School choice advocates slam union lawsuit after Missouri court victory

Advocates for educational freedom say a Missouri court victory for families is just the beginning of a larger fight against unions they claim are trying to trap children in failing schools.

The American Federation for Children (AFC) doesn’t mince words about the Missouri National Education Association’s (MNEA) failed attempt to block the expansion of MOScholars. The program provides tax credit-funded scholarships for private tuition, tutoring and therapy.

Chief State Strategy Officer Ryan Cantrell says the AFC believes unions such as the MNEA are more interested in their own finances than student success.

“Despite regularly losing in higher level courts, the big schooling unions insist on continuing to burn millions of dollars trying to tie parents to failing public schools,” Cantrell said. “Today, it’s Missouri. Tomorrow, it will be another state’s school choice program. They have no interest in helping kids learn. Their interests lie in lining their own coffers.”

His comments follow a Missouri judge’s decision to dismiss an MNEA lawsuit targeting the MOScholars program. The ruling protects a $50 million state-funded expansion to the scholarship fund.

The judge ruled the union lacked legal standing to sue and named the wrong defendants. All five of the union’s constitutional claims failed on their merits.

Cantrell said the lawsuit targeted vulnerable populations, including students with disabilities and those from low-income households. He pointed to research indicating school choice provides a significant return on investment.

“New research conclusively shows spending money on school choice nets 11x more bang for the buck, from an educational attainment standpoint, than pouring money directly into public schools,” Cantrell said. “In other words, all kids benefit from school choice programs, including those in public schools.”

In its lawsuit last August, the MNEA sought a temporary restraining order to halt the program immediately, but the request was denied. Cantrell remains confident the union will lose again if the higher court takes up the case on appeal.

“As always, AFC will stand with families, in Missouri and beyond, until school choice is a reality for every student,” Cantrell said.