Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Charter Schools Program Office

Charter Schools are autonomous public schools, which receive the same funding from the same sources as other public schools. Charter schools are not private schools. Charter schools do not charge tuition. Charter schools are operated by teachers, parents and community groups, and are able to make site based decisions concerning their curriculum, structure and emphasis. Charter schools are non-sectarian, non religious and do not discriminate in their admissions policies.

Any student residing in the Kansas City Missouri School District or the St. Louis Public School District may choose to attend a charter school in the city in which they reside. There is no cost to parents for sending their children to a charter school.

There are currently 27 Charter School operating in the Kansas City and St. Louis area.