Does the Missouri Safe Schools Act Past the Test - Expelling Disruptive Students to Keep Missouri\u27s Schools Safe

The Missouri Court of Appeals for Easter District of Missouri interpreted the Missouri Safe Schools Act of 1996 in Hamrick ex rel. Hamrick v. Affton School District Board of Education to require a public school to admit for enrollment a student who had been expelled from a non-public school. Shortly after the court’s decision, the Missouri General Assembly amended the dispositive language of Section 167.171.4. It is not clear that public school districts in Missouri can deny enrollment to students suspended or expelled from both public and non-public schools. This Law Summary discusses whether the statutory change furthers the goas of the Missouri Safe Schools Act and whether legislation is a sufficient mechanism for effectuating safety in Missouri’s schools