MO SB835

Repeals and replaces sections 160.405 and 160.410 of Missouri law relating to charter school establishment, approval, and enrollment requirements.

Charter sponsors must give priority to applications for schools serving high-risk students and dropouts; if a sponsor grants three or more charters, at least one-third must serve high-risk students or dropouts.

Allows high-risk or alternative charter schools to include alternative credit arrangements such as off-campus instruction, work experience internships, and independent studies in their charters.

Permits nonresident pupils from the same or adjacent counties who are high-risk or dropouts to enroll in charter schools with dropout prevention missions, and allows workplace charter schools to enroll children of parents employed in the designated business district.

Charter schools serving high-risk or alternative populations may use sponsor-approved performance measures based on their specific mission rather than only standardized tests, though they cannot be held to lower overall performance standards than other public schools.