Charter public schools are coming to Boone County — and Columbia Public Schools is challenging the law that made it possible.

In this episode of One Good Idea, host Peter Franzen talks with Noah Devine, Executive Director of the Missouri Charter Public School Association, and attorney Alexandra Cossette about Missouri's charter school law, how charter schools are authorized and funded, and the legal fight surrounding Frontier STEM Academy, which plans to open in Columbia in 2027.

We start with the basics: What makes a charter school a public school? Who oversees it? How does funding work? Then we turn to Senate Bill 727, the lawsuit challenging charter expansion in Boone County, and a larger question: Who should ultimately decide whether a community needs another public school option?

What if a student who appears unmotivated is actually overwhelmed?

Dr. Tiffany Green, founder of Uprooted Academy, joins One Good Idea to talk about the roles social capital, confidence and even trauma can play in whether students pursue the opportunities available to them.

Tiffany also explains why she sees artificial intelligence as an “equity bridge builder.” Uprooted Academy uses AI to personalize college and career guidance, help students find opportunities they might otherwise miss, and support counselors managing large caseloads.

But Tiffany is also clear about the limits of technology: “The best solution for kids is a human.”

Peter and Tiffany explore what AI can do, what it can't replace, and how schools can help more students develop the confidence and support they need to pursue a future filled with choices.

Teacher shortages. Educator burnout. Artificial intelligence. Gen Z.

Education is changing, and so are the people entering the teaching profession.

In this episode of One Good Idea, Peter Franzen sits down with Julie Gronquist, Executive Director of Teach For America Missouri, to discuss how today's teachers are preparing for the classroom, what motivates the next generation of educators, and how schools can create environments where both teachers and students thrive.

Topics include:

• Teacher shortages and educator burnout
• What Gen Z expects from the workplace
• AI in the classroom
• Building stronger school communities
• Preparing students for an uncertain future
• Why relationships still matter most in education

Whether you're a parent, educator, policymaker, or simply interested in the future of education, this conversation offers thoughtful insights into where schools may be headed next.

In this episode of One Good Idea, host Peter Franzen talks with Ashley Soifer, co-founder of the National Microschooling Center, about one of the fastest-growing movements in education: microschools.

Microschools are small, relationship-based learning environments designed to meet students where they are. While they may look different from one community to another, they share a common goal—creating flexible, personalized learning experiences for children and families.

Peter and Ashley discuss:

• What a microschool is (and why there isn't one strict definition)
• How microschools grew from homeschooling, learning pods, and innovative community models
• Why more families are choosing microschools over traditional options
• The rise of high school microschools and career-connected learning
• How microschools serve rural communities and students with unique learning needs
• The challenges founders face navigating regulations and policy barriers
• Why Ashley believes the future of education is increasingly personalized

Whether you're a parent exploring educational options, an educator interested in innovation, or simply curious about how learning is evolving, this conversation offers an inside look at a movement reshaping education across America.

Learn more about the National Microschooling Center: https://microschoolingcenter.org

One Good Idea is produced by the Children's Education Alliance of Missouri (CEAM).

What does it take to help children truly love reading?

In this episode of One Good Idea, Peter sits down with educator and literacy advocate Julius Anthony to discuss the powerful connection between literacy, representation, and student success.

Julius shares the story behind the creation of the St. Louis Black Authors of Children’s Literature and the innovative Believe Literacy Labs—immersive reading spaces designed to help children see themselves reflected in books, build confidence, and experience joy in learning.

The conversation explores:

• Why third grade reading matters so much
• The literacy crisis facing Missouri students
• The importance of culturally responsive children’s literature
• How school environments shape learning and identity
• The design and impact of the Believe Literacy Labs
• What happens when children finally feel “at home” in a reading space

This episode is a thoughtful and hopeful conversation about what schools can become when we center humanity, culture, and belonging in the learning process.

🎧 Listen now and discover one good idea that’s changing literacy outcomes for children across St. Louis and beyond.

What if every school in Missouri received a simple A–F grade—just like a student report card?

That idea is gaining real momentum, and it could fundamentally change how families understand school performance.

In this episode, host Peter Franzen sits down with Patricia Levesque, Executive Director of ExcelinEd—the national education reform organization founded by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. With nearly 30 years of experience, Patricia helped design and implement Florida’s landmark A–F grading system.

They discuss:

• What A–F School Report Cards are (and what they’re not)
• How Florida went from a bottom-10 state in student performance to a top-10 state—and what Missouri can learn
• Why simple letter grades drive accountability, media attention, and real improvement
• How to respond to critics who say the system oversimplifies school performance
• What Missouri policymakers need to get right as they consider codifying Governor Kehoe’s executive order into law

If you care about transparency, accountability, and better outcomes for Missouri students, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

One Good Idea is produced by the Children’s Education Alliance of Missouri (CEAM).