MORE CHARTER SCHOOLS WILL NOT IMPROVE STUDENT PERFORMANCE
Several new charter schools to be considered by State Board on March 22

St. Louis – The expansion of charter schools in St. Louis is again being contemplated at both the state and local level. The State Board of Education is expected to vote next Thursday, March 22, on establishing several new charter schools for St. Louis. In addition, recently introduced legislation (Senate Bill 564) would grant the Mayor of St. Louis the ability to sponsor additional charter schools.

“We do not need additional low-performing charter schools in St. Louis,” said Superintendent Diana Bourisaw. “Instead, we need to work together as a community to continue the improvements that are already underway in the St. Louis Public Schools.”

MAP test results from past years reveal that students in St. Louis Public Schools consistently outperform students in charter schools in all subjects and at all grade levels.

“We are already a district of choice,” said Bourisaw. “We have over 5,000 students who currently attend charter schools. Unfortunately, those students are not performing at the level of our SLPS students. In addition, 8,000 SLPS students attend county schools, and 9,000 are enrolled in our popular magnet programs.”

The members of the St. Louis Board of Education are unanimous in their opposition to the expansion of charter schools in the City of St. Louis. The Board-approved legislative package for this session calls for a moratorium on charter schools until student performance in those schools improves. Further, the Board believes charter schools should be held to the same accreditation standards as public school districts.