Judge denies bid to block Missouri’s school choice program

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Cole County judge has denied a request to temporarily block Missouri’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program, clearing the way for millions of dollars in new school choice funding to move forward.

The ruling comes after the Missouri National Education Association attempted a temporary restraining order (TRO) to halt implementation of House Bill 12, which lawmakers passed earlier this year. The measure provides $50 million for scholarships that can be used by families to send their kids to private schools or cover other educational expenses.

Supporters, including Attorney General Andrew Bailey and State Treasurer Vivek Malek, praised the decision as a win for parents and students, saying the program gives families more options if their public schools are not meeting their needs. They say that the additional funding expands access for disadvantaged families, students with special needs, or children in struggling school districts.

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The Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program, also called MOScholars, launched in 2021 and has served more than 1,000 students so far, according to state officials. With the new funding, thousands more students could qualify for scholarships this school year.

Critics, led by the state’s largest teachers union, say that the program cuts taxpayer dollars off from public schools, which educate the majority of Missouri children. They argue that the state should focus on strengthening public education rather than supporting private options, as there are already areas in rural or urban areas that face staffing and resource challenges.

The lawsuit challenging the program remains ongoing, but the judge’s ruling means that scholarships already awarded will not be interrupted as the case continues.

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