(The Lion) — In what could lead to a setback for students and families, the Missouri National Education Association is suing the state over its appropriation of $51 million to its K-12 scholarship program, MOScholars.
MOScholars was created by the state’s Assembly in 2021 “to provide educational opportunities and resources to Missouri students and families” by offering tax credits to donors of the scholarship program. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe earlier this month signed a budget into law that allocates $51 million towards the program, which education advocacy groups say would lead to thousands of new scholarships – and by extension, finally give thousands of families who have been on a waitlist more education choices.
“This historic funding increase will add approximately 7,000 new scholarships to the MOScholars program, effectively tripling its size,” the Children’s Education Association of Missouri said, noting that for the group’s thousands of families who have been “patiently waiting on the program’s waitlist for years, this means their children are now in line to receive the educational opportunities they deserve.”
The MOScholars program has “consistently faced funding challenges,” the group noted, since families tend to need scholarships in the fall, but many donations to the program aren’t made until the end of the year. “An additional $50 million – more than double the amount of donations received last year – would solve the funding lag.”
The Missouri NEA, which represents more than 30,000 members, is arguing in its lawsuit that the budget appropriation is “unconstitutional” and “diverts taxpayer funds to private schools.” The lawsuit, filed in Cole County Circuit Court, argues the General Assembly “far overstepped its authority” by using the appropriations bill to divert general revenue to the scholarship program.
The lawsuit contends the original law creating MOScholars did not intend for the government to directly fund it – rather, scholarships came from taxpayers who donate to educational assistance organizations and then receive tax credits in return.
Yet if the millions in funding gets held up in court, it could have negative ripple effects for families and students who have been waiting to receive a scholarship for years – and compound pre-existing education challenges in the state.
“Missouri’s public schools aren’t doing very well,” Show-Me Institute Director of Education Policy Cory Koedel told The Lion in an interview. “The whole country, our NAEP scores are going down, but Missouri is going down faster than others.”
States whose students are scoring better have strong accountability, transparency, and school choice, he said, but “Missouri’s behind on all of those things.”
“So I thought this was a step in the right direction toward expanding school choice, which I believe is good for children and better outcomes,” he said. If the lawsuit ties up the funding, Koedel added, it would “be a setback for the state.”
The Lion also reached out to the governor’s office for comment. When signing the budget into law, Kehoe touted the funding and said it would go towards “strengthening education.”
Kehoe’s office said the governor “believes that funding our state’s education system ensures every student has the opportunity to achieve their full potential while preparing Missouri’s future workforce for success.”
