Missouri Senate Bill SB572

Missouri 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/15/25
• Refer: 3/13/25

Caption

Authorizes parents to choose the school that their children attend

Impact

If enacted, SB 572 would directly amend Chapter 163 of Missouri Revised Statutes, introducing new regulations on state aid distribution based on parental selection. Upon enrollment, parents would submit a form indicating their school choice, at which point state funds typically allocated to the resident school district would be redirected to the chosen educational institution. This could significantly change the funding dynamics for public schools as students opting for alternative educational environments would not count towards the attendance figures used for state and federal funding allocations.

Summary

Senate Bill 572 introduces significant changes to educational opportunities in Missouri by granting parents or guardians the authority to choose the school their children attend starting in the school year 2025-2026. This bill aims to allow for greater flexibility in educational choices by enabling parents to direct state aid intended for their local school district to a qualified school of their preference, including charter schools, private schools, or virtual schools. The proposed measure emphasizes parental choice and seeks to promote educational diversity across the state.

Contention

The bill has generated debates regarding its implications on school district funding and local educational governance. Supporters argue that SB 572 promotes educational equity by empowering parents with choices that best suit their children's needs, fostering competition among schools. Conversely, critics argue that it may undermine public school systems by diverting essential funding, potentially leading to larger disparities in education quality. The emergency clause attached to the bill indicates a sense of urgency from its sponsors to implement these changes quickly, suggesting they perceive a pressing need for parents to make informed schooling decisions in advance.