In order to fully implement Section 1(a) of Article IX, Constitution of Missouri, 1945, providing for the establishment and maintenance of free public schools for gratuitous instruction of all persons in this state within ages not in excess of twenty-one years as prescribed by law, it is hereby declared the policy of the state of Missouri to provide or to require public schools to provide to all handicapped and severely handicapped children within the ages prescribed herein, as an integral part of Missouri's system of gratuitous education, a free appropriate education consistent with the provisions set forth in state and federal regulations implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq. and any amendments thereto. The need of such children for early recognition, diagnosis and intensive educational services leading to more successful participation in home, employment and community life is recognized. The timely implementation of this policy is declared to be an integral part of the policy of this state.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 162.670
Statement of policy
Known as the Elementary and Secondary School District Enrollment Option Act
The act spans §§ 162–162 (184 sections).
Applied in 5 court decisions — leading case Schoenfeld ex rel. Schoenfeld v. Parkway School District (1998)
Most recently applied in Carl D. v. SPECIAL SCHOOL DIST. OF ST. LOUIS (July 1998)
Effective: 28 Aug 2002, 2 histories; (L. 1973 H.B. 474 § 1, A.L. 2002 H.B. 2023)
How often courts cite this section
Court decisions citing this, by year. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.
Official source: Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Reproduced from public-domain Missouri statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.