Charter public school sponsorship is one of many ways that the university supports K-12 public education in the St. Louis region. Washington University currently serves as the charter public school sponsor of KIPP St. Louis.
As a sponsor, the university ensures that charter public schools are in compliance with all federal and state statutes. In addition, the university is committed to supporting student academic achievement by connecting the charter public schools it sponsors with various university resources such as the Institute for School Partnership.
A charter public school is a tuition-free independent public school that operates under a contract with a sponsoring organization.
In Missouri, charter public school sponsors include public or independent higher education institutions, designated local school district boards or the Missouri Charter Public School Commission. Missouri charter public schools are governed by independent, non-profit school boards. For more information on charter public schools, visit the Missouri Charter Public School Association.
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Sponsors are institutions or organizations that provide oversight to charter public schools. As an independent four-year university with an approved teacher education program, Washington University is eligible to serve as a charter public school sponsor in Missouri.
Sponsors are charged with ensuring that charter public schools comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations. Sponsors negotiate contracts with charter public schools that clearly articulate the rights and responsibilities of each party regarding school autonomy, expected outcomes, measures for evaluating success or failure, and performance consequences. Sponsors evaluate performance, monitor compliance, inform intervention and renewal decisions, and ensure autonomy provided under applicable law.
WashU is focusing its efforts on effectively partnering with a small number of charter public schools. Several core principles guide the university’s charter public school sponsorship decisions:
- Schools have strong local community leadership and governing boards;
- Schools demonstrate success in, or present a detailed plan for, increasing access to higher education for traditionally underserved populations;
- Schools have plans to increase high school graduation and post-secondary education completion rates in the city of St. Louis;
- Schools provide evidence of strong capacity to deliver high quality and effective instruction with measurable student achievement gains;
- Schools present detailed plans to develop sustainable, meaningful partnership opportunities with WashU;
- Schools present a plan for an educational funding model which supports long-term fiscal health.
KIPP Performance & Accountability
- 2019 KIPP STL Annual Performance Report (PDF)
- KIPP SY2019 Sponsor Evaluation Report (PDF)
- 2020 KIPP STL Report Card (PDF)
- 2021 KIPP STL Report Card (PDF)
- KIPP SY2021 Sponsor Evaluation Report (PDF)
- 2022 KIPP Annual Performance Report (PDF)
- 2023 KIPP Sponsor Evaluation Report (PDF)
- 2023 KIPP Annual Performance Report (PDF)
KIPP: WashU Charter School
Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) St. Louis is a national network of open-enrollment, college-preparatory charter public schools with a track record of preparing students in underserved communities for success in college and in life.
KIPP opened its first school in St. Louis in 2009, and currently operates six schools:
- KIPP Inspire Middle School (grades 5-8), opened in 2009
- KIPP Victory Elementary School (grades K-4), opened in 2014
- KIPP Triumph Middle School (grades 5-8), opened in 2015
- KIPP Wisdom Elementary School (grades K-4), opened in 2015
- KIPP St. Louis High School (grades 9-12), opened in 2017
- KIPP Wonder Elementary School, (grades PK-4), opened in 2019
2009
Founded
6
Schools
350
Staff
2,500
Students Enrolled
PK-12
Grade Levels
Served
15:1
Student-Staff
Ratio
100%
College
Acceptance Rate
3x
Higher College
Graduation Rate
Guidance on Political, Campaign and Lobbying Activity
Learn about hosting government officials and staff, candidates and campaign representatives, and other political guests.
This guidance assists members of the university community in understanding restrictions on lobbying and campaign activity and requirements for hosting events on campus that involve elected officials or political candidates in either their campaign or official government capacities.
Engaging with Policymakers
Faculty and staff who wish to or anticipate engaging with policymakers in an official capacity should inform the Government Relations team in advance. By law, those interactions must be included in quarterly reporting the university is required to file. WashU’s Government Relations team can also offer guidance on how to effectively engage with elected officials or agency leadership, support written testimony production and witness preparations, and – if necessary – accompany faculty or staff in meetings with policymakers and their staff.