State Board of Education to discuss Frontier STEM charter school application

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri State Board of Education is set to meet Tuesday morning to discuss the potential approval of the charter school application in Columbia.

The board is set to meet at 9 a.m. in the state board room at 205 Jefferson Street in Jefferson City.

The state board will discuss the application that 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 to operate for five years, starting Fall 2027.

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 The lawsuit was paused after Saint Louis University rescinded its application.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.   

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.