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School Standing Loss Creates Academic Bedfellows

A recent study from University of Missouri-St. Louis may have Kansas City applications as the local school district prepares to lose its  accreditation in January. The survey finds how many students will leave the unaccredited system.

The October-November survey of some 600 St. Louis households finds nearly one-third of public school students would leave that  district if they could transfer to better-performing districts. State law lets them but the law is being contested.

Kansas City students will also have the option to transfer to adjoining districts. The manner and terms of payments per pupil moving to other districts is in dispute.

A group of districts in Greater St. Louis say such a huge number of transfers would bankrupt St. Louis Schools. The main district has to pay those that take students. It has to pay transportation as well for students moving to schools in the same or an adjoining county.

The law prompted a lawsuit. The school district in suburban Clayton sought out the survey as part of its defense.

A recent study from University of Missouri-St. Louis may have Kansas City applications as the local school district prepares to lose its accreditation in January.

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