Nixon to veto student-transfer bill

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon will veto a bill to revamp the state's system allowing students to transfer from failing schools, two Missouri lawmakers who took a lead in crafting the legislation said Thursday.

Republican bill sponsor Rep. David Wood and Senate handler Republican Sen. David Pearce said Nixon's legislative affairs director told them of the governor's plans to ax the proposal.

Nixon's office announced earlier Thursday the Democratic governor would take action on the bill today, and spokeswoman Channing Ansley did not confirm he will veto it.

A veto likely will mean the end of years of work by lawmakers hoping to revamp the current transfer system, which requires failing districts to pay for students to transfer to better-performing ones nearby. Struggling school districts say that's created a financial hardship for them as they work to regain accreditation.

The bill also included measures to expand access to charter and virtual schools for some students, provisions that have been lauded by supporters as giving students more opportunities for a good education.

Opponents slammed the expansions as catering to special interests.

Officials from Normandy and Riverview Gardens schools, two unaccredited St. Louis-area systems, also said the bill failed to address some issues with the transfer system because it does not include a limit on tuition schools could charge failing districts.

Nixon's planned announcement will come days after he unveiled a partnership between a group of St. Louis-area schools to help Riverview Gardens and Normandy get on track, as well as Nixon's release of $1 million for the two schools he previously blocked from spending.

Each school will receive $500,000 for intensive reading instruction.

Help from surrounding districts will range from voluntary caps on tuition at some schools to teacher training.

Some Missouri teachers and administrators on Thursday applauded Nixon's expected veto, saying the legislation would have taken away local control.

Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, a University City Democrat who helped sculpt the legislation, said the veto "is indefensible and unfathomable."

Chappelle-Nadal said it raises concerns about access to quality education for students at the predominantly black schools that are unaccredited.