Time sensitive action needed! Please contact your Senator now and ask them to OPPOSE SB581!
Missouri PTA is opposed to SB 581 sponsored by Senator Mike Cierpiot. This Bill is known as the “Show Me a Brighter Future Scholarship Program” and gives school vouchers to low-income students to attend private schools. The bill pays for the scholarships by offering tax credits to people or corporations that make contributions to the scholarship fund. Missouri PTA and other public-school advocates are opposed to voucher programs as they divert funding from public education and lack oversight and accountability that public schools offer to all students.
Missouri PTA advocates are called to ensure your senators understand that you are paying attention and that these issues are important to you!
ACTION NEEDED: PLEASE CALL OR E-MAIL and urge your State Senator to oppose SB 581 and all voucher programs that lack oversight, accountability, and divert public education funding!
MOPTA Advocates are invited to utilize the letter below to guide your calls, emails, and social media contact with your lawmaker(s).
Dear Senator,
As a community, we prioritize the education standards of our kids. We have evaluation standards that must be met for public schools to remain accredited and we oppose efforts to divert funding from public education.
SB 581 gives school vouchers to low-income students to attend private schools and pays for the scholarships by offering tax credits to people or corporations that make contributions to the scholarship fund. Missouri PTA and other public-school advocates are opposed to voucher programs as they divert funding from public education and lack oversight and accountability that public schools offer to all students. Under this bill, these schools could be controlled by non-public organizations and sponsored by outside entities. These schools would not have to be held to the same evaluation standards public schools are held. This would allow for the potential for children to not have the quality of education they receive in Missouri public schools.
SB 581 “Show Me a Brighter Future Scholarship Act” is not good for students and parents, taxpayers and Missouri’s public schools and is a voucher in a bad disguise. This bill attempts to funnel public funds to private schools that lack of financial and educational oversight.
Please support our children and our public schools by OPPOSING SB 581!
Sincerely,
Your name and PTA
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Kristina Wilmoth
Vice President & Director of Legislation and Advocacy