Cole County Circuit Court Judge Emily Fretwell upheld a 2024 law allowing charter public schools to open in Boone County, ruling that the legislation does not violate the Missouri Constitution’s prohibition on special laws.
Fretwell issued the 11-page ruling Oct. 29 in Columbia Public Schools v. State of Missouri, rejecting a challenge from the school district that argued lawmakers improperly singled out Boone County when expanding charter school access.
The school district argued the legislature had no sufficient basis for giving Boone County different treatment from other Missouri counties. Fretwell disagreed, pointing to several distinctions, including Boone County’s population, educational achievement gaps, concentration of college-educated residents and the presence of the University of Missouri.
The 11-page decision also addressed a separate provision of the law exempting Boone County from a 2022 charter school funding measure. Fretwell determined lawmakers could reasonably distinguish between established charter school markets and Boone County, where charter schools are just beginning to enter the education landscape.
Columbia Public Schools has said it intends to appeal. District spokesperson Michelle Baumstark maintained that the legislation raises questions about equal treatment under the law, the future of public education and the use of taxpayer dollars.
The decision is a significant step for Frontier Schools, which has received approval to establish a charter school in Columbia. The school is expected to open in fall 2027 and would be the first charter school in Boone County under the expanded authorization structure.
The Missouri Charter Public School Association supported the legislation throughout the litigation, filing an amicus brief in September. Executive Director Noah Devine welcomed the ruling, arguing that additional school options could help address differences in academic outcomes among Columbia students.
Frontier’s existing schools have reported proficiency rates for low-income and other state-identified student groups more than 20 percentage points above statewide averages for comparable students. The association also pointed to rankings from Saint Louis University’s PRiME Center, which placed Frontier School of Innovation–Middle first in Missouri for three-year growth in both English language arts and mathematics.
Charter schools have traditionally operated in Kansas City and St. Louis, as well as certain unaccredited districts and accredited districts where local school boards approve them. The 2024 law gives approved independent sponsors the ability to authorize charter schools in Boone County.
A separate lawsuit challenging the State Board of Education’s process for approving Frontier’s application is still pending, meaning the school’s planned opening remains subject to additional litigation.
Jake Kroesen serves as the Editor of the Missouri Times. He hails from Independence, Missouri and enjoys all things Jackson County. A graduate of UCM, he obtained his degree in Political Science.
Discover more from The Missouri Times
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
