New Rule Requires Missouri Charter Schools to Account for Student Achievement

Art Credit: KC Education Enterprise | Photo Credit: 123rf stock image

Charter school sponsors will have to report more information about student achievement and financial management, according to a new rule approved earlier this week by the Missouri State Board of Education. Taxpayer dollars fund both charter and public schools.

Thirty days after publication in the Code of State Regulations, the new rule will take effect. Once the rule does take effect, charter school students will have to take state standardized tests, and charter school operators will have to publish annual performance reports and report cards similar to those required for other publicly funded schools. In addition, the state will require charter school operators to provide audits demonstrating fiscal responsibility.

Other provisions of the new rule require institutions to track the progress of charter schools they sponsor and to intervene with those that are struggling. Also, the rule requires the closure of charter schools not adequately educating students.

State statute allows charter schools only in Kansas City and S. Louis. Kansas City charter schools and their sponsors are:

• Academie Lafayette (University of Central Missouri — Warrensburg)
• Allen Village School (University of Missouri — Kansas City)
• Alta Vista Charter School (University of Central Missouri — Warrensburg)
• Benjamin Banneker Charter Academy (University of Central Missouri — Warrensburg)
• Brookside Charter School (University of Missouri — Kansas City)
• Della Lamb Elementary (University of Central Missouri — Warrensburg)
• Derrick Thomas Academy (University of Missouri — Kansas City)
• Don Bosco Education Center (University of Central Missouri — Warrensburg)
• Frontier School of Innovation (University of Missouri — Kansas City)
• Genesis School, Inc. (University of Missouri — Kansas City)
• Gordon Parks Elementary (University of Central Missouri — Warrensburg)
• Hogan Preparatory Academy (University of Central Missouri — Warrensburg)
• Hope Academy (University of Missouri — Kansas City)
• Imagine Renaissance Academy of Environmental Science and Math (University of Missouri — Columbia)
• KIPP Endeavor Academy — Metropolitan Community College — Penn Valley)
• Lee A. Tolbert Community Academy (University of Missouri — Kansas City)
• Pathway Academy (University of Missouri — Kansas City)
• Scuola Vita Nuova (University of Central Missouri — Warrensburg)
• University Academy (University of Missouri — Kansas City)
• Urban Community Leadership Academy (University of Central Missouri — Warrensburg)

The State Board of Education held their monthly meeting Monday and Tuesday, April 16-17, in Jefferson City.

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