Missouri education board approves first charter school in Columbia over local opposition

By: Annelise Hanshaw

Outlets: Missouri Independent

Published: April 14, 2026

Words: 817

Last Updated: 2 months, 2 weeks ago

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The Missouri State Board of Education approved Frontier STEM Academy’s charter school application Tuesday, with one board member decrying the addition of charter schools in Columbia as “problematic.”

The vote, which was opposed by Columbia Public Schools, opens the door for the first charter school in Missouri outside of the St. Louis and Kansas City area.

“Creating an entirely new school in a high-performing school system seems financially irresponsible,” said Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge, a board member …

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