#Reject School Choice

It’s a trap!

Protect MO

Educational Freedom

Keep big government out

of private & homeschools

Protect MO

Educational Freedom

Keep big government out

of private & homeschools

Protect MO Ed Freedom2023-12-16T14:19:03-06:00

Help Us Protect MO Educational Freedom

You Can’t Fight Socialism With Socialism

“The money follows the child” sounds good in theory… But do not be fooled! The same people that created the problems in public school are now trying to sell you the solution which is no solution at all. We must reject and stop the expansion of big government into the private and homeschool sector. Homeschool is the last beacon of freedom we have. We must protect it at all cost.

Our Diligence is Critical.

There’s much speculation with the upcoming 2024 Missouri legislative session as to whether there’s enough support to advance “school choice.” Good news, right? Well, we might be able to dodge “school choice” this year, however there are several so called “education reform” items that unfortunately could have a very strong possibility of sneaking across the finish line if we aren’t diligent. Open Enrollment, expansion of ESA’s, and provisions to Homeschool “sports” are what we are anticipating.

So What’s Our Beef?

Aren’t we desperate for education reform?

Yes!! We are ABSOLUTELY in need of education reform. The problem is that we are not focusing on the what truly needs to be fixed. We’ve spent decades passing garbage legislation that pretends to treat symptoms that are created by the education machine, when we need to get to the root of the problem: DESE – Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The last three years especially have been BRUTAL. We need to stop pandering to the education industrial complex, and start REPEALING. At minimum, we need to restore local control and allow our local school boards the opportunity to start righting the ship. The likelihood of repealing anything in the future is slim.

We have our work cut out for us. The ONLY education reform that we are willing to allow this session is a CLEAN bill similar to Senator Jill Carter’s SB85. Reign in DESE or BUST!

Here’s a shortlist of what we’re dealing with:

  • State-authorized data-mining for public school

  • State-mandated SEL for public school

  • State-mandated sex-ed for public school

  • Background checks homeschool ESA applicants

  • Curriculum approval for ESA applicants
  • Mandated homeschool registration and record submission for ESA applicants

Get emails for legislative updates, upcoming hearings, urgent action items, and opportunities to help.

Connect with like-minded individuals across the state. Never miss an action item

Keep a Pulse on #MOLEG

Get the latest action items. Submit Testimony. Find Upcoming Hearings

With the Shekels Comes the Shackles

What does “money follows the child” REALLY mean?

“School choice”, according to lobbyists, is funding students not systems. It allows students to use tax dollars for private and homeschools because a student shouldn’t be regulated to the education found within their zip code… But what does that really mean?

It means the students can be funded by tax dollars, with the government strings attached, leaving us with NO choice at all.

When you follow the money, you can see that there’s been a national push from organizations funded by the globalistas like the Walton’s and Koch Brothers to implement model legislation nationwide. ALEC and Americans For Prosperity are prime examples of organizations pushing model legislation.

Let’s not forget the UNESCO shill – Corey DeAngelis – “The Expert” that has no children of his own.

The only positive to this model legislation that is being pushed is that it helps us see the direction that we’re headed. We can use other states as guides and help educate our legislators on the regulations that followed after their education laws were changed. It’s

What does “funding students, not systems” REALLY mean?

ESA’s (Empowerment Scholarship Accounts)2023-11-04T15:34:20-05:00

What is an ESA?

Empowerment Scholarship Accounts AKA School Choice were established in Missouri by the passage of HB349 and SB86. ESA’s allows students to use tax dollars for private and homeschools via MOScholars scholarship accounts. The money is distributed by an an EAO (Educational Assistance Organization).

An EAO is a nonprofit organization that, after approval by the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office, can receive qualified contributions from individuals and businesses to establish MOScholars scholarship accounts for qualified Missouri students.

