MO HB1519

Requires charter school cash assets remaining upon closure to be returned to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for disposition.

Defines charter schools as independent public schools that may operate only in metropolitan or urban school districts containing cities with populations exceeding 350,000 inhabitants.

Permits charter school sponsorship by school district boards, public four-year colleges or universities with approved teacher education programs, community colleges, or private four-year colleges or universities meeting specified criteria.

Prohibits sponsors from charging applicants any fees for charter consideration and requires sponsors to meet performance standards including expending at least 90 percent of sponsorship funds directly on charter schools and conducting rigorous application and renewal processes.

Authorizes the state board of education to withhold sponsor funding, suspend sponsorship authority for up to one year, or assume interim sponsorship of a charter school if a sponsor fails to fulfill sponsorship obligations.