Vol. 41, No. 27
April 6, 2007
CONTACT: JIM MORRIS |
State Education Officials Issue “Questions-and-Answers”
About the St. Louis Public Schools
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education today issued a detailed list of questions and answers about the St. Louis Public Schools’ impending loss of accreditation and its impact on students, families and neighboring school districts.
The State Board of Education voted last month (March 22) to classify the St. Louis Public Schools as “unaccredited,” with an effective date of June 15, 2007. Under state law, St. Louis students may have the opportunity to transfer to an accredited district in St. Louis County, at the expense of the St. Louis district.
State education officials compiled the following information from questions they have received to date from parents, legislators and school officials.
Questions & Answers about the Status of the St. Louis Public Schools
and Student-Transfer Issues
1. Can the St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) appeal the State Board of Education’s decision to classify the district as unaccredited? How long will an appeal take? Will an appeal change the date for the loss of accreditation?
The St. Louis Board of Education has 30 days from the date of the State Board of Education’s decision (March 22) to appeal to the commissioner of education. There is no prescribed time for a response. It is unknown whether an appeal might affect the June 15 date for the district to become unaccredited.
2. There have been reports that various parties may file lawsuits to challenge the state’s actions regarding the SLPS. Would such action change any of the events slated for June 15?
Litigation is always possible. We will not speculate about what impact a lawsuit might have on the future course of events.
3. There are many questions about the ability of SLPS students to transfer to other districts when the district becomes unaccredited. Where can they go? When? Will a single agency handle the transfer requests?
State law (Section 167.131) gives students in an unaccredited district the opportunity to transfer to an accredited district in the same or an adjoining county. Accredited districts, however, have the authority to accept or reject non-resident students based on their own policies and on their capacity. For SLPS students, the opportunity to transfer does not exist until after June 15, 2007 – and, therefore, not until the 2007-08 academic year.
Each school district in St. Louis County must decide whether it will accept transfer students from the St. Louis Public Schools (in addition to any students the district may now be serving through the VICC program), and how many additional students it will accept.
State education officials are not aware of any efforts to create a “clearinghouse” to deal with these issues. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education does not plan to assume this function.
4. Who will be eligible to transfer from the SLPS? Students in private and parochial schools? Charter schools? Must they enroll in the SLPS first?
The law (Section 167.131) states that any resident student in an unaccredited school district has the opportunity to transfer at that district’s expense to an accredited district. (Emphasis added.) In the case of the St. Louis Public Schools, “resident students” include those presently enrolled in a public, private, parochial, charter or home school.
Although it is not mandatory that students formally enroll in the school district before they could transfer, the SLPS has the authority to establish a process for verifying the residency of students who seek to transfer out of the district.
Students who reside in St. Louis County and currently attend a magnet school in
St. Louis may not attend a different St. Louis County school district after the SLPS is unaccredited.
5. Who is responsible for payment of tuition for St. Louis students who transfer to accredited school districts?
According to state law (Section 167.131.1), the St. Louis Public Schools will be responsible for such tuition payments. The SLPS also may be responsible for the cost of transportation for transfer students, consistent with the provisions of Section 167.241, RSMo.
6. What is the tuition rate for students attending an accredited district?
Each school district that accepts transfer students from an unaccredited school district may charge its current tuition rate, according to the provisions of Section 167.131.2, RSMo. The tuition rate may vary according to the students’ grade levels.
7. Who determines how transportation will be provided for St. Louis students who transfer to accredited schools?
Under Section 167.131, the district of residence (St. Louis) must designate a district or districts to which transportation will be provided at no cost for students who elect to transfer. The statute does not limit the number of students who may be transported.
St. Louis must designate at least one accredited district to which it will provide transportation, but it may designate more than one.
8. Does the loss of accreditation by the SLPS affect compliance with the desegregation settlement agreement?
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is not in a position to comment about compliance with the settlement agreement. Guidance on this question should come from the parties’ own legal counsel.
9. What happens if there are financial shortfalls in the SLPS?
Budget issues that may occur within the St. Louis Public Schools will remain the responsibility of the governing body of the district which is in place at any point in time. State funds made available to the SLPS are determined by state appropriation and distributed according to the provisions of state law.
10. What impact does the reclassification of the St. Louis Public Schools have on agreements between school districts in St. Louis County and the Voluntary Interdistrict Choice Corporation (VICC)?
The role of the VICC is a function of the desegregation settlement agreement. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is not in a position to comment about compliance issues under that agreement. Guidance on this question should come from the parties’ own legal counsel.
11. Are St. Louis County school districts required to make space available for SLPS transfer students up to the class-size standards (minimum or desirable) set by the state?
Each school district in St. Louis County must decide whether it will accept transfer students from the St. Louis Public Schools (in addition to any students the district may now be serving through the VICC program), and how many additional students it will accept. Each St. Louis County district may use its own criteria to determine what its capacity is to accept transfer students in various grade levels.
12. Could a county district establish a “satellite” location in the city for purposes of accepting transfer students from the city?
State law (Section 177.091.3) provides that a board of education may acquire additional grounds when needed for school purposes. If the directors of both school districts involved agree, such grounds may be located outside of the boundaries of the district and operated for school purposes.
13. In light of possible appeals and legal challenges, what is the likelihood that the SLPS will remain unaccredited during 2007-08?
The Department will not speculate about what impact a lawsuit might have on the future course of events.
14. If the SLPS remains unaccredited for 2007-08, when will it be reviewed for possible reclassification?
Review of the classification of the St. Louis Public Schools will be based upon academic progress within the district. District officials also may request a re-review of the district’s status at any time they believe it may qualify for provisionally accredited or accredited status.
15. Will summer school be required for all under-performing students in the St. Louis Public Schools this year?
No.
16. Will the SLPS be required to retain students who are performing below grade level in their current grades for the upcoming school year?
No.
17. Do parents have to wait until June 15 to contact St. Louis County school districts about possible student transfers?
No.
18. Will students be able to transfer to non-public schools at the expense of the SLPS?
No.