A court ruling announced on April 14 supports the continuation of Missouri’s school choice program, ensuring that students with disabilities and those from low-income families will continue to receive funding for educational expenses. The American Federation for Children said the decision protects vulnerable students after litigation brought by the Missouri National Education Association challenged the program.
The ruling allows qualifying K-12 students’ families in Missouri to use school choice funds for tuition, textbooks, tutoring, therapy, and other education-related costs. Eligibility is limited to students from low-income households or those with an Individual Education Plan.
Ryan Cantrell, Chief State Strategy Officer at the American Federation for Children, said, “Missouri families’ triumph over greedy unions couldn’t be sweeter. Children living in poverty and children with special needs are extremely vulnerable. Had our opponents prevailed, those are precisely the groups who would have suffered. The union made a shameful, self-serving decision to lodge this suit at the potential expense of Missouri’s kids. In the MNEA’s view, forcing kids out of schools where they are thriving is an acceptable price to pay to advance a political agenda. AFC, along with most Americans, believes all children deserve to learn in the environment best suited for them. Today’s wise decision ensures that Missouri families, not unaccountable union bureaucrats, determine what is best for their children.”
The American Federation for Children promotes community well-being by enabling parents to customize education through diverse options, according to the official website. The organization aids more than 1 million students in school choice programs across the nation and seeks to provide lower-income families with options for selecting optimal K-12 education for their children.
The group maintains facilities at 6125 Luther Lane in Dallas, Texas and extends its efforts across multiple states including Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Utah and Tennessee according to its official website. The organization also highlights transformative stories from fellows who attribute positive life changes to school choice.
Further details about this court ruling can be found in the organization’s press release.
