Missouri lawmakers recently passed a bill to expand private school scholarships statewide after extensive compromises were made, including a commitment to spend more on public schools. The legislation would offer up to $6,375 per child for expenses such as tuition, textbooks, tutoring, transportation, extracurriculars, and summer school. Advocates who have been working to expand access to charter schools, virtual schools, and private schools see this bill as a significant victory, although concerns about diverting resources from traditional public schools have been bipartisan.
The bill expands the Missouri Empowerment Scholarships Accounts, which low-income families can draw from, with funding coming from private donors who receive tax credits in return. The current scholarship program is limited to residents of the state’s largest cities and families earning less than 200% of the federal poverty level. The new bill would raise the cap to 300% of the poverty level, or $93,600 for a family of four. Public school students with individualized education plans would also receive additional scholarship money under the new law, which includes an increase in the cap on tax credits for private donations.
To garner support from lawmakers concerned with traditional public schools, the bill includes provisions to raise minimum teacher salaries to $40,000 per year and adjusts the state’s formula for funding public schools. This adjustment is expected to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars more for public education over time. However, some House Democrats cautioned that the state may not have enough revenue in the future to fulfill the promised funding increase for public schools. House Democratic Minority Leader Crystal Quade expressed concerns about the state’s ability to provide the significant influx of funding pledged through the bill.
The bill also includes provisions to allow charter schools in Boone County and requires public votes to approve a school district’s transition to four-day school weeks. It also offers incentives for schools that maintain five-day weeks. The issue of “school choice” has divided lawmakers in Missouri, with GOP legislators from rural districts opposing charter schools due to concerns about diverting students from traditional public schools. Some Democrats advocate for more options for students in underperforming urban schools. Additionally, some conservatives pushed back against regulations for homeschoolers and private schools, with one activist distributing brownies before the vote as a symbol of the unwanted provisions that could ruin an otherwise positive measure.
Overall, the expansion of private school scholarships in Missouri represents a significant victory for advocates of school choice and parents seeking more control over their children’s education. However, concerns about the potential impact on traditional public schools and the state’s ability to provide the promised funding remain. The bill’s passage required extensive compromises and adjustments to gain support from lawmakers focused on public education, and its provisions for raising teacher salaries and funding public schools are seen as positive steps. The legislation aims to increase access to charter schools, virtual schools, and private schools statewide and represents a significant shift in educational policy in Missouri.
