The video clip above shows Missouri Senator Andrew Koenig speaking in favor of 2024 law to expand Educational Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) in the state. This program is sometimes called the MOScholars Program.
It is important to note that ESAs in Missouri are not the same as School Vouchers. School choice in Missouri has been complicated by the existence of a clause in Missouri’s constitution intended to prevent the state from transferring money to religious schools. This clause was part of a campaign in the 1800s that was spawned by Anti-Catholic feelings caused by a wave of immigration from places like Poland and Italy. The state constitutional amendments were supported by the Maine Senator James G. Blaine. They are now part of many state constitutions, however Senator Blaine failed to secure a federal Blaine amendment, so his bigotry did not stop the federal House of Representatives granting school choice to the parents of Washington D.C.
Because the Missouri Constitution has a Blaine Amendment the state’s current version of school choice has a complex funding method as follows. Tax-payers are granted a 100% tax credit so that if they donate money to special scholarship foundations their donations can be subtracted from their tax bills dollar-for-dollar. These foundations then, indirectly, give the scholarships to the parents.
We believe that the political and legal climate has changed since this system was designed. The federal supreme court is now much more willing to defend religious liberty so a direct School Voucher program in Missouri would most probably be protected in any appeal to the federal supreme court. The state of Florida also has a Blaine amendment in its constitution. This did not prevent Florida’s universal school choice law taking effect in 2023. Now is the perfect time to challenge Missouri’s Blaine amendment before the composition of the federal Supreme Court changes.
You can read more about the MOScholars program here on the Missouri Treasurer Web Site. The 2021 version of MOScholars had some important restrictions. Parents had to either live in a city with a population of over 30,000 or have a charter form of government (mainly these are places near a big city like St Louis). The family had to have:
a) an income of less than 200% of the income limit for free or reduced school meals
b) a student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP)
In 2024 the Missouri Legislature voted to expand the MOScholars Program as follows:
A) The geographical restriction was lifted so that families in the whole state are eligible, not just those in cities with a population of over 30,000.
B) The income limit was raised from 200% to 300% of the income limit for free and reduced school lunches.
C) The upper limit of fund was increased from $50 million to $75 million.