Bill > HB2428

This bill makes comprehensive changes to Missouri's charter school law, expanding where and how charter schools can be established and operated. It broadens the geographical areas where charter schools are permitted, including adding provisions for schools in counties with a charter form of government and in municipalities with over 30,000 inhabitants. The bill establishes more rigorous oversight and accountability measures for charter schools, including detailed requirements for sponsors, performance evaluations, and renewal processes. Key provisions include mandating comprehensive performance measures, establishing clear intervention and revocation standards for underperforming schools, and creating a Missouri Charter Public School Commission to sponsor high-quality charter schools statewide. The bill also clarifies financial arrangements, such as how charter schools receive state and local funding, and introduces new requirements for charter school governance, including mandatory criminal background checks for board members and restrictions on potential conflicts of interest. Additionally, the bill includes provisions preventing cities not within a county from restricting educational use of properties and establishes more transparent reporting and accountability mechanisms for charter schools.