At this point, however, Pearce plans to try an override in the Senate because it passed with an overwhelming majority. The House will be more of a challenge.

"To me, the issue is not going away," Pearce said. "I thought we added very good options and by basically doing nothing and wiping aside, I think we have not made the situation better."

Under the measure, students who have attended an unaccredited school in an unaccredited district for at least one semester would have been allowed to transfer to an accredited school within their district. Once those slots filled, students could have transferred to an accredited school in an accredited district in the same or adjoining county or a charter school in their district.

In St. Louis, St. Louis County and adjacent counties and Jackson County, another option would be available: a private, nonreligious school within the boundaries of their district, if approved by voters in the sending district.

Local tax revenue would pay for the private school transfers. If local voters failed to approve the private school transfer option and the district remained unaccredited for three years, students could move to private, nonreligious schools even without voter approval, under the bill.