HB 831 -- Charter Schools

Sponsor:  Robb

This bill permits charter schools to be established in any
district with more than 2,000 students that was designated as
unaccredited or provisionally accredited in its last
accreditation review, as well as clarifies that charter schools
are permitted in any district that contains territory that was
formerly part of a district where charter schools were
authorized.  Sponsorship of charter schools is opened to any
four-year college with an approved teacher preparation program,
as well as the mayors of the cities of St. Louis and Kansas City,
and to the University of Missouri-Rolla specifically for purposes
of remediating reading deficiencies.  The Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education will retain 1.5% of a charter
school's aid allocation to defray costs of sponsorship.
Nonprofit corporations managing charter schools must maintain a
surety bond in an amount no less than the total funds to be
received during the year.  The current maximum of 5% of a
district's buildings being available for conversion to charter
schools is repealed, as is the provision that a charter school
cannot be located on district property without the district's
consent.  Each school district where a charter is permitted must
offer the right of first refusal to charter schools when the
district wishes to dispose of property.

Charter sponsors must ensure that criminal background and child
abuse registry checks are conducted for all members of the
school's governing board.  Charter school governing board members
must not be employed by the charter school or any company that
provides substantial services to the charter school.  Board
members are considered to be decision-making public servants for
financial disclosure purposes, and companies managing the schools
are to be considered quasi-public governmental bodies.  Board
members are subject to liability as if they were members of
school boards, and charter schools may participate in the
Missouri Public Entity Risk Management Fund.

The bill makes several technical changes to the charter
application process, clarifying what items must be submitted and
on what timetable.  The State Board of Education may deny a
charter based on the sponsor's prior failure to exercise its
responsibilities.  Charters may be revoked if the school does not
furnish compliance information within 45 days of a request.
Sponsors must take all reasonable steps to confirm compliance.
Alternative charter schools will be judged on their performance
on measures selected by the sponsors, as well as standardized
public school measures.  Charters may be amended when operation
or management is transferred to another entity and if a charter
school decides to become a local education agency (LEA) for
purposes of seeking direct access to federal grants.  If a
charter school becomes an LEA, it may receive its aid payment
directly from the department rather than from the district.
Disputes among the department, the school district, and the
charter school will be resolved by the Administrative Hearing
Commission, eligible for review by the circuit court.

Charter schools offering a foreign language immersion program are
not required to meet the minimum percentage for certificated
teachers.  No charter school may employ a teacher whose
certificate has been revoked or suspended.  An employee of an
entity providing service to a charter school may elect to
participate in the retirement plan of the employer.

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:20 pm