Charter Schools

Charter Schools Program Office

Charter Schools are independent public schools that are free from some rules and regulations that apply to traditional public school districts as specifically identified in charter school law. In exchange for flexibility, charter school sponsors are to hold the schools accountable for results. Charter schools are non-sectarian, do not discriminate in their admission policies and may not charge tuition or fees.

Any student residing in areas where charter schools operate or are permitted may choose to attend. There is no cost to parents for sending their children to a charter school. Any student residing in an unaccredited school district may transfer to an approved charter school in the same or an adjoining county.

Charter Schools Office Contacts

Shanika WilliamsDirector of Charter Schools573-526-4219
Rexanne HillState Supervisor of Instruction (KC area)573-508-5304
Lisa HazelState Supervisor of Instruction (STL area)314-285-2762
Joel HollandState Supervisor of Instruction (STL area)573-508-5044
John RuddyState Supervisor of Instruction (KC area)816-315-3447
Charter School Sponsor Evaluation
SponsorNext EvaluationMost Recent EvaluationCurrent StatusEst.
Washington University2025-26                             
Period Covered: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024		2021-22In Compliance2009
St. Louis Public Schools2025-26
Period Covered: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024		2019-20In Material Compliance2012
Missouri Charter Public School Commission2026-27
Period Covered: July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2025		2023-24In Compliance2001
Southeast Missouri State2026-27
Period Covered July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2025		2023-24In Compliance2000
Kansas City 332027-28
Period Covered July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026		2024-25In Compliance2015
University of Missouri – St. Louis2027-28
Period Covered July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026		2024-25In Compliance2000
Saint Louis University2027-28
Period Covered July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026		2024-25In Compliance2008
Applications

Interested in opening a charter school?

Contact the Missouri Charter Public School Association (MCPSA) for guidance and resources. Determine who can sponsor a charter school in the area where the proposed school would be located and contact the appropriate sponsor.

Contact Shanika Williams at DESE for additional questions about opening a charter school.

* Parenthesis reflects the year the initial of most recent application was approved. Additional applications are available upon request.

Charter School Renewal Information 

Decisions are made by the sponsors of each charter school, and this is only provided as information and not a determination. 

Renewal Year 2025-2026

Allen Village 048-909
District: Kansas City Public School
Sponsor: Kansas City Public School
Open Year: 1999-2000

Atlas Public Schools 115-933
District: St. Louis Public School District
Sponsor:  Missouri Charter School Public Commission
Open Year: 2021-2022

Citizens of the World - Kansas City 048-928
District: Kansas City Public School
Sponsor: Missouri Charter School Public Commission
Open Year: 2016-2017

Hogan Preparatory Academy 048-904
District: Kansas City Public School
Sponsor: Missouri Charter School Public Commission
Open Year: 1999-2000

Hope Leadership Academy 048-925
District: Kansas City Public School
Sponsor: St. Louis University 
Open Year: 2011-2012

Lee A Tolbert Community Academy 048-910
District: Kansas City Public School
Sponsor: Missouri Charter School Public Commission
Open Year: 1999-2000

Renewal Year 2026-2027

Academy for Integrated Arts 048-927
District: Kansas City Public School
Sponsor: Missouri Charter School Public Commission
Open Year: 2012-2013

Confluence Academies 115-906
District: St. Louis Public School District
Sponsor: St. Louis Public School District
Open Year: 2003-2004

Guadalupe Centers Schools 048-902
District: Kansas City Public School
Sponsor: Missouri Charter School Public Commission
Open Year: 1999-2000

KIPP: KC 048-918
District: Kansas City Public School
Sponsor: Missouri Charter School Public Commission
Open Year: 2007-2008

The Leadership School 096-6905
District: Normandy Schools Collaborative 
Sponsor: Missouri Charter School Public Commission
Open Year: 2022-2023

Renewal Year 2027-2028

Brookside Charter School 048-916
District:  Kansas City Public School
Sponsor: Missouri Charter School Public Commission
Open Year: 2002-2003

City Garden Montessori 115-911
District: St. Louis Public School District
Sponsor: St. Louis University 
Open Year: 2008-2009

Gordon Parks Elementary 048-913
District:  Kansas City Public School
Sponsor:  Kansas City Public School
Open Year: 1999-2000

Lift for Life Academy 115-902
District: St. Louis Public School District
Sponsor: Southeast Missouri State University  
Open Year: 2000-2001

Momentum Academy 115-923
District: St. Louis Public School District
Sponsor: Missouri Charter School Public Commission
Open Year: 2013-2014

Scuola Vita Nuova 048-915
District:  Kansas City Public School
Sponsor: Missouri Charter School Public Commission
Open Year: 1999-2000

