MO HB603

Parents of students in bottom 20% performing schools may petition to convert the school to a charter school or transform it using restart, closure, transformation, or turnaround models.

Petition requires signatures from at least 51% of parents with students attending the school; district must verify signatures within 45 days and implement the requested intervention within 180 days or by next school year.

Transformation model requires principal replacement, rigorous teacher evaluations based on student growth, professional development, research-based instructional programs, increased learning time, and community engagement.

Turnaround model requires principal replacement with operational flexibility, rehiring no more than 50% of existing staff, professional development, new governance structure, research-based instruction, increased learning time, and social-emotional supports.

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must promulgate regulations within 120 days; state board of education reviews district appeals if claiming intervention is logistically impossible; if turnaround shows no significant gains after two years, district must convert school to charter.