The Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee on Tuesday heard public testimony on a school choice bill meant to fund students. SB 81, sponsored by Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman (R – Arnold), would allow a parent or guardian of a child to direct the state aid that would be used to educate their child to any qualified public or private school. “[The bill] allows the parents to decide what is the best education for the child and the state’s share of that funding to be used by the parents at their discretion for the education of their children,” Coleman said during the hearing. The bill would also provide a refundable tax credit for the educational expenses of those parents who choose to homeschool their child.
The MCC testified in support of the proposal. The bill must now be voted out of committee before being considered by the entire Missouri Senate.