Public Schools

Students, parents and teachers protested proposals to prohibit discussions on gender identity and allow people to request books be banned. But the school board introduced the measures over those objections, with final votes coming as early as July.

One of the proposals the school board will introduce would allow anyone who lives in the district to call for bans on books and classroom materials — and prohibit books that lack school board approval.

A new poll from St. Louis University and YouGov found support for increased funding for some education initiatives but growing discontent with public schools in Missouri.

Missouri Supreme Court Judge Robin Ransom wrote, with five in concurrence, that the unexcused absences in the case violated state law.

The case centers around two parents, both of whom were sentenced to jail time because their six-year-old children missed too many days of school.

Enrollment for Missouri-funded preschool programs fell during the 2021-22 school year, according to a new report by the National Institute for Early Education Research. Statewide pre-K and child care advocates hope recently passed legislation improves access.

Schools would be able to opt into the program and accept new students from other schools, though they would not be able to stop kids from leaving. The legislation creates a 3% cap on a school's population being able to transfer out.

A previous version of the legislation would have taken money away from public school districts to make up for a disparity in funding for public charter schools. Now, the state would handle that responsibility.

Parkway School District and Crystal City School District have both altered their in-person learning schedules due to students and teachers testing positive for coronavirus. The news comes as the region continues to set records for new cases and hospitalizations.

St. Louis County school districts are sending some elementary school children back to the classroom after health officials said young children account for far fewer new coronavirus cases than teenagers. Early childhood researchers warn that virtual learning can harm the emotional health and education of young students more than that of older students.