SB 64 Pushes Charter Schools

The following is a copy of SB 64 language:


Current law provides that charter schools may only be operated in the Kansas City and St. Louis City school districts. This act allows charter schools to be operated in school districts that are not classified as accredited by the State Board of Education or in any school district that for any two of the past three years has obtained a score on its annual performance evaluation consistent with the classification of provisionally accredited or unaccredited. Charter schools may continue to operate if the district in which they are located becomes classified as accredited at a later time. In addition, charter schools may continue to operate and serve the same geographic area if a change in school district boundary lines occurs because of annexation, consolidation, or dissolution.
Any private or public four-year college or university with an approved teacher preparation program and with its primary campus in Missouri may sponsor a charter school. The mayor of St. Louis City may sponsor a charter school.
When the Department retains and remits such funds to the sponsor of a charter school, the sponsor must make an appropriate determination of the following: it must expend no less than 90% of its sponsorship funds in support of its charter school sponsorship program, or as a direct investment in the sponsored schools; have fair procedures and rigorous criteria for its application process and grant charters only to developers who show capacity for establishing and operating a quality charter school; negotiates charter school contracts that clearly articulate the rights and responsibilities of each party as described in the act; conducts contract oversight; and designs and implements a transparent and rigorous process to make merit-based renewal decisions. In addition, charter schools may expend up to ten percent of their sponsorship funds for undesignated administrative costs.
This act removes the condition that charter schools become local educational agencies for the sole purpose of seeking direct access to federal grants when a sponsor and governing board enter into a written agreement reflecting the charter school's decision to become a local educational agency.
Current law requires charter schools to maintain a surety bond based on the school's cash flow. This act would allow charter schools to maintain an insurance policy in the amount of $500,000 or more to provide coverage in the event of employee theft.
Charter schools whose mission includes student drop-out prevention or recovery must enroll nonresident pupils from the same or an adjacent county who submit a timely application. Preference will be given to resident pupils over non-resident pupils if there is insufficient capacity.

The Missouri School Board Association officially opposes this legislation due to the financial impact that these programs can have on public school funding.

Numerous Education Bills Filed

Bills dealing with almost every aspect of education have been posted for potential legislation. Areas to keep eye on for movement include the use of loss limit funds from gambling for non-education related funding, the further establishment of charter schools in Missouri, and changes in property tax funding issues. Here are links to bills that we will watch closely for movement.

HB 47 This is related to private or home schooling with a potential impact on tax revenue.

SB 60 Relates to establishing teacher standards for all schools. HB 73 relates to teaching standards as well and is being sponsored by local Representative Sara Lampe

Both HB 311 and SB 51 related to charter schools.

As legislation is debated we will begin to focus on which bills seem to be gaining traction.

Governor's Proposal Suggests No Deep Cuts to Higher Education

Today Governor Jay Nixon held a press conference outlining a proposal that would suggest no deep cuts to higher education would take place if colleges and universities agreed to hold tuition cost steady at the same time. No additional information was provided when asked where cuts to meet the $340 million budget shortfall would come from.

MSBA Voices Concern Over SB 99

The Missouri School Board Association has voiced concern over Senate Bill 99 sponsored by Senator Cunningham. This act establishes the Predictable Property Tax Act which, beginning August 28, 2009, freezes the assessed valuation of real property at the 2006 assessed value or at the acquisition price of property purchased after the effective date of the act and sets the tax rate at one percent. The assessment can be adjusted for cost-of-living increases up to two percent annually. Real property tax revenues are limited to the 2006 real property tax revenues for each county, excluding new construction, improvements, and cost-of-living increases. If the market value of a home declines, the assessed valuation must decrease. The limitations will not apply to any voter-approved tax increase, bond indebtedness, or special assessment. Any taxpayer age fifty-five or older can transfer the assessed value of his or her current home to any replacement home of equal or lesser value. The act allows the transfer of property up to $1 million in assessed value to children or grandchildren without reassessment.

This site will track this bill and keep you informed as needed.

House Committee Memberships Assigned

The 2009-10 House Committee Memberships have been assigned. Local Representative Sara Lampe is serving on both the Appropriations Education and the Secondary and Elementary Education Committees. This site will provide additional information on the chairs of education related committees in the next few days.

Social Security Decision Delayed to 2009

The following link from the Missouri Association for School Administrators provides the background and an update on the very important issue regarding social security and the Public School Retirement Fund. The Missouri Delegation was united and effective in getting both the IRS and SSA to review this issue and it will be an important topic to continue to monitor in the coming weeks.

http://www.masaonline.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2008/12/17/4908d07febb87

Welcome to the SPS Legislative Team

Welcome the Springfield Public Schools Legislative Action Team information page. This page is designed for anyone that is interested in working with both federal and state legislators in advocating for Springfield Public Schools. The purpose of this site is to serve as an updated information source concerning education related legislation issues, as well as a place for members of the SPS Legislative Team to post updated news and information with other team members. If you are a member of Dr. Ridder's Parent Advisory Council who volunteered for legislative work or a member of the SPS School Board that will be active in legislative matters, you are at the right place.

With the current economic conditions, this will be an important year to stay informed and engaged. It will be our goal to make this site a useful tool to assist you in continuing to be an informed citizen interested in legislative issues concerning Springfield Public Schools.

Please note the link to the 2009 SPS Legislative Priorities on the left side of this page.

Thanks for joining and participating.