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Accountability
Can a charter be renewed when its initial contract expires?
A chartering authority may grant renewals of a charter school’s charter. (A charter school seeking renewal of its charter must submit documentation similar to that submitted for its initial charter approval.)
Can a Charter be Revised After it is Granted?
A charter school that seeks to establish an additional site or add a grade level must request a material revision. A material revision of the provisions of a charter may only be made with the approval of the authority that granted the charter.
Are Charter School Students Required to Participate in State Testing?
Charter school students are required to participate in all statewide assessments that are applicable to students in traditional public schools.
Why does accountability matter?
Charter school students are thriving academically, in part, because clear minimum performance standards have created an environment of flexibility in exchange for accountability. Over the years, high performing charter schools have flourished, and many underperforming schools have closed.
What is a charter public school?
Charter public school are free, open independently run public schools granted greater flexibility in operations than a traditional public school in exchange for greater accountability for performance.
Charter schools operate under a “charter,” which is a contract between the school and its sponsoring agency. The charter both authorizes the school’s existence and outlines the terms and conditions of its operations.
Charter schools operate under a “charter,” which is a contract between the school and its sponsoring agency. The charter both authorizes the school’s existence and outlines the terms and conditions of its operations.
Starting Charter School
Who can serve on the governing board of a Missouri charter school under the current law?
As of August 28, 2022, Missouri law (RSMo 160.415.20) requires that all members of a charter school’s governing board be residents of Missouri. Current nonresident members who were serving on or before that date may continue until the end of their existing term but are not eligible for reappointment. Board members who move out of Missouri during their term must resign immediately upon relocation.
Some organizations include “perpetual” or long-term seats in their bylaws, often assigned to founding members or institutional representatives. If a nonresident was serving in such a role before the law took effect, they may continue until their term ends. However, those positions cannot be refilled by nonresidents, and Missouri residency is required for all new appointments.
Non-Missouri residents may still support charter schools in non-governing roles, such as non-voting committee members or by serving on affiliated support or fundraising boards.
Some organizations include “perpetual” or long-term seats in their bylaws, often assigned to founding members or institutional representatives. If a nonresident was serving in such a role before the law took effect, they may continue until their term ends. However, those positions cannot be refilled by nonresidents, and Missouri residency is required for all new appointments.
Non-Missouri residents may still support charter schools in non-governing roles, such as non-voting committee members or by serving on affiliated support or fundraising boards.
Why Are Charter Schools So Popular?
Do Charter Schools receive funding to cover the cost of securing a building?
No, there may however be funding to help with start-up cost.
Are all charter schools the same?
Charter schools in Missouri and across the United States differ. Charter schools vary in the grades they serve, the themes they offer and, in the culture, and climate of their school. Most charter schools serve students in communities with limited access to high performing public schools. Many charter schools are designed specifically for students in poverty and historically underserved students.
What is a charter management organization?
Charter management organizations (CMOs) provide non-profit charter schools with management services. These contracted services typically include curriculum development, assessment design, professional development, systems implementation, back-office services, teacher recruitment, and facility services. Governing boards of charter schools’ contract with CMO’s and hold them accountable.
Who can attend charter schools?
Charter schools are public schools and open to all students in the area they serve. Charter schools accept students by random, public lottery.
Where can charter schools be located?
Charter schools can open and operate in all school districts in Missouri. The Missouri Charter Public School Commission can sponsor charter schools in Kansas City Public Schools district, St. Louis Public Schools district, any unaccredited district and any district provisionally accredited for 3 or more years.
Who can start a charter school?
What is the difference between charter public schools and other public schools?
Charter schools are established by teachers, parents, principals, educational experts and entrepreneurs. The biggest difference is that no student is assigned to a charter school. Families choose to enroll their children in charter schools.
What is a charter school?
A charter school is a free, independent public school that operates outside of a school district. Charter schools are granted greater flexibility in return for greater accountability. Missouri charter schools are governed by independent boards and are non-profit organizations.
How are charter schools funded?
Charter schools are public schools. Like traditional district schools, charters are funded according to the State of Missouri's Foundation Formula, local property taxes, sales taxes and federal grants (based on enrollment, attendance, and student group membership.)
Renewal
What happens if a school is not invited to renew?
If a school is not invited to renew, MCPSC will notify the school approximately 18 months before the current charter ends.
This provides time for the board to:
• Seek an alternate sponsor, or
• Prepare for closure protocols if no new sponsor is secured.
This provides time for the board to:
• Seek an alternate sponsor, or
• Prepare for closure protocols if no new sponsor is secured.
How does MCPSC decide if a school should be renewed?
