In St. Louis, charter groups are blocked from buying empty schools

The Special Administrative Board (SAB) of theSt. Louis Public Schools prohibits buyers of shuttered public schools from using them for "a primary, elementary or secondary school of any kind providing instruction for any grades kindergarten through twelfth"--for 100 years. Charter-school advocates say that so-called deed restriction--which also bars medical clinics, adult entertainment venues and taverns from taking over city school properties--far exceeds efforts by other cities to block charter schools' growth. To read The St. Louis Post-Dispatch article, click here. RELATED: The Los Angeles Unified School District is required to provide space for charter schools, but many have been operating out of hotels and sharing campuses with traditional schools for years as unused campuses remain closed. To read The Los Angeles Times article, click here.