(The Lion) — The Missouri Legislature approved a $53 billion budget plan on Friday that includes the governor’s $50 million proposal for the state’s school choice program.
It will mark the first time Missouri has appropriated funds for the tax-credit-based scholarship program, MOScholars, which currently awards scholarships worth up to around $6,500 to eligible students for educational expenses, including private school tuition.
School choice advocate Corey DeAngelis told The Lion it’s a “great step,” while urging lawmakers to go further.
“This funding for school choice will be a lifeline for Missouri families seeking better education opportunities for their children,” DeAngelis said. “It’s a great step in the right direction, but it’s not enough. Sixteen other Republican-led states have already passed universal school choice policies in the past four years, leaving Missouri in the dust.
“Missouri lawmakers should celebrate this win and use it as momentum to finally unleash education freedom for all families in the state. No more picking winners and losers with arbitrary caps. It’s time for Missouri to fund students, not systems.”
Last year, successful legislation raised the fundraising cap for the program from $50 million to $75 million annually, expanded student eligibility by removing geographic barriers, and raised the household income cap from 200% to 300% of the federal poverty level for families.
The $50 million appropriation could effectively triple the program’s funding, which last year raised about $25 million in tax-credit donations.
The final budget heads to Gov. Mike Kehoe, who can sign it or veto all or part of it. However, funds for school choice are likely safe since they were part of the governor’s January budget proposal.
