Missouri education leaders have approved plans for the state's first charter school outside of St. Louis or Kansas City.
The St. Louis Post Dispatch reports the Leadership School intends to open with for 2021-22 in Normandy, Mo. A site for the school has not been identified; initial plans are to have 125 students in kindergarten through second grade.
Members of the Missouri school board approved the charter school’s application after expressing frustration with their lack of power to deny the school as long as it meets state requirements
Some board members say they have been troubled by opposition from the Normandy community, including mayors and other elected officials.
But Kimberly Townsend, executive director of the Leadership School, says families in Normandy deserve a choice in public schools after decades of low performance. Her goal is “to try to effect change where it is most needed,” with a personalized learning approach focused on leadership development.
Normandy schools have not been fully accredited for the last decade. Their test scores rank lowest in the state, with 15% of students proficient in English and 7% proficient in math in 2019.