Rules Written After the Vote

Both bills were passed “Pelosi” style, with the rules being written by the state treasurer after passage. The treasure’s rules subjects homeschool students to:

  • Homeschool Certification – Registration and approval to become a State Certified Homeschool

  • Background Checks – Everyone 18 and older residing in the home must pass a background check
  • Curriculum Approval – Only PRE-APPROVED curriculum permitted
  • Submit Records – Lesson plans, schedules, recorded hours, example of work, etc must all be submitted at the whim of the Treasurer and/or the Educational Assistance Organizations (EAOs)

Approved Curriculum

The list of approved curriculum is not only limiting, but much of it focuses on Social Emotional Learning. Social Emotional and Behavioral Therapies are both approved under ESA funds. The approved list of vendors offers no religious curriculum and little rigorous curriculum. Walmart Brand, Apple For Education, Amazon and ClassWallet vendors are what you will find on the approved vendor list.

ClassWallet

A digital back account for use with MOScholars school choice program. Student privacy laws are voluntary to ClassWallet, but not mandatory under the MOScholars (ESA) Program. What does this mean? The mandated testing and the databases therein are being sold. They are using the data to monetize our children!

Follow the money. It’s straight out of the Marxist Playbook.

What is an ESA?

Empowerment Scholarship Accounts AKA School Choice were established in Missouri by the passage of HB349 and SB86. ESA’s allows students to use tax dollars for private and homeschools via MOScholars scholarship accounts. The money is distributed by an an EAO (Educational Assistance Organization).

An EAO is a nonprofit organization that, after approval by the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office, can receive qualified contributions from individuals and businesses to establish MOScholars scholarship accounts for qualified Missouri students.

Rules Written After the Vote

Both bills were passed “Pelosi” style, with the rules being written by the state treasurer after passage. The treasure’s rules subjects homeschool students to:

  • Homeschool Certification

Registration and approval to become a State Certified Homeschool

  • Background Checks

Everyone 18 and older residing in the home must pass a background check

  • Curriculum Approval 

Only PRE-APPROVED curriculum permitted

  • Submit Records 

Lesson plans, schedules, recorded hours, example of work, etc must all be submitted at the whim of the Treasurer and/or the Educational Assistance Organizations (EAOs)

Approved Curriculum

The list of approved curriculum is not only limiting, but much of it focuses on Social Emotional Learning. Social Emotional and Behavioral Therapies are both approved under ESA funds. The approved list of vendors offers no religious curriculum and little rigorous curriculum. Walmart Brand, Apple For Education, Amazon and ClassWallet vendors are what you will find on the approved vendor list.

ClassWallet

A digital back account for use with MOScholars school choice program. Student privacy laws are voluntary to ClassWallet, but not mandatory under the MOScholars (ESA) Program. What does this mean? The mandated testing and the databases therein are being sold. They are using the data to monetize our children!

Follow the money. It’s straight out of the Marxist Playbook.

Open Enrollment2023-11-04T17:26:56-05:00

What is Open Enrollment?

Open Enrollment is a public to public option that differs from school choice. It allows the enrollment of a nonresident student in public school districts, creating the illusion of competition.

Competition does not exist in a captured market

Consolidation

Open Enrollment will create consolidation of small and rural schools making other schools larger reducing the balance of power between teacher unions and local citizens.

  • Centralized Power – Consolidated district loses local control, larger district gains power

  • Local Economic Harm – When buildings close, the local communities suffers economically
  • District Overcrowding – Enrollment surges create classroom shortages and transportation issues
  • Budget Cuts – The loss of enrollment leads to tighter budgets creating teacher shortages and limits the ability for the school district to operate

DEI

Last session, Andrew Keonig (SB 5) and Brad Pollitt (HB 253) both introduced open enrollment legislation that implements DEI into public and charter schools. Both pieces of proposed legislation stated that a district will have to create a “model policy” created by the “department”, REGARDLESS if the district partakes in open enrollment.

The “department” is DESE who is the root of the problem. This legislation implements more shackles on public education with bureaucratic bloat for DESE to administer.

