Other Solutions

The Children’s Education Alliance of Missouri believes that there is nothing inherently wrong with the Revised Missouri Statute 167.131 and that it should be enforced. However, there are a few policies that have been implemented in other states that would negate the need for 167.131. The following are brief descriptions of these policies. To find out more about each, click the links below.

Scholarship Tax Credits are currently not an option in Missouri.  Such a program would mean that the state would be relieved of the per student education appropriation for students receiving such scholarships and that families would have greater choice about the type of education a child receives. A family that would receive a scholarship tax credit could use it to attend a private, independent, or parochial school of their choice.

• http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=12950
• http://www.federationforchildren.org/types-of-school-choice
• http://www.allianceforschoolchoice.org/school-choice-programs-in-america-the-facts

Statewide Inter-district Open Enrollment would allow students all over the state to choose a different school district. Most of Missouri’s school districts were created decades ago. Statewide Open Enrollment would allow children to ignore these antiquated lines and choose a district that will meet their unique needs.

• http://mb2.ecs.org/reports/report.aspx?id=268
• http://www.schoolchoicewi.org/data/k12/301.pdf