Missouri House passes charter expansion bill

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Two philosophies about public education were at odds in the Missouri Legislature this week as the House debated, and narrowly passed, a proposal to expand charter schools in the state Thursday with an 83-76 vote.

The bill would allow charter schools to move into heavily-populated districts, such as Springfield and Columbia, and allows them to open in a district when at least one building meets less than 60 percent of state standards.

It can go into effect only if the state fully funds the school formula. The proposal moves to the Senate.

Under current law, charters can independently operate only in low-performing districts after applying for sponsorship and getting approved by the state. They also can move into other areas if they are sponsored by the local school district.

Those in favor of the proposal said it would fix a "broken" public-education system and create accountability by allowing parents to choose a different school if they believe the education is bad.

Expanding charters also would force educators to get better to keep students. But without charters, there is no choice but to continue to attend a failing school, GOP Rep. Rick Brattin said.

Currently, the law states charter-school oversight rests largely with the sponsor and a privately-appointed board. The state initially can approve the application and renew it every five years, but it cannot force a school to close -- that power rests with the sponsor.

The House bill would allow the state to provisionally approve and then revoke a charter's application for renewal for low performance.

Opponents pointed to St. Louis and Kansas City, where charters have existed for nearly 20 years, and performance scores have been mixed.