Missouri Revised Statutes Title XI. Education and Libraries § 170.012. Graduate teaching assistants communication in English language requirements--testing and reports

1. Any graduate student who did not receive both his primary and secondary education in a nation or territory in which English is the primary language shall not be given a teaching appointment during his or her first semester of enrollment at any public institution of higher education in the state of Missouri. Exceptions may be granted in special cases upon approval of the chief academic and executive officers of the institution.

2. All graduate students who did not receive both their primary and secondary education in a nation or territory in which English is the primary language shall be tested for their ability to communicate orally in English in a classroom setting prior to receiving a teaching appointment. Such testing shall be made available by the public institution at no cost to the graduate student.

3. All graduate students prior to filling a teaching assistant position as a graduate student, who have not previously lived in the United States shall be given a cultural orientation to prepare them for such teaching appointment.

4. All public institutions of higher education in this state shall provide to the coordinating board for higher education on a biennial basis a report on the number and language background of all teaching assistants, including a copy of the institutions current policy for selection of graduate teaching assistants.

5. The provisions of this section and sections 174.310 and 175.021 shall not apply to any person employed under a contract of employment in existence prior to August 13, 1986.