Missouri Lawmaker Reshapes State's Reading Rules for Kids

Florissant Representative Kem Smith helps craft major literacy bill that could hold back some third-graders who struggle with reading.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 5:56am

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A Florissant lawmaker, Rep. Kem Smith, has played a key role in shaping new legislation in Missouri that aims to improve literacy standards and teacher training requirements across the state. The Missouri House recently passed a bill that could require holding back some third-grade students who are not reading at grade level, as well as streamlining teacher certification processes to give local school boards more flexibility.

Why it matters

The proposed changes to Missouri's education policies, influenced by Rep. Smith, are intended to boost reading proficiency among young students and provide teachers with more tailored training. This is seen as an important step in ensuring all children in the state have the foundational literacy skills needed to succeed academically.

The details

The Missouri House passed legislation that would require third-grade students to meet certain reading benchmarks or risk being held back. The bill, which was shaped in part by Rep. Kem Smith of Florissant, also aims to streamline teacher training requirements to give local school boards more control over the specific professional development their educators must complete.

  • The Missouri House recently passed the literacy and teacher training legislation.
  • The proposed changes are expected to take effect in the 2026-2027 school year, pending approval by the state Senate and governor.

The players

Rep. Kem Smith

A state representative from Florissant who helped craft the major education reform bill passed by the Missouri House.

Missouri House

The lower chamber of the Missouri state legislature that recently passed the legislation on literacy standards and teacher training.

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What they’re saying

“We must ensure all Missouri children have the reading skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. This legislation takes important steps to improve literacy while also giving teachers more flexibility in their professional development.”

— Rep. Kem Smith, State Representative

What’s next

The literacy and teacher training bill now heads to the Missouri Senate for consideration, where it must pass before being signed into law by the governor.

The takeaway

The proposed changes to Missouri's education policies, influenced by a Florissant lawmaker, represent a concerted effort to boost reading proficiency and provide teachers with more tailored training opportunities, with the goal of setting up all students in the state for academic success.