The 2024 Legislative Session opened in January and our elected officials will examine some major decisions to be made, as they relate to school districts across Missouri. “Open Enrollment” for students seeking opportunities outside their residential districts and addressing the state-wide teacher shortage are key topics for lawmakers. These upcoming decisions will certainly have the means to change the educational landscape across our state as it relates to Missouri school districts. Open Enrollment House Bill 1989, filed by Brad Pollitt (R-Sedalia), will create a “voluntary” open enrollment program in Missouri. This would allow a student to leave their residential district to attend a non-resident district that is accepting open enrollment students. Receiving school districts could “opt-out” of accepting non-residential students based on enrollment numbers, but no clear rules regulating the enrollment matter have been established. Missouri citizens and school leaders need to…