Charter school bill would boost oversight

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Adding more good charter schools and getting rid of bad ones is the goal of legislation under consideration by Gov. Jay Nixon.

The publicly funded but independently run schools have been a mixed bag of success and failure since they began opening more than a decade ago in the state.

Among the troubled schools, problems have included chaotic closures, low test scores and financial struggles.

The law pairs increased oversight with provisions to allow the schools to expand to new areas of the state.

Currently, charter schools are permitted only in Kansas City and St. Louis. Under the new law, charters would be allowed in more troubled school systems. Charter schools also could be established in accredited school districts, but only if the local school board wants to sponsor them.