The Missouri National Education Association (MNEA) is suing the state to stop a $51 million appropriation to MOScholars. It is the state’s K-12 scholarship program that helps send public school students to private schools.
The lawsuit argues that the funding—$50 million for scholarships and $1 million for marketing—violates state law by using general revenue instead of private donations, as originally mandated by the 2021 law that created MOScholars. The lawsuit also claims the appropriation unlawfully alters the MOScholars statute and could harm public schools by diverting funds to private education.
The teachers’ union is seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the transfer of funds while the case proceeds. Gov. Mike Kehoe proposed using general revenue for the program and signed the state budget into law on Monday.
So far, the governor’s office has not responded to a request for comment.
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