Start A Charter Public School

Missouri Seeks Charter School Applications

The Commission rigorously evaluates each application for alignment with its standards. Each application is reviewed by a team of trained internal and external evaluators. The model application contains general requirements, as well as requirements for each section.  

Interested applicants must submit a Letter of Intent and Prospectus to potentially receive an invitation for a full application, which can only be submitted online. There will be time after the initial submission for feedback on each application.  This process may require multiple submissions before the application is approved to be submitted to the hosting district and DESE. 

Following an approved application submission, the Commission holds a public hearing and interviews applicants to gauge their capacity for effective school governance, community engagement and operation before making formal sponsorship decisions. 

Missouri statutes require applications to be approved by the State Board of Education no later than January 31st of the year the school plans to open.  The Commission does not have a deadline for applications. Best practice tells us that most applications will take 18-24 months from invitation to authorization.

Approved schools enter a five-year performance contract, subject to renewal based on performance, and must complete specified pre-opening requirements before the school can open. 

Overview - Application Process

Application Deadlines

Missouri Charter Public School Commission accepts application on an ongoing basis.

• Applications must be approved by the State Board of Education by January 31 in order to open the following school year.
• Typically, schools planning to open the next school year must have a final application approved by the Commission by August 1 in order to get approval by the statute deadline. .

Local Education Agency Status

Applicants wishing to become a local education agency (LEA) must state so in their application. 

• LEAs are the administrative entity responsible for managing and overseeing the provision of education services.
• Charter schools may be their own LEA or elect to use the host district as their LEA.
• The LEA must report data directly to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Services.
• The LEA receives payments for all students in the LEA. 

Who Can Apply for a Charter School

An inquiry for a new charter school may be made by parents, community leaders, charter management organizations, teachers, existing schools, foundations, employers, and municipalities. 

• All charter schools must be a Missouri non-profit.

Application Review

• Applications are reviewed by staff and subject experts to the criteria outlined in the application, Missouri statutes, the coherence of the application, past performance (if this is a replication or expansion), and the capacity of the team to operate a charter public school in Missouri.
• A public hearing is held to invite the applicant to present their plan to the community, and allow the community to comment and ask questions.
• The Commissioners interview the potential board members to understand the applicant's capacity and commitment to govern a charter public school.
• The Commission votes to approve or deny the application. Approved applications are submitted to the Department of Elementary or Secondary Education for approval by the State Board of Education at their next meeting.
• The State Board of Education can deny an application if it does not comply with state statues.

Submission of LOI and Prospectus

Your Letter of Intent (LOI) to Apply and a Prospectus alerts the Commission of your interest and allows us to plan for your submission. Letter of Intent to Apply Instructions: Applicants are advised to file the LOI and Prospectus at their earliest convenience. Letter of Intent form can only be considered if it completed and signed. Please review the Letter of Intent to Apply and Prospectus Rubric. The Commission staff will contact the applicant to discuss their LOI and prospectus and the Commission's process. The Commission staff will review the LOI and Prospectus and may recommend the Commission invite applicant to submit a full application. Invitations to submit an application are only granted by the Commission. Letters of Intent may be submitted by postal mail or via e-mail message (see "Contact Information" below). ​​​​​ ARE YOU SUBMITING A NEW DESIGN OR AN EXISTING DESIGN? Indicate if the school will be a "new design" or "existing design" applicant. A new design is an innovative school or a community generated school. Innovative schools meet the needs of today's students. These schools often use new educational frameworks, technologies, creative curriculum, and learning practices. Example of recent innovative models include focus on personalize learning and Real-world learning. An existing design applicant is one that is proposing to: Replicate one or more existing schools, or Convert an existing school to a charter school. At least one school is similar overall to what the applicant is proposing. An existing design application can demonstrate: How individuals or organizations that have operated similar schools will be involved in the creation of the proposed school.

Invitation to Apply

Applicants invited to apply to the Commission will be required to submit documents online.

• Download a copy of the application

Application Review

Applications will be reviewed by staff and subject experts engaged by MCPSC.

• Trained reviewers will use Missouri State Statute, State Regulations, NACSA's Principals and Standards, Commission standards, and the evaluation expectations outlined for each section.
• MCPSC will provide the applicants with feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of the application and questions from the reviewers. Commission staff will make themselves available to discuss the feedback, at the request of the applicant.
• Applicants are welcome to improve and resubmit their application.
• Commission staff may recommend the Commission rescind their invitation to apply.
• MCPSC staff may recommend to the Commission to move an application forward and hold a public hearing on the proposed charter school.  This hearing must take place prior to a formal vote of to sponsor an application.

The Public Hearing

• The hearing will be held within the host district, and if possible, the community or neighborhood the proposed charter school plans to operate.  
  • The hearing is facilitated by the Commission.
  • Commission staff will work with the applicant to find a location and to promote the hearing.
• Applicants will present their application to the public, media and Commission members.
  • Presentations are a brief overview of the school's mission, vision and goals.
  • The presentation is presented by one member of the applicant team, at the start of the public hearing.
• The 10-minute presentation will be followed by an open comment session to allow those who attend the hearing to provide supportive or opposing comments and to raise questions.
  • This hearing typically last 60 minutes.

Commission Interviews Board

Following the public hearing, in the same public setting, the Commissioners will interview the board members.

• Commissioners will ask questions concerning the information provided in the application, the capacity of the board and potential staff to govern and lead the school.
• Commissioners may pursue questions based on the comments generated at the public hearing.  
• The public and media are invited to attend but may not participate in the interview.

Commission Sponsorship

The decision to approve or deny an application is taken in open session at a public Commission meeting, using the information gathered through the reviews, public hearing, and the board interview.

Applicants denied by the Commission may seek sponsorship through the State Board of Education or another licensed Missouri sponsor in good standing.

State Board of Education Authorization

Following the Commission’s approval of the final application, a performance contract and a letter of sponsorship are submitted to the Charter School Office at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for review.

• After review, the Charter School Office may provide feedback to the Commission and applicant on sections that need to be strengthened to meet Missouri Statutes or Department regulation.
• A final edited application is provided to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and a request for approval is placed on the agenda of the next State Board of Education meeting.

The State Board of Education has 60 days from submission to approve or deny an application. An application can be denied if it fails to meet statute.