Bill > HB2185

This bill modifies the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program by expanding the definition of qualified students and qualified schools. The bill adds "early childhood centers" as a new type of educational institution that can participate in the program, which includes licensed child care providers, license-exempt entities, and certain contracted early childhood education services. The definition of a "qualified student" is broadened to include children enrolled in early childhood centers, as well as maintaining existing categories for students with individualized education programs (IEPs) or those from households with income at or below 300% of the free and reduced lunch income standard. The bill also adds a new qualification for siblings of students who received scholarship grants in previous years. Other technical changes include renumbering definitions and making minor language adjustments, such as changing "individualized education plan" to "individualized education program" and clarifying terminology around educational institutions and student eligibility. The overall purpose appears to be expanding educational scholarship opportunities for younger children and families with limited financial resources.

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2185&year=2026&code=R