MISSOURI

In 2009, Missouri took great strides to create options for students who have dropped out with the enactment of Senate Bills 291 and 116.

SB 291, prioritizes charter schools serving returning dropouts and students on the verge of dropping out. Nearly one-third of all new charters authorized under this legislation are required to target this student population. SB 116 establishes the Persistence to Graduation Fund, which awards funds to school districts with low-income student enrollment at and above 60 percent for implementing dropout prevention strategies. SB 116 also stipulates that the General Assembly set aside a minimum of $5 million each fiscal year for the distribution of grants via a competitive grant process. So far, no new funds have been allocated.

In 2009, the state raised the compulsory attendance age to 17 for all students except for those in St. Louis, where the compulsory attendance age remains at 16. Missouri plans to report the National Governors Association’s cohort graduation rate in 2011.

Missouri's maximum public school entitlement age is set at 21.