Teachers Union Stronghold

We heard a lot about Teacher Union influence on the reopening of schools during the COVID lockdowns. This was their opportunity to strike, inserting the push for open enrollment to increase centralized power of education in the United States.

Rural and small schools are the best defense against unions and special interests. Open Enrollment will force these small schools to close, and the unions will grow.

What is Open Enrollment?

Open Enrollment is a public to public option that differs from school choice. It allows the enrollment of a nonresident student in public school districts, creating the illusion of competition.

Competition does not exist in a captured market

Consolidation

Open Enrollment will create consolidation of small and rural schools making other schools larger reducing the balance of power between teacher unions and local citizens.

  • Local Economic Harm

When buildings close, the local communities suffers economically

  • District Overcrowding 

Enrollment surges create classroom shortages and transportation issues

  • Centralized Power

Consolidated district loses local control, larger district gains power

  • Budget Cuts

The loss of enrollment leads to tighter budgets creating teacher shortages and limits the ability for the school district to operate.

DEI

Last session, Andrew Keonig (SB 5) and Brad Pollitt (HB 253) both introduced open enrollment legislation that implements DEI into public and charter schools. Both pieces of proposed legislation stated that a district will have to create a “model policy” created by the “department”, REGARDLESS if the district partakes in open enrollment.

The “department” is DESE who is the root of the problem. This legislation implements more shackles on public education with bureaucratic bloat for DESE to administer.

Teachers Union Stronghold

We heard a lot about Teacher Union influence on the reopening of schools during the COVID lockdowns. This was their opportunity to strike, inserting the push for open enrollment to increase centralized power of education in the United States.

Rural and small schools are the best defense against unions and special interests. Open Enrollment will force these small schools to close, and the unions will grow.

Unelected MO ESA Board2023-11-04T17:57:20-05:00

Who Governs MO ESA’s?

SB 86 establishes an unelected “Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Board.”

Who is on the Board?

The same bad actors that created the problems in public school are now governing this so called “school choice,” along with the state treasurer, whom wrote the rules after the bill’s passage. Does this really seem like “choice” to you? What reason would we have to believe that they are going to do any better governing the private and homeschool sector after seeing what damage they have done in the public schools?

Where will we run when our private schools and homeschools look like our public schools?

Who Governs MO ESA’s?

SB 86 establishes an unelected “Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Board.”

Who is on the Board?

The same bad actors that created the problems in public school are now governing this so called “school choice,” along with the state treasurer, whom wrote the rules after the bill’s passage. Does this really seem like “choice” to you? What reason would we have to believe that they are going to do any better governing the private and homeschool sector after seeing what damage they have done in the public schools?

Where will we run when our private schools and homeschools look like our public schools?

Dangers To Homeschoolers2023-11-04T17:35:41-05:00

What are the Dangers to Homeschoolers?

Empowerment Scholarship Accounts AKA School Choice were established in Missouri by the passage of HB349 and SB86. ESA’s allows students to use tax dollars for private and homeschools via MOScholars scholarship accounts. The money is distributed by an an EAO (Educational Assistance Organization).

An EAO is a nonprofit organization that, after approval by the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office, can receive qualified contributions from individuals and businesses to establish MOScholars scholarship accounts for qualified Missouri students.

Rules Written After the Vote

Both bills were passed “Pelosi” style, with the rules being written by the state treasurer after passage. The treasure’s rules subjects homeschool students to:

  • Homeschool Certification – Registration and approval to become a State Certified Homeschool

  • Background Checks – Everyone 18 and older residing in the home must pass a background check
  • Curriculum Approval – Only PRE-APPROVED curriculum permitted
  • Submit Records – Lesson plans, schedules, recorded hours, example of work, etc must all be submitted at the whim of the Treasurer and/or the Educational Assistance Organizations (EAOs)

Approved Curriculum

The list of approved curriculum is not only limiting, but much of it focuses on Social Emotional Learning. Social Emotional and Behavioral Therapies are both approved under ESA funds. The approved list of vendors offers no religious curriculum and little rigorous curriculum. Walmart Brand, Apple For Education, Amazon and ClassWallet vendors are what you will find on the approved vendor list.

