When people hear about “school choice,” and/or vouchers they might think it helps all students. But in Missouri — and in other states — that’s not what’s really happening.
Let’s look at the facts.
Most Kids Go to Public Schools
In Missouri, more than 9 out of 10 students go to public schools. That’s over 850,000 kids learning in classrooms across the state.
But school choice programs — like vouchers and education savings accounts — only help a small number of students. In 2025, Missouri gave $50 million to a program that helped just 2,677 students go to private schools.
That’s less than 1% of all Missouri students.
Who Gets the Help?
Even though these programs are supposed to help families who need it most, many of the students using vouchers were already in private schools. That means:
- They weren’t leaving public schools
- They were already paying for private school
- Now, taxpayers are helping cover their tuition
So instead of helping new families, the program mostly gave money to people who were already doing fine.
What About Everyone Else?
While a few students get help, public schools lose money. That means:
- Bigger class sizes
- Fewer teachers and programs
- Less support for the 90% of kids who stay in public schools
It’s like taking a pizza meant for 10 people and giving half of it to just one person — while the rest have to share what’s left.
Why It Matters
We believe every child deserves a great education — not just a lucky few. When public money is taken from public schools, it hurts the students who need it most.
Instead of helping a small group, we should invest in the schools that serve all kids.
What Can We Do?
We can:
- Support public schools that welcome every student
- Ask lawmakers to fund schools fairly
- Make sure our tax dollars help the most kids, not just a few
Let’s work together to build strong public schools for all Missouri children — because every child deserves a fair chance to learn and succeed.