Republic Board of Education hears case for online charter school

The Republic Board of Education heard arguments that the district should fund a charter school at their meeting on Oct. 15.

The proposed charter school would serve homeschooled children in the district.

Tuesday evening’s board of education meeting, which often sees little to no participation during the public comments portion of the meeting, was this time met with a request from Randi George, a local parent who homeschools her children.

“I’m here today to seek your partnership moving forward,” said George.

George had previously given her message to the board before through a representative. She said in her time-limited statement that she wants the Republic R-III School district to fund a charter school in order to use their resources to assist those in the community who are homeschooled.

In a board meeting on Jan. 19, George stated that about 15 percent of the students in Republic were homeschooled, which is more than double the state average. She argued that an online charter school would allow the district to reach these students as well as provide much-needed support and supplies.

Charter school requirements

Per DESE, charter schools are independent public schools that are free from some rules and regulations that apply to traditional public school districts. They are heavily restricted in Missouri, as historically, the majority of charter schools operated from St. Louis or Kansas City.

There are a few restrictions on who can operate a charter school, according to Missouri state statute 160.400. For the most part, charter schools may only be operated:

- In a metropolitan school district;

- In an urban school district containing most or all of a city with a population greater than 350,000 inhabitants;

- In a school district that has been classified as unaccredited by the state board of education;

- In a school district that has been classified as provisionally accredited by the state board of education and has received scores on its annual performance report consistent with a classification of provisionally accredited or unaccredited for three consecutive school years beginning with the 2012-13 accreditation year under a few conditions.

George cited subsection 2, subdivision 6 of the statute, which states that a charter school may be created in a district that has been accredited without provisions, but it must be sponsored only by the local school board.

“Because Republic is fully accredited, this permission gives the Republic School Board, you guys, a legal pathway to sponsor a charter district,” said George.

George mentioned that recently multiple charter schools have been founded outside of Kansas City and St. Louis.

She asked the board to make a decision at the meeting.

“Missouri law provides the pathway, and I’m respectfully asking that you guys move to a vote, yes or no, on this issue.”

No support from board

Shortly after the public comments portion of the meeting, the board moved to action items, where a motion for a charter school could be entertained, but none came.

In an interview after the meeting, George said she was disappointed in the results following her comments.

“This is an option to serve all of these [homeschool] kids, and they’re not doing it,” she said.