ClassWallet

A digital back account for use with MOScholars school choice program. Student privacy laws are voluntary to ClassWallet, but not mandatory under the MOScholars (ESA) Program. What does this mean? The mandated testing and the databases therein are being sold. They are using the data to monetize our children!

Follow the money. It’s straight out of the Marxist Playbook.

What are the Dangers to Homeschoolers?

Empowerment Scholarship Accounts AKA School Choice were established in Missouri by the passage of HB349 and SB86. ESA’s allows students to use tax dollars for private and homeschools via MOScholars scholarship accounts. The money is distributed by an an EAO (Educational Assistance Organization).

An EAO is a nonprofit organization that, after approval by the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office, can receive qualified contributions from individuals and businesses to establish MOScholars scholarship accounts for qualified Missouri students.

Rules Written After the Vote

Both bills were passed “Pelosi” style, with the rules being written by the state treasurer after passage. The treasure’s rules subjects homeschool students to:

  • Homeschool Certification

Registration and approval to become a State Certified Homeschool

  • Background Checks

Everyone 18 and older residing in the home must pass a background check

  • Curriculum Approval 

Only PRE-APPROVED curriculum permitted

  • Submit Records 

Lesson plans, schedules, recorded hours, example of work, etc must all be submitted at the whim of the Treasurer and/or the Educational Assistance Organizations (EAOs)

Approved Curriculum

The list of approved curriculum is not only limiting, but much of it focuses on Social Emotional Learning. Social Emotional and Behavioral Therapies are both approved under ESA funds. The approved list of vendors offers no religious curriculum and little rigorous curriculum. Walmart Brand, Apple For Education, Amazon and ClassWallet vendors are what you will find on the approved vendor list.

ClassWallet

A digital back account for use with MOScholars school choice program. Student privacy laws are voluntary to ClassWallet, but not mandatory under the MOScholars (ESA) Program. What does this mean? The mandated testing and the databases therein are being sold. They are using the data to monetize our children!

Follow the money. It’s straight out of the Marxist Playbook.

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So What Do We Want?

What are our education reform goals?

Until we can start repealing… We have to have realistic goals. In addition to a CLEAN bill similar to Senator Jill Carter’s SB85 we have identified some areas that could greatly improve the quality of education provided in public schools.

Aside from repealing the Outstanding Schools Act of 1993 and every education omnibus that’s made it’s way through the Missouri legislature, giving the parents the option to opt out of state mandated programs is at the top of the list.

Please review this list of protections and initiatives that our children DESERVE:

Opt-Out & Tech-Based Alternatives

Let the parents choose and allow schools to accommodate them as needed

Allow students to opt-out of all computer based assessments

School to provide pencil and paper or in-person assessor to assess including MAP testing

Classroom alternatives for tech based activities & curriculum

No child should be left out of classroom activities due to their “no tech” status

Permit schools to provide pencil & paper and non-tech literary assessments

This in lieu of the tech based literary assessment mandated by recent legislation

DESE & Administration Accountability

Unelected bureaucrats have had free reign for far too long.

All work task force groups must be live streamed and recorded.

All documents created by a task force group should be posted for public viewing

Every Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) MUST be voted on

There should be public notice and the MOU should be posted for public view

Forbid superintendents from signing authority on behalf of parents

This is an exclusive right of ALL parents and cannot be overwritten administratively

SEL, Data-Mining & Sex Ed

We do NOT consent

No child can be part of human research without INFORMED consent

Parents can opt in to data-mining surveys if they choose. Consent is a MUST

Allow opt-out of sex and health education for all students pre-K-12

Since the passage of HB 447, parents are no longer permitted to opt-out of either program

Discontinue state funding for marxist propaganda promoted through SEL programs

The state will not fund or reimburse any programs that have social emotional content

Get emails for legislative updates, upcoming hearings, urgent action items, and opportunities to help.

