State Board of Education approves application for Boone County charter school
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri State Board of Education voted 5-1 on Tuesday to approve an application for a Columbia charter school.
The application was refiled by Frontier last week for a STEM charter school in Columbia. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education recommended the board authorize the Frontier STEM school for pre-K through fifth grade to operate for five years, starting in fall 2027.
Democrat Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge voted against the application.
Frontier runs a 1,595-student school in Kansas City.
Columbia Public Schools filed a lawsuit in December, claiming the establishment of charter schools is unconstitutional and asked the state board to oppose Frontier. The lawsuit was paused after Saint Louis University rescinded its application. An entry of appearance was last filed on March 13.
SLU remains the sponsor of the Columbia charter school.
Frontier Superintendent Ugur Demircan said the school was "excited to join the Columbia community."
"Frontier Schools is committed to expanding high-quality educational opportunities through a proven, student-centered model that emphasizes academic excellence, innovation, and strong support for every learner," Demircan said in a written statement. "We look forward to partnering with local families to prepare students for success in college, career, and life."
Missouri charter schools follow the same funding formula as public school districts, with state funding being based on daily student attendance and local tax dollars.
Supporters of charter schools argue they give families a choice in their children's education, particularly in underperforming districts.
Opponents argue that charter schools divert public funding from traditional districts, weakening well-performing schools and limiting resources for underperforming ones that need additional support.
CPS argued the state's Republican-led legislature purposely targeted Boone County for the expansion of charter schools through Senate Bill 727, which was signed by Gov. Mike Parson in May 2024.
SB 727 states that charter schools can be operated in counties "between 150,000 and 200,000 inhabitants." While the bill does not call out Boone County by name, census data finds that Boone County is the only county in the state that falls between these guidelines.
In a letter to the State Board of Education dated April 6, the Columbia Board of Education urged the State Board of Education to vote against the approval of Frontier Charter Schools.
The letter calls out the targeted nature of SB 272 and questions the need and motivations of a charter school in the area.
"[Frontier's] application lacks a demonstrated need in our region, offers misleading claims, relies on erroneous assumptions, and fails to adhere to governing statutes," according to the letter.
They argue that Frontier claims to enroll on a first-come, first-served or lottery basis instead of focusing on underperforming communities and students. This contradicts their claim that a charter school is needed in Boone County to bridge the gap in student achievement.
CPS also questions Frontier's special education services. CPS claims Frontier's existing schools had an average 6% enrollment of students receiving special education services. CPS had an average of a little over 12%.
The letter also mentions a lack of local voices in the Frontier's application. CPS claims that Frontier did not notify its board of education and did not provide evidence of interest in the school from the community, both requirements in the application.
"This is not local interest. This is charter school operators taking advantage of money that is available from the federal government," according to the letter.
