Missouri Law Wastewater Testing

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) monitors school wastewater to establish an early-warning system for dangerous synthetic opioids and narcotics, helping protect vulnerable student populations.

The overarching goal of this program is to increase safety and awareness in our communities by detecting potentially dangerous drugs and substances in our schools.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) sent schools/districts a notification that they were randomly selected to participate in the Wastewater Testing for School Safety program.

There were 165 schools randomly selected across Missouri to participate in the Wastewater Testing for School Safety program, mandated by state law for the 2026-27 school year. 

This program is administered by the Missouri Department of Public Safety in coordination with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. On June 30, 2026, Governor Mike Kehoe signed into law two pieces of legislation requiring schools selected by DPS to participate in the state’s efforts to monitor and identify dangerous drugs in schools, including fentanyl and nitazenes.

Yes. School safety testing is mandated pursuant to Section 2.020 of the DESE Appropriations Bill 2002. Corresponding program funding is allocated under Section 8.065 of the DPS Appropriations Bill 2008.

Zero cost to schools. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) maintains a contract with Mighty Good Solutions (dba Stercus Bioanalytics) and manages all invoicing directly. There is no cost to schools or districts.

Vendor-managed logistics are handled by Mighty Good Solutions. They are fully responsible for identifying collection sites, installing sampling equipment, and managing sample pickup and lab transportation. This program requires minimal assistance from school staff.

The vendor will contact schools to collect basic logistical information, such as school calendars, facility blueprints, scheduled closures, and major campus events (e.g., athletic games). This ensures sampling dates are aligned with normal operational days, and sampling is isolated to the school’s wastewater only. 

Public Records & Resource Portal. Testing results are subject to public records requests and DPS will fulfill requests for reports as needed. Additionally, DPS is developing a public resource webpage to share region-level data (by Highway Patrol Troop) support resources.

A positive result confirms that an individual (student, faculty, staff, vendor, or visitor) who used school facilities during sampling hours consumed a tested drug within the last 24–72 hours. Testing Limitations: Results are anonymous and cannot identify specific individuals, determine if drugs were consumed on school grounds, or specify exact usage amounts.

Positive results carry no expectations of school-led investigations or student discipline; Missouri State Highway Patrol PIOs are available to assist with communications and education.

As safety is the district’s priority, there are a few preventive programs and educational resources Ladue Schools already has in place: student-led Don’t ‘Due Drugs PSA campaign (3rd year); student-to-student mentoring through PreventEd (High School Health Curriculum); FBI school summit; DEA's community outreach “One Pill Can Kill,” and Vector Educational Modules. And the DARE program in elementary schools.