St. Louis Voices Academy for Media Arts 115-934
District: St. Louis Public School District
Sponsor: Missouri Charter School Public Commission
Open Year: 2023-2024

Charter School Sponsors
Kansas City Public Schools
Contact Information:
Charter Schools in Sponsor Portfolio:
  • Midtown Community School 048-928
  • Crossroads Charter Schools 048-926
  • Gordon Parks Elementary 048-913
Missouri Charter Public School Commission
Contact Information:
Charter Schools in Sponsor Portfolio:
  • Academy for Integrated Arts 048-927
  • Allen Village School 048-909
  • Atlas Public Schools 115-933
  • BELIEVE STL Academy
  • Brookside Charter School 048-916
  • DeLaSalle Charter School 048-923
  • Ewing Marion Kauffman School 048-924
  • Friendly Academy 115936-6900
  • Gateway Science Academy 115-916
  • Guadalupe Centers School 048-902
  • Hogan Preparatory Academy 048-904
  • Kairos Academies 115-931
  • Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy 048-929
  • Kansas City International Academy 048-912
  • KIPP Endeavor 048-918
  • The Leadership School 096-901
  • Lee A. Tolbert Community Academy 048-910
  • Momentum Academy 115-923
  • Scuola Vita Nuova 048-915
  • St. Louis Voices Academy of Media Arts 115-934
  • University Academy 048-901
Saint Louis University
Contact Information:
Charter Schools in Sponsor Portfolio:
  • Academie Lafayette 048-914
  • City Garden Montessori 115-911
  • Frontier Schools 048-922
  • Hope Leadership Academy 048-925
  • Genesis School Inc. 048-905
  • The Biome 115-926
Southeast Missouri State University
Contact Information:
Charter Schools in Sponsor Portfolio:
  • Lift for Life Academy 115-902
St. Louis City Public Schools
Contact Information:
Charter Schools in Sponsor Portfolio:
  • Confluence Academies 115-906
University of Missouri -St. Louis
Contact Information:
Charter Schools in Sponsor Portfolio:
  • Lafayette Preparatory Academy 115-924
  • North Side Community School 115-913
  • Premier Charter School 115-903
  • The Soulard School 115-932
  • St. Louis Language Immersion Charter 115-912
Washington University
Contact Information:
Charter Schools in Sponsor Portfolio:
  • KIPP St. Louis 115-914
Charter School Sponsors Corner
Data

Follow this link to the Missouri Comprehensive Data Portal. Select the school of choice from the drop-down box to view their data.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the most recent charter law go into effect?

The most recent charter law went into effect as of Aug. 28, 2016.

What does SB727 say about Charter Schools.

CHARTER SCHOOLS (Sections 160.400 and 160.415)

The act adds all school districts located in Boone County to the list of school districts in which a charter school may be operated by any entity currently authorized to operate a charter school under state law. Provisions of current law that provide for additional state aid to charter schools shall not apply to any charter school operated in Boone County.

This provision is similar to SB 920 (2024) and to provisions in SB 1006 (2024), SCS/SB 1391 (2024), and SB 1392 (2024).

The act also provides that all laws and regulations that apply to employees of a charter school shall also apply to the actions of any employees of a charter school management company while such employees are conducting any work relating to the direct decision-making of the operation of the charter school.

In the past, charter schools were only permitted within the boundaries of the St. Louis City School District and Kansas City School District. Where are schools permitted now?

Refer to Section 160.400.2, RSMo. – charter schools may be operated only:

1. In the St. Louis city school district;
2. In the Kansas City school district;
3. In an unaccredited school district;
4. In a school district that has been classified as provisionally accredited for three consecutive school years under specific conditions. See Section 160.400.2(4);
5. In accredited districts, only the local school board can sponsor a charter school. After three consecutive years of classification as a provisionally accredited or unaccredited district, schools in that district can be sponsored by any of the entities listed in 160.400(3) after approval from the State Board of Education.

Do charter schools have to have a sponsor?

Yes. Refer to Section 160.400.3, RSMo. – the following entities are eligible to sponsor charter schools:

1. The special administrative boards or the school boards of the St. Louis and Kansas City school districts;
2. A public four-year college or university with an approved teacher education program that meets regional or national standards of accreditation;
3. A community college, the service area of which encompasses some portion of the district;
4. Any private four-year college or university with an enrollment of at least one thousand students, with its primary campus in Missouri, and with an approved teacher preparation program;
5. Any two-year private vocational or technical school designated as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which is a member of the North Central Association and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, with its primary campus in Missouri; or
6. The Missouri Charter Public School Commission created in Section 160.425, RSMo.

