State asks judge to dismiss CPS lawsuit over charter schools

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The state of Missouri this week asked a Cole County judge to dismiss a case filed by Columbia Public Schools over charter school applications.

The state filed its motion to dismiss on Tuesday and asked the judge to hold all proceedings in the case until a ruling is reached on the motion. A judge was assigned to the case on Wednesday and a hearing has been scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 2 where a motion to intervene by the Missouri Charter Public School Association will be heard, according to court filings.

CPS filed a lawsuit last month, claiming the establishment of charter schools in Boone County is unconstitutional.

It focuses on one of two groups that want to create a Boone County charter school -- Frontier. The Columbia Board of Education has written to the state board opposing Frontier, previous reporting shows.

Senate Bill 727 was passed in May 2024 and says charter schools may be operated only in counties "between 150,000 and 200,000 inhabitants."