JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri Senate on Monday afternoon began debate on a plan that would expand a school voucher program statewide.
Shortly before 8 p.m., after more than three hours of discussion, the Senate adjourned for the day without taking a vote on the legislation.
The MOScholars program, originally approved in 2021 to serve qualifying students in charter counties and cities of 30,000 residents or more, would serve students across the state under the Senate plan, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Koenig, R-Manchester.
The MOScholars program provides more than $6,000 annually to families to cover qualifying education expenses.
A student from a family of four earning 200% of the limit for receiving free and reduced lunch may currently participate in the MOScholars program.
Under the plan, income limits would be increased: a student whose family earns 300% of the free-and-reduced lunch limit would be eligible under the measure.
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That means a household of four earning $111,000 per year is currently eligible; that would increase to $166,500 under the bill.
A previous version of the measure would’ve allowed a family of four earning up to $222,000 to participate.
Students would receive scholarships under the measure at different times based on their personal circumstances: students who previously received a scholarship would be first, followed by their siblings.
Then, students with individualized educational plans, or IEPs, or who have dyslexia, would receive scholarships.
Next in line would be students who qualify for free lunch living in an unaccredited or provisionally accredited school district and then students who qualify for reduced-price lunch in those districts.
After that, students who qualify for free lunch anywhere, and then students who may receive reduced-priced lunch anywhere, may receive scholarships.
Children of active-duty members of the military who are enrolling in a Missouri school for the first time would go next, and then everyone else.
The measure would also bar students who are in the United States illegally from participating in the program.
Most of the students in the program have attended private religious schools.
Instead of a direct state appropriation, the 2021 legislation created Educational Assistance Organizations that distribute scholarships to students.
The assistance organizations receive contributions from donors, who then are able to claim a tax credit.
The legislation would also allow public charter schools in Boone County independent of a public school district.
Currently, there are charters operating in the city of ºüÀêÊÓƵ and Kansas City, as well as one charter school in the Normandy School District.
Any sponsor may open a charter school in ºüÀêÊÓƵ or Kansas City, as well as in districts such as Normandy that have been provisionally accredited for several years.
But to open anywhere else, the charter school under current law would need to be sponsored by the school district.
The legislation is .
To monitor Senate debate, go to .