What school districts are unaccredited in Missouri?

For a list of accreditation classifications please visit the MO School Improvement Page.

Are sponsors paid any funds for sponsoring charter schools?

Yes. Pursuant to Section 160.400.11, RSMo. – DESE remits 1.5% of the amount of each charter school’s state and local funding to its sponsor, not to exceed $125,000, adjusted for inflation.

What are the expectations for being a sponsor?

Section 160.400.11, RSMo. – DESE remits funds for each charter school to the school’s sponsor, provided the sponsor remains in good standing by fulfilling its sponsorship obligations under Sections 160.400 to 160.425 and 167.349, RSMo. with regard to each charter school it sponsors, including appropriate demonstrations of the following:

1. Expends no less than ninety percent of its charter school sponsorship funds in support of its charter school sponsorship program, or as a direct investment in the sponsored schools;

2. Maintains a comprehensive application process that follows fair procedures and rigorous criteria and grants charters only to those developers who demonstrate strong capacity for establishing and operating a quality charter school;

3. Negotiates contracts with charter schools that clearly articulate the rights and responsibilities of each party regarding school autonomy, expected outcomes, measures for evaluating success or failure, performance consequences based on the annual performance report, and other material terms;

4. Conducts contract oversight that evaluates performance, monitors compliance, informs intervention and renewal decisions, and ensures autonomy provided under applicable law; and

5. Designs and implements a transparent and rigorous process that uses comprehensive data to make merit-based renewal decisions.

Section 160.400.12, RSMo. – Sponsors receiving funds under subsection 11 of this section shall be required to submit annual reports to the joint committee on education demonstrating they are in compliance with subsection 17 of this section.

What is the application process to become a charter school sponsor?

DESE established an application and approval process for all entities eligible to sponsor charters. Guidelines are available and applications for sponsorship must be submitted by February 1. The application includes:

1. Written notification of intent to serve as a charter school sponsor in accordance with applicable rule and regulations;

2. Evidence of the applicant sponsor's budget and personnel capacity;

3. An outline of the request for proposal that the applicant sponsor would, if approved as a charter sponsor, issue to solicit charter school applicants;

4. A performance framework that the sponsor would use to guide the establishment of a charter contract and for ongoing oversight and a description of how it would evaluate its’ charter schools; and

5. The sponsor's renewal, revocation and nonrenewal processes. Refer to Section 160.403 RSMo.

What is the timeline for applying to be a sponsor?

Refer to Section 160.403 RSMo – The timeline for applying to be a chart sponsor is as follows:

• Each interested/eligible sponsor's application must be submitted by February 1.

• Each year, the Department will grant or deny sponsoring authority to a sponsor applicant by April 1.

Is a charter school considered a public or private school?

Charter schools are considered public schools.

Can anyone attend a charter school?

A charter school may establish a geographical area around the school whose residents will receive a preference for enrolling in the school, provided that such preferences do not result in the establishment of racially or socioeconomically isolated schools and provided such preferences conform to policies and guidelines established by the state board of education. If capacity is insufficient to enroll all pupils who submit a timely application, the charter school shall have an admissions process lottery that assures all applicants of an equal chance of gaining admission.

What restrictions are placed on charter board members?

No member of the governing board of a charter school shall hold any office or employment from the board or the charter school while serving as a member, nor shall the member have any substantial interest, as defined in Section 105.450, in any entity employed by or contracting with the board. No board member shall be an employee of a company that provides substantial services to the charter school. All members of the governing board of the charter school shall be considered decision-making public servants as defined in Section 105.450 for the purposes of the financial disclosure requirements contained in Sections105.483, 105.485, 105.487, and 105.489.

The governing body of a charter school is authorized to accept grants, gifts or donations of any kind and to expend or use such grants, gifts or donations. A grant, gift or donation may not be accepted by the governing body. If it is subject to any condition contrary to law applicable to the charter school or other public schools, or contrary to the terms of the charter.

What is the process for opening a new charter school?

If a charter is approved by an approved sponsor, the charter application shall be submitted to the State Board of Education, including:

1. A statement of finding that the application meets the requirements of the charter school law; and

2. A monitoring plan under which the charter sponsor shall evaluate the academic performance of students enrolled in the charter school.

The state board of education may, within sixty days, disapprove the granting of the charter. The state board of education may disapprove a charter on grounds that the application fails to meet the requirements of the law or that a charter sponsor previously failed to meet the statutory responsibilities of a charter sponsor.


