JEFFERSON CITY — A state-sponsored scholarship program that pays more than $6,000 toward education expenses for some private school or home-school students could expand under proposals making their way through the state Legislature.
On Monday, the House Special Committee on Education Reform heard four measures that would expand the state’s private school voucher program, . The program is administered by the state treasurer’s office and funded by private contributions. Contributors get a tax credit equal to their contribution amount.
Lawmakers in both the House and the Senate want to increase the pot of money available for scholarships, loosen income requirements, remove all geographic restrictions and increase the scholarship amount for some students.
Under current law, MOScholars scholarships are only available to students who have an individualized education program or who qualify for free and reduced-priced lunch. Their availability is also limited to certain parts of the state, including ºüÀêÊÓƵ and the counties of ºüÀêÊÓƵ, St. Charles and Jefferson. They’re also available to students in the Kansas City and Springfield metro areas and Columbia.
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Rep. Phil Christofanelli, R-St. Peters, sponsored the original proposal that became law in 2021 and led to the creation of MOScholars, which launched for the 2022-23 school year.
Chistofanelli said that the program’s current geographic restrictions were the result of political compromise needed to get enough votes for approval by the Legislature.
“I think where we want to go is where many other states have gone in providing a universal school choice option for every Missouri student that wants to avail themselves to one,†he said.
Christofanelli and Rep. Doug Richey, R-Excelsior Springs, who are both running for state Senate seats this year, are sponsoring identical measures that would dramatically expand the availability of scholarships.
“Both the east and west side of the state have similar interest in this,†Richey said.
Under the measures, the state could give out up to $75 million in tax credits for MOScholars contributions, up from the current cap of $50 million. Tax credits would also be refundable. Students across the state would be able to apply for scholarships, and families from higher income brackets could apply.
Under current law, a family of four applying for a scholarship could make no more than $111,000, which is 200% of the income standard for free and reduced-price lunch. The measures would increase the income cap for a family of four to $222,000.
A Senate committee is scheduled Tuesday to hear nearly identical proposals sponsored by Sens. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, and Curtis Trent, R-Springfield, who chairs the committee.
The House committee on Monday also heard two simpler proposals: one that would lift the program’s geographic restrictions and another that would remove a requirement to attend public school for one semester before applying for a scholarship.
At the hearing, several school choice advocates spoke in favor expanding MOScholars.
Jordan Zakery, regional advocacy director for , a school choice advocacy organization, said that public, private, charter and home schools are all great options.
“Giving students more opportunities only make things better,†he said.
Several advocates and moms who home-school their children opposed the program expansion.
Danielle Dent-Breen, president of , said “the school choice agenda ... is misguided at best, and it’s actually dangerous at worst.â€
“In each state that has gone before us, we’ve seen these programs that were initially voluntary quickly devolve into calls and demands for more regulation on all home-schoolers,†she said.
Public school education advocates also lodged their opposition at Wednesday’s hearing.
“Further expansion of vouchers in Missouri is detrimental to the public school system, which is severely underfunded,†said Nancy Copenhaver speaking for the .
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