MOScholars Day honors first class of ESA students in Missouri’s school choice program

Representatives of the first class of Missouri students to benefit from the state’s school choice program visited the Capitol Thursday to be honored and celebrate their educational success.

“MOScholars is an innovative program helping students achieve their God-given potential by giving parents greater choices about their child’s education,” State Treasurer Vivek Malek, who oversees the ESA program and hosted the event, said in press release. “I am proud of all of you. You are all great ambassadors for MOScholars and for our great state.”

The students, their parents, and representatives from the organizations which help administer the scholarship accounts toured the Capitol and met their representatives from the House and Senate.  

Kaya, a 5th grade student from Northland Christian School in Kansas City, Missouri, told Malek and the lawmakers that her new school has helped her academically and spiritually.

“At Northland Christian, I understand math more, my handwriting is getting better, and I am understanding Jesus more,” she said.

Kaya and her mother, Rachel, with Treasurer Malek. (Staff photo)

Her mother, Rachel, spoke about how the scholarship made it all possible. 

“MOScholars is a blessing to our family,” she tells The Lion. “Each of our children learns differently, and MOScholars allows us to send Kaya to Northland Christian, where she is thriving.” 

In the Capitol Rotunda, the treasurer was joined by key legislative supporters of the program, Rep. Josh Hurlbert and Sen. Andrew Koenig, who each spoke briefly. 

Hurlbert noted that the scholarships give students and their families “the opportunities to find that educational fit that they otherwise would not have had.”

MOScholars is a tax-credit-funded, K-12 scholarship program established in 2021 by the Missouri Legislature and administered by the State Treasurer. 

Scholarships are worth up to $6,375 per year and cover approved educational expenses, including private school tuition. Eligibility is based in part on geography, family income, Individual Learning Plan (IEP) status, and previous participation in the program.

Treasurer Malek visits with a recipient of a MOScholars scholarship at the Capitol.

“It’s a wonderful educational experience for you to come to Jefferson City, where we have the most beautiful State Capitol in the heart of America,” Malek said. “This is your Capitol, and this is your government, and the door to the State Treasurer’s Office is always open to you.”