Columbia representative wants voters to decide on local charter school
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Columbia state representative says he wants to let Boone County voters to decide on whether a charter school should be established here.
Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) said this week that he’s pushing for a law that would let local voters decide whether a charter school can be set up in their district, as part of his pre-filed bill, HB 297.
This is in response to SB 727 which was passed by the Missouri House in April and went into effect Aug. 28. The law adds school districts in Boone County to the list of districts where a charter school could be operated.
I'm excited to announce that I've pre-filed several important bills today:
— David Tyson Smith (@dts4mo) December 2, 2024
Clamping Down on Catalytic Converter Theft
Prohibiting Charter Schools from Columbia.
Banning AR-15 Purchases for Teenagers
As always I appreciate your support! pic.twitter.com/AYGZjbr7o3
If passed, Smith's change would require a charter school's proposal to first be approved by voters of the school district before establishing a school. The proposal would have to be available for public election and also before July 1 of the charter's proposed school year.
Boone County public school administrators signed a joint letter asking Gov. Mike Parson to veto the SB 727.
In the letter, administrators argue that the addition of a charter school would drain resources from public schools in the area and claim that SB 727 violates the Missouri Constitution by targeting Boone County.
"Columbia Public Schools are accredited, they're doing well, but they can't take the hit from incoming charter schools because they suck money away," Smith said, "we're looking at about $15 million being pulled from Columbia Public Schools if charter schools open."
While the official bill does not call out Boone County by name, a rule in it mentions that "charter schools may be operated only: In a school district located within a county with 32 more than one hundred fifty thousand but fewer than two 33 hundred thousand inhabitants."
According to census data, Boone County is the only county in the state that matches this description.
Noah Devine, the executive director of the Missouri Charter Public School Association, argues that charter schools give parents access to a high-quality education that may cater to more specific student meets. He adds that charter schools are set up for high accountability with their sponsors and the community, so if a charter school is deemed unsuccessful, it is required to close.
"At the end of the day, voters already have a say in if a public charter school is going to happen or not," Devine said, "If no families want to go to one, it won't happen, they're community-based schools in that way."
Smith agrees that there are successful charter school programs in St. Louis. However, the public schools in the city are not the same quality as in Boone County. Smith argues that if added to Boone County, charter schools would take resources from qualified and accredited schools.
"We've got good schools in Columbia, we don't need charter schools because then it's going to leave people behind and leave kids behind and you're going to be left with an education desert," Smith said.
According to MCPSA, Boone County will most likely not see a charter school until 2026 at the earliest.
To start a charter school, community members first come together as a board in support of a charter school and find a sponsor to back them. Once the sponsor proves to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that there is a community need for a school, DESE will review the application to confirm the school will follow state regulations. Then a charter school can open.
Devine found that some people in Boone County have shown interest, but there have been no plans for a board coming together yet. However, Devine says the group is happy to work with Columbia Public Schools if the time comes.
