Missouri Senate

Introduced

This act defines a "recovery charter high school" as a charter school for students in grades nine through twelve who are in recovery from substance use disorder or dependency. Such charter school must educate all available eligible students who are in recovery from substance use disorder, substance dependency, or co-occurring disorders such as anxiety, depression, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); must meet state requirements for awarding a high school diploma; and must support students in working a strong program of recovery.

A recovery charter high school shall enroll all pupils in the district in which it operates; nonresident pupils eligible to attend a district's school under an urban voluntary transfer program; nonresident pupils who transfer from an unaccredited district; and any nonresident pupil, who is in recovery from substance use disorder, substance dependency, or co-occurring disorders. Admission shall be limited to pupils who are in recovery from substance use disorder, substance dependency, or co-occurring disorders.

A recovery charter high school may enroll students residing in a state other than Missouri, provided such student is in recovery from substance use disorder, substance dependency, or co-occurring disorders set forth in the act. This act grants the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education the authority to enter into agreements with other states to develop a reciprocity agreement for students seeking to attend a recovery charter high school in Missouri. The out-of-state student's district of residence shall pay to the recovery charter high school an annual amount equal to 105% of the previous year's per pupil expenditure in Missouri, and the student shall not be included in Missouri's count of average daily attendance. If an out-of-state student resides in a state that is not subject to a reciprocity agreement, such student may attend a recovery charter high school provided such student pays to the school 105% of the previous year's per pupil expenditure in Missouri.

Under this act, if a recovery charter high school that has not declared itself as a local educational agency has one or more nonresident pupils, the nonresident pupils shall not be counted for purposes of determining state aid. Each school district that has one or more of its resident pupils attending such a charter school shall pay to the charter school, for each such pupil, 100% of its average per-pupil expenditure, excluding interest payments and grants.

If a recovery charter high school that has declared itself a local educational agency has one or more nonresident pupils, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall reimburse such charter school an amount set forth in the act. Upon notice of the charter school's declaration of local educational agency status, the Department shall reduce the payment made to the school district in which the charter school is located by the amount set forth in the act, and pay such amount directly to the charter school.

This act also permits charter schools to receive payments from school districts.

JOSIE BUTLER