By Kurt Erickson St. Louis Post-DispatchJEFFERSON CITY — Charter schools in Missouri will receive an infusion of at least $62 million in state funding under a new law signed by Gov. Mike Parson Wednesday. The legislation, which emerged this spring after a three-year lobbying effort, designates more state aid for charter schools and includes other provisions for virtual schools, which also are seen as alternatives to traditional public schools. “The greatest benefit is the 25,000 public school students who will be receiving equitable financial resources for their education,” said Douglas Thaman, executive director of the Missouri Charter Public School Association. “It will ensure the kids are receiving a quality education.” Instead of using state money, the original version of the proposal, sponsored by Rep. Doug Richey, R-Excelsior Springs, would have diverted an estimated $18 million away from St. Louis Public Schools, according to a nonpartisan fiscal analysis, provoking outrage among public school proponents. Charter schools have been funded in Missouri based on a formula that used a fixed property tax value from 2005, while property tax funding for traditional public school districts has increased based on current values. Advocates argued the outdated funding model had left charter schools receiving less per student than public schools. The legislation also changes Missouri’s virtual education program by giving parents input over whether their kids can enroll. School administrators currently make the final call over whether a student is eligible for virtual learning. The measure transfers the decision on virtual schooling options to the child’s parents. It also includes new rules for charter schools, mandating that charter school management companies be nonprofits. The measure also requires charter school board members be Missouri residents. After an early version squeaked out of the House with just two votes over the threshold needed for passage, the reworked, current version moved through the lower chamber on a 116- 29 vote. House Bill 1552 was approved in the Senate on a 29-5 vote. The long-running issues over funding are rooted in the way the two different types of schools receive support. Charters receive most of their funding from the state, while St. Louis Public Schools receives most of its funding from local sources, such as property taxes. But while local revenues to SLPS have increased over the years, state funding to charter schools has remained flat, he said. Sen. Andrew Koenig, R-Manchester, who helped negotiate the final compromise, said it was unfair that the average St. Louis public charter student receives $2,500 less compared to peers who attend district schools in the St. Louis Public School system based on figures provided by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. “We see this as something that’s been a long time coming,” Thaman said.
