Missouri lawmakers approve expanding charter schools

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri lawmakers have passed legislation that could allow charter schools to be established throughout the state.

The House approved the legislation 99-54 on Tuesday. The Senate had passed it earlier, and it now goes to Gov. Jay Nixon.

Missouri has allowed charter schools for more than a decade in the St. Louis City and Kansas City districts.

The legislation would permit charter schools in all districts, but the rules on who could sponsor them would depend on a district's accreditation status.

The bill would also require the sponsors to develop systems for measuring performance and use them to evaluate the schools. The state Board of Education would evaluate sponsors every three years.

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Charter schools is SB576

Online:

Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov