161.650. Department to identify and adopt violence prevention program, district to administer--state board to adopt violence prevention program--duties--administered how--funding.

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

161.650. Department to identify and adopt violence prevention program, district to administer--state board to adopt violence prevention program--duties--administered how--funding.

Department to identify and adopt violence prevention program, districtto administer--state board to adopt violence preventionprogram--duties--administered how--funding.

161.650. 1. The department of elementary and secondary educationshall identify and adopt an existing program or programs of educationalinstruction regarding violence prevention to be administered by publicschool districts pursuant to subsection 2 of this section, and which shallinclude, but shall not be limited to, instructing students of the negativeconsequences, both to the individual and to society at large, of membershipin or association with criminal street gangs or participation in criminalstreet gang activity, as those phrases are defined in section 578.421,RSMo, and shall include related training for school district employeesdirectly responsible for the education of students concerning violenceprevention and early identification of and intervention in violentbehavior. The state board of education shall adopt such program orprograms by rule as approved for use in Missouri public schools. Theprogram or programs of instruction shall encourage nonviolent conflictresolution of problems facing youth; present alternative constructiveactivities for the students; encourage community participation in programinstruction, including but not limited to parents and law enforcementofficials; and shall be administered as appropriate for different gradelevels and shall not be offered for academic credit.

2. All public school districts within this state with the approval ofthe district's board of education may administer the program or programs ofstudent instruction adopted pursuant to subsection 1 of this section tostudents within the district starting at the kindergarten level and everyyear thereafter through the twelfth-grade level.

3. Any district adopting and providing a program of instructionpursuant to this section shall be entitled to receive state aid pursuant tosection 163.031, RSMo. If such aid is determined by the department to beinsufficient to implement any program or programs adopted by a districtpursuant to this section:

(1) The department may fund the program or programs adopted pursuantto this section or pursuant to subsection 2 of section 160.530, RSMo, orboth, after securing any funding available from alternative sources; and

(2) School districts may fund the program or programs from fundsreceived pursuant to subsection 1 of section 160.530, RSMo, and section166.260, RSMo.

4. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated pursuant to this sectionshall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to chapter536, RSMo.