When you hear the words “school choice,” it might sound like a free gift — like families can just pick any school they want, and the money will follow.
But here’s the truth: school choice programs cost money. A lot of money. And that money comes from one place — taxpayers like you and me.
Let’s break it down.
Where Does School Money Come From?
Public schools are paid for with tax dollars. That means:
- When you pay taxes, part of that money goes to your local schools
- That money helps pay for teachers, books, buses, lunches, and more
- It’s how we make sure every child has a chance to learn
But when the state starts giving that money to private schools through vouchers or education savings accounts (ESAs), public schools get less — and the state still has to pay for both.
What Happens When Costs Go Up?
In some states, school choice programs have cost way more than expected. For example:
- In Arizona, a voucher program was supposed to cost $65 million
- But it ended up costing over $330 million in just one year!
- That helped cause a $1.4 billion budget shortfall for the whole state
When that happens, states have to make tough choices. They might:
- Cut money from public schools
- Raise taxes
- Cut other important programs like roads, health care, or safety
That means everyone pays more — even if their kids don’t go to private school.
Why It Matters in Missouri
In 2025, Missouri gave $50 million to a private school scholarship program. That money could have gone to public schools — where 9 out of 10 Missouri kids go to learn.
Instead, it helped just a few thousand students — and left public schools with less.
If these programs grow, the costs will grow too. And that means more tax dollars going to fewer students — while most kids get less.
What Can We Do?
We can:
- Ask lawmakers to be honest about the real cost of school choice
- Support public schools that serve all kids
- Make sure our tax dollars are used wisely and fairly
Let’s keep public money in public schools — where it helps the most kids, in the most communities, every day.
Because when it comes to education, we all pay the price — and we all deserve to know.