MO SB517

Repeals and replaces section 160.400, RSMo, governing charter school operations and sponsorship requirements in Missouri.

Establishes geographic and accreditation eligibility requirements for charter school operation, including metropolitan districts, urban districts with populations over 350,000, unaccredited districts, and provisionally accredited districts meeting specified conditions.

Designates eligible charter school sponsors including school boards, public and private universities with teacher education programs, community colleges, vocational schools, and the Missouri charter public school commission.

Requires sponsors to spend at least 90 percent of sponsorship funds directly supporting charter schools, maintain rigorous application processes, negotiate clear contracts, conduct oversight monitoring, and make merit-based renewal decisions.

Makes sponsors responsible for all expenditures associated with closure of charter schools they sponsor and requires the Missouri charter public school commission to assume sponsorship if a sponsor loses authorization.