Connect with like-minded individuals across the state. Never miss an action item

Keep a Pulse on #MOLEG

Get the latest action items. Submit Testimony. Find Upcoming Hearings

Join the Movement

You Can’t Fight Socialism With Socialism

“The money follows the child” sounds good in theory… But do not be fooled! The same people that created the problems in public school are now trying to sell you the solution which is no solution at all. We must reject and stop the expansion of big government into the private and homeschool sector. Homeschool is the last beacon of freedom that we have. We must protect it at all cost.

Our Diligence is Critical.

There’s much speculation with the upcoming 2024 Missouri legislative session as to whether there’s enough support to advance “school choice.” Good news, right? Well, we might be able to dodge “school choice” this year, however there are several so called “education reform” items that unfortunately could have a very strong possibility of sneaking across the finish line if we aren’t diligent.

Open Enrollment, expansion of ESA’s, and provisions to Homeschool “sports” are what we are anticipating.

So What’s Our Beef?

Aren’t we desperate for education reform?

Yes!! We are ABSOLUTELY in need of education reform. The problem is that we not are focusing on the what truly needs to be fixed. We’ve spent decades passing garbage legislation that pretends to treat symptoms that are created by the education machine, when we need to get to the root of the problem: DESE – Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The last three years especially have been BRUTAL. We need to stop pandering to the education industrial complex, and start REPEALING. At minimum, we need to restore local control and allow our local school boards the opportunity to start righting the ship. The likelihood of repealing anything in the future is slim.

We have our work cut out for us. The ONLY education reform that we are willing to allow this session is a CLEAN bill similar to Senator Jill Carter’s SB85. Reign in DESE or BUST!

Here’s a shortlist of what we’re dealing with:

  • State-authorized data-mining for public school

  • State-mandated SEL for public school

  • State-mandated sex-ed for public school

  • Background checks homeschool ESA applicants

  • Curriculum approval for ESA applicants

  • Mandated homeschool registration and record submission for ESA applicants

With Shekels Comes Shackles

“Money follows the child?”

“School choice”, according to lobbyists, is funding students not systems. It allows students to use tax dollars for private and homeschools because a student shouldn’t be regulated to the education found within their zip code… But what does that really mean?

It means the students can be funded by tax dollars, with the government strings attached, leaving us with NO choice at all.

When you follow the money, you can see that there’s been a national push from organizations funded by the globalistas like the Walton’s and Koch Brothers to

implement model legislation nationwide. ALEC and Americans For Prosperity are prime examples of organizations pushing model legislation. Let’s not forget the UNESCO shill – Corey DeAngelis – “The Expert” that has no children of his own.

The only positive to this model legislation is that it helps us see the direction that we’re  headed and the regulations that followed.

What does “funding students, not systems” REALLY mean?

ESA’s (Empowerment Scholarship Accounts)2023-11-04T15:34:20-05:00

What is an ESA?

Empowerment Scholarship Accounts AKA School Choice were established in Missouri by the passage of HB349 and SB86. ESA’s allows students to use tax dollars for private and homeschools via MOScholars scholarship accounts. The money is distributed by an an EAO (Educational Assistance Organization).

An EAO is a nonprofit organization that, after approval by the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office, can receive qualified contributions from individuals and businesses to establish MOScholars scholarship accounts for qualified Missouri students.

