Charter Schools

Public school enrollment is relatively flat this year, compared to last year. But it is still down from recent years, and experts say more decline is likely coming.

Community members, educators and activists in north St. Louis are protesting the opening of Believe St. Louis Academy — a charter school supported by Opportunity Trust. They say opening charter schools reduces funding from St. Louis Public Schools and leads to further teacher layoffs.

This year's Illinois veto session adjourns without renewing the state's Invest in Kids Act.

The board says it was not given proper notice in the charter school’s application process.

The school was still calling for new students to enroll on social media as recently as last week.

The document cost more than $600,000 to develop, $225,000 of which was paid by St. Louis Public Schools.

The charters are pooling resources to try to streamline special education services and cut contractor costs.

The court said charter schools do not have to spend the money on desegregation programs.

La Salle Charter Schools, a middle school in St. Louis' Carr Square neighborhood that serves a predominantly Black student population, will close at the end of the year. Leaders said low test scores caused the school to lose the confidence of its academic sponsors.

The Leadership School’s opening was delayed by multiple years, but on Monday students will begin class for the first time