MOScholars is an Education Savings Account (ESA) program that provides scholarships for students in Missouri to attend schools outside of their local school districts. While most participants use MOScholars to enroll in private schools, the program can also be used by nonresident students to attend public school districts that choose to opt in. I’m a big fan of MOScholars, and it features prominently in our 2026 Blueprint for moving Missouri forward.
Governor Kehoe reinforced his support for MOScholars in his recent State of the State address. Building on the $50 million state investment approved during the 2025 legislative session, the governor is calling for an additional $10 million this year, bringing total funding to $60 million. These public funds will be combined with contributions generated through state tax credits to expand school choice opportunities for families across Missouri. Although MOScholars remains small relative to the size of Missouri’s K–12 student population, this proposed increase is a clear positive step toward a richer and more robust school choice landscape.
The governor also announced that Missouri will opt into a new federal tax credit program designed to operate much like MOScholars, but funded through federal tax credits. Under this program, taxpayers may redirect up to $1,700 of their federal tax liability to support school choice in Missouri. If widely used, the federal credit could significantly expand the pool of available funding—possibly enough to generate meaningful competition within the state’s education system.
These developments provide real cause for optimism about the future direction of education policy in Missouri.
