Bill > SB1314

This bill authorizes parents to choose the school their children attend, starting in the 2026-2027 school year, by allowing them to direct state education funding to a "qualified school" of their choice, which can include charter schools, private schools, public schools, or virtual schools, both within and outside their district of residence. Parents will receive a form from the state treasurer at enrollment that lets them indicate their school preference, and if they choose a school outside their home district, the state treasurer will redirect the state aid (up to the state adequacy target or the school's tuition cost) to the chosen school within 30 days. The school district must notify the state education department when a student enrolls elsewhere, and the student will no longer be counted in their resident district's attendance calculations. The bill includes an emergency clause, suggesting its immediate implementation is considered crucial for parents' planning, and explicitly prohibits schools from discriminating based on race, color, or national origin. This legislation represents a significant expansion of school choice options for Missouri families, giving parents more flexibility in selecting educational environments for their children.