Missouri’s HB 711 threatens to reshape public education without holding charter schools to the same standards as neighborhood schools. The bill opens the door to unaccountable expansion, draining resources from our local schools, and doing little to ensure students actually benefit.
Here are the facts:
It allows transfers to charter schools, without holding those schools to the same standards as public neighborhood schools, even though 8 of the 10 worst-performing schools in Missouri are charters.
It reinforces a broken testing system that rewards wealth, punishes poor schools, and sidelines educators and local communities in favor of politicians and testing companies.
It fails to address transportation gaps, leaving many students, particularly from low-income families, without access.
We need transparency, fairness, and local decision-making in public education. Urge your lawmakers to fix HB 711 and stand up for Missouri’s students, families, and educators.