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Lawmakers debate extension of charter school law

February 9, 2000
By: Francine Krantz
State Capital Bureau

Private colleges like Washington University would be able to charter public schools under a proposed Senate bill. Francine Krantz has the story from Jefferson City.

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Republican Senator Peter Kinder says that more charter schools would be created if they were supervised by private institutions.

Under current Missouri law, only publicly funded colleges may sponsor charter schools. Those schools must be located in either St. Louis or Kansas City.

Charter School Lobbyist Laura Friedman says many private colleges and universities in both cities have expressed a desire to charter public schools.

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Contents: She says many of the schools have a public mission even though they are private, and they would like to see improved public education systems in their respective cities.

Friedman says Minnesota already allows private colleges to sponsor charter schools, and it has been successful. From the state capitol, I'm Francine Krantz.

A Republican Senator says he wants to extend the state's charter school program, but not to non-profit organizations. Francine Krantz has the story from Jefferson City.

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Cape Girardeau Senator Peter Kinder is sponsoring a bill that would let private colleges charter public schools.

Kinder said he also wanted to extend that right to non-profit groups. But he's decided to leave that out of the bill because it raised several concerns.

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Contents: Kinder says the Botanical Gardens and Historical Society could do their own chartering, but there are some pitfalls to that so he's taking it out of the bill.

Under current law only publicly funded colleges are able to sponsor charter schools. Kinder says that slowed the growth of these institutions. From the State Capitol, I'm Francine Krantz.

An attempt to extend the state's charter school program is encountering opposition from education groups. Francine Krantz has the story from Jefferson City.

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A lobbyist for the Missouri School Board Association says she opposes a bill that would let private institutions charter public schools.

Lynnanne Baumgardner says she's opposed to all forms of charter schools, but is especially concerned about private institutions handling public funds.

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Contents: She says the sponsors of charter schools should be public and the appropriate role of private colleges would be that of an affiliate.

Cape Girardeau Senator Peter Kinder is sponsoring the bill. He says the number of charter schools would increase dramatically if private institutions were allowed to sponsor them. From the state capitol, I'm Francine Krantz.