg, Republican, Ozark)
Key Provisions:
- Schools must implement a policy banning cellphones, smartwatches, and similar devices during class.
- Exceptions include phones used for special education needs or healthcare plans.
The goal is to restore focus in classrooms, ensuring students engage fully with their education.
Boosting Teacher Pay and Benefits
Missouri has made strides in teacher retention and recruitment, but 2025 bills are pushing for further support. Highlights include:
Teacher Salary Incentives
- House Bill 264: Introduces performance-based payments for public employees, including teachers.
- House Bill 444: Offers grants of up to $2,000 for teachers renewing contracts and $4,000 for extra duties like coaching or student support.
Retirement Benefits
- House Bill 329: Proposes increasing retirement payment caps to adjust for inflation.
- Senate Bill 474: Boosts retirement payments for teachers with 33+ years of service.
- House Bill 597: Allows retired teachers to re-enter the workforce for up to four years in hard-to-fill positions without losing retirement benefits.
Salary Distribution Adjustment
- House Bill 341: Gradually increases the percentage of school budgets allocated to teacher salaries, aiming for 95% by 2026-27.
Additional Benefits
- House Bill 639: Provides 12 weeks of parental leave for full-time public school employees.
- Senate Bill 12: Offers a tax deduction of up to $500 for educators’ expenses on professional development or classroom supplies.
Advancing Special Education
Missouri lawmakers are also focusing on special education, aiming to give parents more control over their child’s educational plan:
- House Bill 477 and House Bill 656: Require parental consent for changes to a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) unless the parents refuse to engage or the school receives legal approval to proceed.
These measures ensure transparency and parental involvement in the special education process.
Revisiting Curriculum: Cursive, Media Literacy, and More
Lawmakers are reigniting debates about what students should be learning. Key proposals include:
Cursive Writing
- House Bill 346 and House Bill 375: Require cursive instruction and testing by fifth grade.
- Senate Bill 429: Suggests cursive instruction as an optional practice.
Media Literacy
- House Bill 116: Proposes a pilot program to teach students how to navigate and critically evaluate media, addressing issues like bias and internet safety.
Driver Education
- House Bill 248: Mandates driver education as part of high school health classes, covering topics like licensing, road safety, and interactions with law enforcement.
Health and Reproductive Education
- House Bill 461: Requires instruction on pregnancy and fetal development, starting as early as third grade, with materials created by an anti-abortion group.
| Bill | Focus Area | Key Provisions | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| House Bill 306 & 408 | Cellphone Restrictions | Prohibits cellphone use in classrooms with limited exceptions | Rep. Steinhoff & Rep. Gragg |
| House Bill 444 | Teacher Pay | Grants up to $4,000 for extra duties or early contract renewals | Rep. Steinhoff |
| House Bill 329 & 474 | Teacher Retirement | Increases retirement payment caps and benefits | Rep. Haley & Sen. Nurrenbern |
| House Bill 346 & 375 | Cursive Instruction | Mandates cursive writing education by fifth grade | Rep. Reuter & Rep. McGaugh |
| House Bill 248 | Driver Education | Adds driver education to high school health classes | Rep. Reedy |
| House Bill 116 | Media Literacy | Introduces a media literacy pilot program | Rep. Murphy |
Missouri’s proposed education bills in 2025 aim to balance modernization and tradition. From curbing cellphone distractions to reintroducing cursive writing and boosting teacher pay and benefits, these measures could reshape classrooms across the state.
By addressing pressing issues like teacher retention, special education oversight, and media literacy, the state legislature seeks to empower both educators and students.
Stay informed and involved as these bills progress through the legislative process—your voice matters in shaping the future of Missouri’s education system.
FAQs
Why are lawmakers focusing on cellphone restrictions in classrooms?
The aim is to reduce distractions and improve student engagement during instructional time. Studies suggest limiting electronic devices can enhance focus and productivity.
How will the proposed teacher pay bills affect educators?
These bills offer financial incentives for retention, extra duties, and professional development, alongside improved retirement benefits.
Are the cursive writing proposals mandatory?
Some bills, like House Bill 346, mandate cursive education, while others, like Senate Bill 429, make it optional.
