Effective 28 Aug 2016

160.408. High-quality school, defined, replication in unaccredited districts. — 1. For purposes of this section, "high-quality charter school" means a charter school operating in the state of Missouri that meets the following requirements:

(1) Receives eighty-five percent or more of the total points on the annual performance report for three out of the last four school years by comparing points earned to the points possible on the annual performance report for three of the last four school years;

(2) Maintains a graduation rate of at least eighty percent for three of the last four school years, if the charter school provides a high school program;

(3) Is in material compliance with its legally binding performance contract and sections 160.400 to 160.425 and section 167.349; and

(4) Is organizationally and fiscally viable as described in paragraph (b) of subdivision (2) of subsection 9 of section 160.405.

2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, high-quality charter schools shall be provided expedited opportunities to replicate and expand into unaccredited districts, a metropolitan district, or an urban school district containing most or all of a home rule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants and located in more than one county. Such replication and expansion shall be subject to the following:

(1) The school seeking to replicate or expand shall submit its proposed charter to a proposed sponsor. The charter shall include a legally binding performance contract that meets the requirements of sections 160.400 to 160.425 and section 167.349;

(2) The sponsor's decision to approve or deny shall be made within sixty days of the filing of the proposed charter with the proposed sponsor;

(3) If a charter is approved by a sponsor, the charter application shall be filed with the state board of education with a statement of finding from the sponsor that the application meets the requirements of sections 160.400 to 160.425 and section 167.349 and a monitoring plan under which the sponsor shall evaluate the academic performance of students enrolled in the charter school. Such filing shall be made by January thirty-first prior to the school year in which the charter school intends to begin operations.

3. The term of the charter for schools operating under this section shall be five years, and the charter may be renewed for terms of up to ten years. Renewal shall be subject to the provisions of paragraphs (a) to (d) of subdivision (3) of subsection 9 of section 160.405.

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(L. 2016 S.B. 638)