Senate Committee Advances Education Scholarship Bill

The Senate Education Committee heard testimony this week and advanced HB 349, the "Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Act", sponsored by Rep. Phil Christofanelli (R-St. Peters). The bill would create a $50 million state tax credit for private donations made to educational scholarship organizations that in turn offer scholarships to low-income students and students with learning disabilities so that they can attend private schools. For students to qualify, they must currently attend public school, or be entering school for the first time. The bill passed out of the House in early March. The committee heard testimony on the bill on Tuesday and voted the bill "do pass" on Thursday morning by a vote of 5-4. The bill must now be passed by the Missouri Senate and signed by the Governor in order to become law. The MCC testified in support of the bill as a way of offering struggling students an alternative to public school education.