Rules Written After the Vote

Both bills were passed “Pelosi” style, with the rules being written by the state treasurer after passage. The treasure’s rules subjects homeschool students to:

  • Homeschool Certification – Registration and approval to become a State Certified Homeschool

  • Background Checks – Everyone 18 and older residing in the home must pass a background check
  • Curriculum Approval – Only PRE-APPROVED curriculum permitted
  • Submit Records – Lesson plans, schedules, recorded hours, example of work, etc must all be submitted at the whim of the Treasurer and/or the Educational Assistance Organizations (EAOs)

Approved Curriculum

The list of approved curriculum is not only limiting, but much of it focuses on Social Emotional Learning. Social Emotional and Behavioral Therapies are both approved under ESA funds. The approved list of vendors offers no religious curriculum and little rigorous curriculum. Walmart Brand, Apple For Education, Amazon and ClassWallet vendors are what you will find on the approved vendor list.

ClassWallet

A digital back account for use with MOScholars school choice program. Student privacy laws are voluntary to ClassWallet, but not mandatory under the MOScholars (ESA) Program. What does this mean? The mandated testing and the databases therein are being sold. They are using the data to monetize our children!

Follow the money. It’s straight out of the Marxist Playbook.

What is an ESA?

Empowerment Scholarship Accounts AKA School Choice were established in Missouri by the passage of HB349 and SB86. ESA’s allows students to use tax dollars for private and homeschools via MOScholars scholarship accounts. The money is distributed by an an EAO (Educational Assistance Organization).

An EAO is a nonprofit organization that, after approval by the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office, can receive qualified contributions from individuals and businesses to establish MOScholars scholarship accounts for qualified Missouri students.

Rules Written After the Vote

Both bills were passed “Pelosi” style, with the rules being written by the state treasurer after passage. The treasure’s rules subjects homeschool students to:

  • Homeschool Certification

Registration and approval to become a State Certified Homeschool

  • Background Checks

Everyone 18 and older residing in the home must pass a background check

  • Curriculum Approval 

Only PRE-APPROVED curriculum permitted

  • Submit Records 

Lesson plans, schedules, recorded hours, example of work, etc must all be submitted at the whim of the Treasurer and/or the Educational Assistance Organizations (EAOs)

Approved Curriculum

The list of approved curriculum is not only limiting, but much of it focuses on Social Emotional Learning. Social Emotional and Behavioral Therapies are both approved under ESA funds. The approved list of vendors offers no religious curriculum and little rigorous curriculum. Walmart Brand, Apple For Education, Amazon and ClassWallet vendors are what you will find on the approved vendor list.

ClassWallet

A digital back account for use with MOScholars school choice program. Student privacy laws are voluntary to ClassWallet, but not mandatory under the MOScholars (ESA) Program. What does this mean? The mandated testing and the databases therein are being sold. They are using the data to monetize our children!

Follow the money. It’s straight out of the Marxist Playbook.

Open Enrollment2023-11-04T17:26:56-05:00

What is Open Enrollment?

Open Enrollment is a public to public option that differs from school choice. It allows the enrollment of a nonresident student in public school districts, creating the illusion of competition.

Competition does not exist in a captured market

Consolidation

Open Enrollment will create consolidation of small and rural schools making other schools larger reducing the balance of power between teacher unions and local citizens.

  • Centralized Power – Consolidated district loses local control, larger district gains power

  • Local Economic Harm – When buildings close, the local communities suffers economically
  • District Overcrowding – Enrollment surges create classroom shortages and transportation issues
  • Budget Cuts – The loss of enrollment leads to tighter budgets creating teacher shortages and limits the ability for the school district to operate

DEI

Last session, Andrew Keonig (SB 5) and Brad Pollitt (HB 253) both introduced open enrollment legislation that implements DEI into public and charter schools. Both pieces of proposed legislation stated that a district will have to create a “model policy” created by the “department”, REGARDLESS if the district partakes in open enrollment.

The “department” is DESE who is the root of the problem. This legislation implements more shackles on public education with bureaucratic bloat for DESE to administer.

Teachers Union Stronghold

We heard a lot about Teacher Union influence on the reopening of schools during the COVID lockdowns. This was their opportunity to strike, inserting the push for open enrollment to increase centralized power of education in the United States.