The renewal decision is based on a comprehensive body of evidence that includes the performance of the school over the duration of its contract, the school’s compliance with its contract, the Commission’s standards and the law. The comprehensive body of evidence used to inform renewal decisions includes but is not limited to the following:
o Regular review of financials including annual audits and ASBAR
o Regular review of board documents including meeting minutes, monthly financials, board policies, background checks, and compliance with open meeting statute
• School Quality Reviews and annual site visits
• Review of DESE generated data
• Interim assessment data provided by the school
• Statutory compliance reviews including with MCPSC submissions, DESE Assurance Checklist and surveys (various divisions in DESE)
• Board Interview and annual focus groups
• Public Hearings
• Observations of board meetings
• Meetings with board chair
• Performance Contract monitoring including, enrollment, health and safety requirements, and contract goals
• Review of complaints and/or grievances
The review is also based on the viability and sustainability of the organization — its finances, enrollment, staff retention, and maturity of its governance.
o Regular review of financials including annual audits and ASBAR
o Regular review of board documents including meeting minutes, monthly financials, board policies, background checks, and compliance with open meeting statute
• School Quality Reviews and annual site visits
• Review of DESE generated data
• Interim assessment data provided by the school
• Statutory compliance reviews including with MCPSC submissions, DESE Assurance Checklist and surveys (various divisions in DESE)
• Board Interview and annual focus groups
• Public Hearings
• Observations of board meetings
• Meetings with board chair
• Performance Contract monitoring including, enrollment, health and safety requirements, and contract goals
• Review of complaints and/or grievances
The review is also based on the viability and sustainability of the organization — its finances, enrollment, staff retention, and maturity of its governance.
Is a Public Hearing & Board Interview Required?
Unless a school is designated as Tier 1 based on the Performance Based Oversight Policy, a public hearing and board interview will be required. This will be scheduled in collaboration between MCPSC and the school.
When is the renewal due?
Most schools submit their renewal narrative in the fall of year five to aim for Commission approval by December of that year. If a school needs to adjust this timeline, they may do so in collaboration with MCPSC staff. Final MCPSC approval should occur no later than March of the final year of the contract.
What should be included in the Best and Promising Practices attachment?
This section should highlight innovative strategies your school has implemented. It does not need to be lengthy. The Commission is especially interested in practices that can be shared across schools to support innovation in the sector.
How many Performance Contract goals are required?
Ideally, your Performance Contract should include approximately five goals.
Schools should think carefully about what belongs in the Performance Contract versus broader board-level goals. More guidance on writing effective goals can be found on the Current Operating Schools Resource Page.
Schools should think carefully about what belongs in the Performance Contract versus broader board-level goals. More guidance on writing effective goals can be found on the Current Operating Schools Resource Page.
How does MCPSC determine what needs to be in the narrative?
MCPSC uses data collected over the current charter term—including site visits, School Quality Reviews, data reviews, and annual reports—to identify focus areas.
These may include areas for growth or practices to build on for future success.
These may include areas for growth or practices to build on for future success.
What should the renewal narrative include?
The narrative should:
• Address the components outlined in your school’s individualized renewal guidance.
• Include existing documents (e.g., strategic plans) *if they meet the content requirements.
• Focus on current practices that are effective, or outline what the school plans to do differently to meet outcomes in the next term.
• Address the components outlined in your school’s individualized renewal guidance.
• Include existing documents (e.g., strategic plans) *if they meet the content requirements.
• Focus on current practices that are effective, or outline what the school plans to do differently to meet outcomes in the next term.
How long should our renewal narrative be?
The narrative should be approximately 10 pages in length. If your renewal includes expansion (e.g., additional grades or sites) or turnaround strategies, a longer narrative may be necessary.
Note: This page count does not include attachments such as budget documents or enrollment projections.
Note: This page count does not include attachments such as budget documents or enrollment projections.
New Sponsors
What is a Sponsoring Agency?
In Missouri, a charter school can be authorized by a school district, institution of higher education or the Missouri Charter School Commission.
Who sponsors charter schools?
There are three kinds of sponsors in Missouri: school boards of accredited districts, qualifying universities and the Missouri Charter Public School Commission. Sponsored charter schools must be approved by the Missouri State Board of Education and must meet all applicable state statutes and Department of Elementary and Secondary Regulations.
What is a charter?
The “charter” is the contract between a nonprofit entity and an allowable sponsor, that explains what the school wants to do, how they will go about it, what they will accomplish, and how they will measure their performance. When a charter school fails to comply with the terms of its charter, the charter can be revoked or not renewed at the end of the contract (usually 5 years).
MCPSC staff are happy to help!
Looking for.... | MCPSC Staff Member | |
| Help with Epicenter/Reportwell | Charter School Accountability Specialists Laurel Bounds & Amy Brown | |
| Payment on invoice | Gina Walbridge, Executive Assistant | |
| Start A School | Robbyn Wahby, Executive Director | |
| Renewal process | Martha McGeehon, Deputy Director | |
| Join the Commission | Robbyn Wahby, Executive Director | |
| Closed School Info | Gina Walbridge, Executive Assistant | |
| Press Inquiries | Robbyn Wahby, Executive Director |