Hailey
Columbia Public Schools (CPS) has filed a lawsuit against the state of Missouri in an attempt to block the establishment of a charter school in Boone County. The lawsuit, filed on December 15, 2025, challenges a law passed in 2024 that allows for the opening of charter schools in the county.
CPS leaders argue that the law is unconstitutional and unfairly targets only Boone County without the proper legal procedures. This legal action has sparked a debate about school choice, local control, and the financial impact of charter schools on public education.
What Is Happening in Boone County?
In 2024, Missouri lawmakers passed a law that allows charter schools to open in Boone County, where Columbia is located. This law, however, was passed without proper public notice, which is a requirement under the Missouri Constitution for laws that affect specific local areas.
Columbia Public Schools believes that the law was designed specifically for Boone County, and therefore, it should have followed the legal steps for local or special laws.
The lawsuit aims to block this law and prevent any new charter schools, such as the proposed Frontier STEM Elementary School, from opening.
Why Is Columbia Public Schools Opposing This Law?
CPS argues that this new charter law would harm the district’s finances and affect the quality of education for local students. According to CPS leaders, if the charter school is approved, it could cost the district millions of dollars in lost funding.
CPS Superintendent Jeff Klein explained that the charter school could take away up to $9 million annually from the district. The lawsuit claims that this could lead to a decline in resources for the current public schools that serve the majority of students in Columbia.
Despite the opposition, Columbia Public Schools says they are not against school choice in general. The district does support private and parochial schools and offers scholarships for families who need financial help.
However, they believe that charter schools are not a solution that benefits everyone in the community.
The Frontier Charter School Proposal
The charter school under discussion is the Frontier STEM Elementary School, which would focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.
If approved, the school would open in 2026 and serve children from pre-kindergarten through second grade, with plans to expand to fifth grade by its fifth year.
Frontier Schools, which already operates four schools in Kansas City, submitted the application to the Missouri State Board of Education.
The application has raised concerns among CPS leaders who believe that the school has not demonstrated enough community support. They argue that the Frontier proposal is simply a “cut-and-paste” plan that lacks specific details about how it would serve the needs of Boone County’s students. Additionally, CPS points out that the proposed charter school’s performance goals seem too focused on generic achievement standards, without enough consideration for the local community’s needs.
Financial Impact on Columbia Public Schools
One of the major concerns of CPS is the financial strain that opening a charter school in Boone County would cause.
Superintendent Jeff Klein explained that the district could lose $4 million in the first year alone, with the potential for a $9 million loss annually if the charter school meets its enrollment targets. This would be a significant blow to a district with a $433 million annual budget.
Klein also mentioned that while the reduction in student numbers would not directly change the district’s costs, it would still have a negative impact on the overall quality of education.
Community Reaction and the Future
Despite the legal battle, the issue remains divisive in the community. CPS leaders argue that the charter school plan has not been properly discussed with the public, and they believe that local citizens should have the opportunity to vote on whether a charter school should be established in Boone County.
On the other hand, Frontier Schools claims that they will engage with the community more directly after the application is approved, with plans to hold meetings and gather local support.
The Columbia Public Schools lawsuit against the state of Missouri is a significant legal and educational battle.
At the heart of the dispute is the question of whether charter schools should be allowed to expand in Boone County and whether the law allowing them to do so was passed constitutionally.
While CPS argues that the law unfairly targets their district and threatens public education funding, Frontier Schools insists that their proposal offers an important educational choice for the community.
The outcome of this lawsuit will likely have a lasting impact on the future of charter schools in Missouri.