Columbia Public Schools sues Missouri over charter schools

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) — Columbia Public Schools held a news conference Monday after filing a lawsuit saying the establishment of charter schools in Boone County is unconstitutional.

The district sued state officials on Monday, alleging that a law allowing charter schools to operate in Boone County is unconstitutional. The lawsuit names the state attorney general and the Missouri State Board of Education.

The lawsuit focuses on one of two groups that want to create a Boone County charter school — Frontier. The Columbia Board of Education has written to the state board opposing Frontier, Columbia board member Suzette Waters said.

Frontier has an application in for its school, while Job Point does not, Waters said.

She said Frontier plans to open a selective school, even though charter schools are supposed to be open to all.

Waters also said the charter school took no local public input and did not plan to even have offices in Boone County.

CPS leaders said the Columbia Board of Education unanimously approved of the lawsuit.

Watch the news conference in full in the player.

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