A charter school shall be, as provided in its charter: nonsectarian, compliant with laws and regulations of the state, county or city relating to health safety, state minimum educational standards, financially accountable, compliant with all federal audit requirements, providing a comprehensive program of instruction, measuring pupil progress, submitting an annual report card, compliant with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding students with disabilities, and numerous other requirements. Refer to Sections 160.400 to 160.425 and 167.349, RSMo.

What is the timeline for opening a charter school?

The law requires that charter school applications have to be approved by January 31st for opening the following fall. For an application to be reviewed by DESE and approved by the State Board of Education, the application must be submitted before November 10th. The writing of an application by a charter board, as well as the application for all necessary nonprofit status and incorporation usually takes six to 12 months.

How are state funds distributed to charter schools?

Charter schools receive funding just like other public school/LEAs. They report their Average Daily Attendance through the core data system at the Department.

Do charter schools have to participate in the state wide testing program?

Yes, charter schools must participate in the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP).

Are charter school MAP scores published somewhere?

Yes, all charter and public school test scores are available through the Missouri Comprehensive Data System (MCDS).

Some Missouri charter schools have closed in recent years. How did this happen?

Closure of charter schools in Missouri has occurred for a variety of reasons including poor academic performance, financial distress or unsafe conditions. Sometimes the charter school boards make the decision to close a charter school because the school is financially insolvent. Other schools have closed because the school did not reach the goals agreed upon with their sponsors, so the sponsor closed them. Others have closed because their sponsor ceased being their sponsor due to poor performance.

Once a charter school is approved, what is the term of the initial charter?

Charter schools are initially approved for five-year terms.

Do teachers and administrators have to be certified to work in a charter school?

Yes, teachers must be certificated to work in a charter school. There is a provision given in Missouri Charter School Law for charter schools in Missouri to have 80 percent of their teachers certificated and 20 percent qualified to teach with certification in other states, countries, etc.

Are charter schools responsible for all accountability measures expected of public schools in the state?

Charter schools are held accountable for all performance standards applicable to the grades served in the school.

Can the initial charter be extended?

Refer to Section 160.405.9, RSMo. – the sponsor considers a comprehensive body of evidence to determine if the charter should be renewed. If the sponsor is convinced the charter school has met their criteria for renewal, the sponsor shall submit a renewal application to the State Board of Education for approval. Charter terms are for five years.

Is the renewal process different for high performing charter schools?

Refer to Section 160.405.9(2)(d), RSMo. – Charter schools with APR scores consistent with a classification of accredited for 3 out of the last 4 years are eligible for an expedited renewal.

Refer to Section 160.408, RSMo. – Charter schools with APR scores 85% or greater for 3 out of the last 4 years are high-quality charter schools. High-quality charter schools are eligible for a renewal up to ten years and are eligible for expedited expansion and replication.

Information regarding high performing charter schools

Charter schools in Kansas City and St. Louis have earned recognition from both regional and national publications, as 36 programs are currently in operation within 74 buildings throughout the two metro areas.

In 2016, the Missouri Legislature revised the state charter school laws and created high-quality charter schools. High-quality charter schools are provided expedited opportunities to replicate and expand in addition, these schools are eligible for a renewal of their charter with a term up to 10 years. There are six charter LEAs that have earned the distinction of high-quality. The statutory requirements for this designation are as follows:

Receives 85% or greater on the annual performance report (APR) for three out of the last four school years Maintains a graduation rate of at least 80% for three of the last four school years, if the charter school provides a high school program Is in material compliance with its legally binding performance contract and sections 160.400 to 160.425 and section 167.349 RSMo Is directorial and fiscally viable as described in statute

Forms And Resources

Sponsor Resources

Student & Parent Resources

Closed Charter Schools Information
(Transcript and personnel records)

Highlighting Charter School Success

Charter schools in Kansas City and St. Louis have earned recognition from both regional and national publications, as 37 programs are currently in operation within 81 buildings throughout the two metro areas.

In 2016, the Missouri Legislature revised the state charter school laws and created high-quality charter schools. High-quality charter schools are provided expedited opportunities to replicate and expand in addition, these schools are eligible for a renewal of their charter with a term up to 10 years. There are seven charter LEAs that have earned the distinction of high-quality. The statutory requirements for this designation are as follows: 

  • Receives 85% or greater on the annual performance report (APR) for three out of the last four school years.
  • Maintains a graduation rate of at least 80% for three of the last four school years, if the charter school provides a high school program.
  • Is in material compliance with its legally binding performance contract and sections 160.400 to 160.425 and section 167.349 RSMo Is organizationally and fiscally viable as described in statute.

Results and recognition high-quality charter schools in Missouri:

News and Updates

HB 1552 Calculations