Rural and small schools are the best defense against unions and special interests. Open Enrollment will force these small schools to close, and the unions will grow.

What is Open Enrollment?

Open Enrollment is a public to public option that differs from school choice. It allows the enrollment of a nonresident student in public school districts, creating the illusion of competition.

Competition does not exist in a captured market

Consolidation

Open Enrollment will create consolidation of small and rural schools making other schools larger reducing the balance of power between teacher unions and local citizens.

  • Local Economic Harm

When buildings close, the local communities suffers economically

  • District Overcrowding 

Enrollment surges create classroom shortages and transportation issues

  • Centralized Power

Consolidated district loses local control, larger district gains power

  • Budget Cuts

The loss of enrollment leads to tighter budgets creating teacher shortages and limits the ability for the school district to operate.

DEI

Last session, Andrew Keonig (SB 5) and Brad Pollitt (HB 253) both introduced open enrollment legislation that implements DEI into public and charter schools. Both pieces of proposed legislation stated that a district will have to create a “model policy” created by the “department”, REGARDLESS if the district partakes in open enrollment.

The “department” is DESE who is the root of the problem. This legislation implements more shackles on public education with bureaucratic bloat for DESE to administer.

Teachers Union Stronghold

We heard a lot about Teacher Union influence on the reopening of schools during the COVID lockdowns. This was their opportunity to strike, inserting the push for open enrollment to increase centralized power of education in the United States.

Rural and small schools are the best defense against unions and special interests. Open Enrollment will force these small schools to close, and the unions will grow.

Unelected MO ESA Board2023-11-04T17:57:20-05:00

Who Governs MO ESA’s?

SB 86 establishes an unelected “Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Board.”

Who is on the Board?

The same bad actors that created the problems in public school are now governing this so called “school choice,” along with the state treasurer, whom wrote the rules after the bill’s passage. Does this really seem like “choice” to you? What reason would we have to believe that they are going to do any better governing the private and homeschool sector after seeing what damage they have done in the public schools?

Where will we run when our private schools and homeschools look like our public schools?

Who Governs MO ESA’s?

SB 86 establishes an unelected “Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Board.”

Who is on the Board?

The same bad actors that created the problems in public school are now governing this so called “school choice,” along with the state treasurer, whom wrote the rules after the bill’s passage. Does this really seem like “choice” to you? What reason would we have to believe that they are going to do any better governing the private and homeschool sector after seeing what damage they have done in the public schools?

Where will we run when our private schools and homeschools look like our public schools?

Dangers To Homeschoolers2023-11-04T17:35:41-05:00

What are the Dangers to Homeschoolers?

Empowerment Scholarship Accounts AKA School Choice were established in Missouri by the passage of HB349 and SB86. ESA’s allows students to use tax dollars for private and homeschools via MOScholars scholarship accounts. The money is distributed by an an EAO (Educational Assistance Organization).

An EAO is a nonprofit organization that, after approval by the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office, can receive qualified contributions from individuals and businesses to establish MOScholars scholarship accounts for qualified Missouri students.

Rules Written After the Vote

Both bills were passed “Pelosi” style, with the rules being written by the state treasurer after passage. The treasure’s rules subjects homeschool students to:

  • Homeschool Certification – Registration and approval to become a State Certified Homeschool

  • Background Checks – Everyone 18 and older residing in the home must pass a background check
  • Curriculum Approval – Only PRE-APPROVED curriculum permitted
  • Submit Records – Lesson plans, schedules, recorded hours, example of work, etc must all be submitted at the whim of the Treasurer and/or the Educational Assistance Organizations (EAOs)

Approved Curriculum

The list of approved curriculum is not only limiting, but much of it focuses on Social Emotional Learning. Social Emotional and Behavioral Therapies are both approved under ESA funds. The approved list of vendors offers no religious curriculum and little rigorous curriculum. Walmart Brand, Apple For Education, Amazon and ClassWallet vendors are what you will find on the approved vendor list.

