Tagged: charter schools

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay announced Thursday that three new charter schools will open next fall.

That will bring to 18 the number of schools that have gone through the screening process put in place by the mayor's office.

The mayor says quality education is critical to keeping families in the city.

The state says five Missouri charter schools are financially stressed.

Four of the schools are in St. Louis - Carondolet Leadership Academy, Grand Center Arts Academy, South City Preparatory Academy and Jamaa Learning Center. The fifth is Pathway Academy in Kansas City.

This is the first time the state has declared schools financially stressed under a new state law that requires more supervision of the publicly funded but independently run schools. The designation is based on ending balances in two key funds.

Gov. Jay Nixon says he will sign legislation allowing charter schools to operate in more areas of Missouri but with greater oversight.

But the governor vetoed a separate education bill that would have made it easier for some students to transfer to other districts.

Nixon plans a formal signing ceremony for the charter school bill Wednesday night at the Missouri Girls State convention in Warrensburg.