Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Kansas City Charter School in Battle to Stay Open against State • Missouri Independent

A Kansas City charter school for at-risk students has won a significant legal battle to remain open after the state attempted to revoke its charter. The Genesis School in Kansas City faced closure last year due to poor performance, but a recent ruling from the Missouri western district court of appeals has allowed the school to continue operating.

The State Board of Education and the Missouri Charter Public School Commission had pulled the charter of Genesis School citing low performance scores. However, the appeals court decision has overturned this decision, stating that a charter school has the right to judicial review if the state tries to shut it down.

Mallory McGowin, spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, mentioned that the department is reviewing the ruling for potential procedural changes. Despite this, the State Board of Education will continue to make decisions regarding charters.

Genesis School, a K-8 school focusing on high-risk students, had faced challenges with low performance scores. However, the school’s executive director, Kevin Foster, expressed relief at the court’s decision to allow them to remain open. Foster highlighted the school’s success in teaching students with lower knowledge bases and emphasized the importance of serving the at-risk population.

The school’s charter will be up for renewal in 2025, and Foster hopes to find a sponsor to continue supporting Genesis School. The legal battle has shed light on the challenges faced by charter schools serving high-risk students and the need for a more thoughtful approach to accountability standards in education.