ClassWallet

A digital back account for use with MOScholars school choice program. Student privacy laws are voluntary to ClassWallet, but not mandatory under the MOScholars (ESA) Program. What does this mean? The mandated testing and the databases therein are being sold. They are using the data to monetize our children!

Follow the money. It’s straight out of the Marxist Playbook.

What are the Dangers to Homeschoolers?

Empowerment Scholarship Accounts AKA School Choice were established in Missouri by the passage of HB349 and SB86. ESA’s allows students to use tax dollars for private and homeschools via MOScholars scholarship accounts. The money is distributed by an an EAO (Educational Assistance Organization).

An EAO is a nonprofit organization that, after approval by the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office, can receive qualified contributions from individuals and businesses to establish MOScholars scholarship accounts for qualified Missouri students.

Rules Written After the Vote

Both bills were passed “Pelosi” style, with the rules being written by the state treasurer after passage. The treasure’s rules subjects homeschool students to:

  • Homeschool Certification

Registration and approval to become a State Certified Homeschool

  • Background Checks

Everyone 18 and older residing in the home must pass a background check

  • Curriculum Approval 

Only PRE-APPROVED curriculum permitted

  • Submit Records 

Lesson plans, schedules, recorded hours, example of work, etc must all be submitted at the whim of the Treasurer and/or the Educational Assistance Organizations (EAOs)

Approved Curriculum

The list of approved curriculum is not only limiting, but much of it focuses on Social Emotional Learning. Social Emotional and Behavioral Therapies are both approved under ESA funds. The approved list of vendors offers no religious curriculum and little rigorous curriculum. Walmart Brand, Apple For Education, Amazon and ClassWallet vendors are what you will find on the approved vendor list.

ClassWallet

A digital back account for use with MOScholars school choice program. Student privacy laws are voluntary to ClassWallet, but not mandatory under the MOScholars (ESA) Program. What does this mean? The mandated testing and the databases therein are being sold. They are using the data to monetize our children!

Follow the money. It’s straight out of the Marxist Playbook.

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So What Do We Want?

What are our education reform goals?

In addition to a CLEAN bill similar to Senator Jill Carter’s SB85 we have identified some areas that could greatly improve the quality of education provided in public schools. Aside from repealing the Outstanding Schools Act of 1993 and every education omnibus that’s made it’s way through the Missouri legislature, giving the parents the option to opt out of state mandated programs is at the top of the list. Here are some protections and initiatives that our children DESERVE:

Opt-Out & Tech-Based Alternatives

Let the parents choose and allow schools to accommodate them as needed.

Allow students to opt-out of all computer based assessments

School to provide pencil and paper or in-person assessor to assess including MAP testing

Classroom alternatives for tech based activities & curriculum

No child should be left out of classroom activities due to their “no tech” status.

Permit schools to provide pencil & paper and non-tech literary assessments

This in lieu of the tech based literary assessment mandated by recent legislation

DESE & Administration Accountability

Unelected bureaucrats have had free reign for far too long. It’s time for accountability.

All work task force groups must be live streamed and recorded.

All documents created by a task force group should be posted for public viewing

Every Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) MUST be voted on

There should be public notice and the MOU should be posted for public view

Forbid superintendents from signing authority on behalf of parents

This is an exclusive right of ALL parents and cannot be overwritten administratively

SEL, Data-Mining & Sex Ed

We do NOT consent!

No child can be part of human research without INFORMED consent

Parents can opt in to data-mining surveys if they choose. Consent MUST be obtained prior to survey

Allow opt-out of sex and health education for all students pre-K-12

Since the passage of HB 447, parents are no longer permitted to opt-out of either program

Discontinue state funding for marxist propaganda promoted through SEL programs

The state will not fund or reimburse any programs that have social emotional content in their programs

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