Missouri House Bill HB1717

Missouri 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/3/24
• Refer: 1/18/24

Caption

Provides A+ scholarships for home school students who meet the program's eligibility requirements

Impact

The proposed legislation reflects a significant shift in educational policy by extending state-funded educational support to homeschool students. This moves away from previous frameworks that predominantly catered to public school graduates, thus broadening the scope of educational assistance and increasing enrollment opportunities in post-secondary institutions for homeschoolers. By allowing these students to access the same educational benefits as their peers, the bill is expected to reduce disparities in educational resources and enhance educational equity.

Summary

House Bill 1717 establishes the 'A+ Schools Program' to provide scholarships specifically for homeschool students who meet certain eligibility requirements. The bill outlines that these reimbursements can cover costs associated with tuition, books, and fees for public community colleges or vocational/technical schools. This initiative aims to create an equitable opportunity for homeschool students to gain direct access to higher education resources that were primarily available to students graduating from traditional public schools.

Contention

However, the bill has raised notable points of contention. Critics argue that the inclusion of homeschool students in state-funded programs could lead to challenges in maintaining standards and oversight. Concerns have been expressed about how to ensure that homeschool curricula align with state education standards and about potential misuse of funds. Proponents of the bill counter that offering these scholarships is a necessary evolution of state education policy that recognizes the growing number of homeschool families and their contributions to the educational landscape.