In a landmark victory for school choice and family empowerment, the Missouri Legislature has approved $50 million in public funding for the MOScholars program, delivering life-changing educational opportunities to thousands of additional Missouri families. This investment is not just about dollars; it’s about ensuring every child has access to a learning environment where they can thrive.
To date, the MOScholars program has been funded through private donations to scholarship-granting organizations, incentivized by tax credits. This infusion of public funding could triple the program’s reach. This is a pivotal step in putting parents back in the driver’s seat of their children’s education. Whether a student is better served by a private school, homeschooling, or specialized support services, MOScholars provides the flexibility to make those choices possible. While $50 million may be a baby step compared to Texas’s recent $1 billion committed to its scholarship program, it signals a commitment by the governor and the legislature to trust parents.
Critics may argue that public dollars should only go to traditional public schools, but the reality is that today’s students need a variety of options. This investment is not about dismantling public education; it’s about complementing it with solutions that work for every student. Parents know their children best. The MOScholars program respects that truth by offering real choices rather than a one-size-fits-all system. It ensures that fewer families are stuck in our lowest-performing schools. Missouri has joined a growing national movement—now seventeen states—that recognizes the importance of flexibility, innovation, and family empowerment in education.
