Education debate at a standstill in the Senate

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Intro:	Saint Louis City and County Senators squared off on a bill that would allow students to transfer from unaccredited schools.
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Wrap: Missouri's Senate debated issue while discussing their version of a similar bill earlier this month.

Now, the Senate debates the House version of the bill.

Saint Louis City Senators say they don't want the funding to get cut from unaccredited schools when students transfer.

Saint Louis County Senator Eric Schmitt says schools should set up criteria to make sure the county schools don't become overcrowded.

He says school boards should be able to decide how many students their school can handle.

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Description: "So if that school district has made that local decision prior to this as to whether or not they have to seats available or the number of slots available we want to honor that decision."

He also said schools with prior criteria already in place should be able to keep their entry standards.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Stacey Kafka.

Intro:	One education reform bill that would change school accreditation causes a stir in the Senate
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Wrap: The debate over allowing students to transfer schools if their schools became unaccredited came to a stand still in the statehouse.

The Senate debated this same issue while discussing their version of a similar bill earlier this month.

Now, the Senate debates the House version of the bill.

Saint Louis County Senators say they want what's best for their constituents.

But, Senator Robin Wright Jones of Saint Louis City says sending kids to different schools would hurt the school in their district.

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Description: "You have just told that child your school down the block that you can see is no good, your neighborhood is no good. You have to go to another neighborhood to get the education that I think you should have."

Saint Louis County Senators say they worry allowing tranfers would overcrowd their schools.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Stacey Kafka.