MO HB1228

Establishes the Missouri Charter Public School Commission as a new statewide charter school sponsor with nine governor-appointed members, providing an alternative to local school district and university sponsorship.

Requires charter schools to operate under legally binding performance contracts with specific indicators for academic performance (including graduation rates and test scores), operational management, and financial viability rather than general educational goals.

Creates a sponsor authorization and evaluation process requiring all new eligible sponsors (except school districts already sponsoring charters as of August 2012) to apply annually by April 1st, with state board approval by July 1st and ten-year renewable sponsorship contracts.

Establishes mandatory intervention and revocation policies for sponsors, including automatic intervention triggers for high schools with less than 70% graduation rates or persistently lowest-achieving schools, and probationary status provisions (limited to 12 months).

Expands the definition of "high-risk students" eligible for preference in charter school admissions to include those needing drug/alcohol treatment, refugees, those exiting incarceration, and others meeting department guidelines, while requiring sponsors granting three or more charters to ensure at least one-third serve high-risk or dropout populations.