MO SB171

Charter schools are independent public schools that may operate only in metropolitan districts, urban districts with populations over 350,000, unaccredited districts, provisionally accredited districts meeting specific conditions, or fully accredited districts (with local board sponsorship only).

Eligible charter school sponsors include school boards, public four-year colleges or universities with teacher education programs, community colleges, private four-year colleges with at least 1,000 students, two-year private vocational or technical schools, and the Missouri charter public school commission.

Charter school sponsors must retain 1.5% of state and local funding allocated to charter schools (not exceeding $125,000 adjusted for inflation) and must spend at least 90% of sponsorship funds directly supporting their charter school program or sponsored schools.

Sponsors must conduct criminal background checks and family care safety registry checks for all charter school governing board members, develop comprehensive application and oversight policies, and submit annual compliance reports to the state board of education.

Charter school sponsors are responsible for all expenditures associated with closing any charter school they sponsor, and may lose sponsorship authority if found in material noncompliance with statutory requirements.