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Op Ed: How ESAs Can Fix the Status Quo

You may already know that 10,000 Missouri high school students dropped out of school in 2016. What you may not know, is that of those students that stayed in school and went on to college, nearly 40% required remedial courses in basic math and English to catch up with their counterparts from other states.  
 
These statistics illustrate our education status quo is failing many of Missouri’s students.  We say immediate action is needed to ensure another generation of students are not destined for the same anemic outcomes. By providing more choice in education, we can give more students hope. Hope for a brighter and more prosperous future. 
 
School choice starts with programs like Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), which provide scholarship options for parents to invest in their children’s future education needs. These accounts provide families the freedom and flexibility to best determine their children’s education path. 

One piece of legislation currently before the General Assembly, SB 313, would allow  funds to be used for educating children with special needs, such as those who have an IEP (Individualized Education Program) or those in foster care.  These children have their own unique sets of challenges, and by offering them expanded options outside of the traditional model, we can better meet their needs.
 
With education savings accounts, Missouri parents could tailor their children’s learning experiences and choose how to best spend their education dollars on things like tuition, textbooks, online courses, tutoring, education aides, and even costs associated with home schooling.
 
Give students the ability to prepare for college and their futures by going to www.SchoolChoiceMo.com and signing our petition to bring school choice policies to Missouri. 

The only way we will fix Missouri’s broken education system is with your help, so act now to help our kids compete. 

Sincerely,
 
Senator Andrew Koenig- District 15


Representative Shamed Dogan- District 98


Representative Kurt Bahr- District 102