No matter what we look like, where we come from, or what’s in our wallets, all Missourians want our kids to get the best education possible.
Unfortunately, some special interests view public education differently, believing that the quality of the education our children receive is less important than how much money can be extracted from them. Despite our ranking as the 49th in the nation in state support for public schools, certain politicians seek to further siphon off that limited support and provide it to unaccountable charter schools.
Public money must come with public accountability. All schools that seek public funding must have the same standards of accountability, transparency, and respect for the rights of students, staff, and parents. We believe that unless or until charter schools are accountable to local and democratically elected bodies they should not have access to public funding.
Instead of cutting the already insufficient level of support for students, let’s fully fund our classrooms and protect a local school system that works for our children and their teachers, not for special interests.
Today, March 28, the Senate Education Committee is hearing SB 727 which would divert public money to private schools.
Below is my full testimony. As always, I encourage you to share your story and reach out to your legislators.
Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action is a statewide organization committed to building an economy and a democracy that works for all of us. We work with faith leaders, students, union members, and everyday Missourians—Black, Brown, and White—to build a state where we can all thrive. We work to build workplaces, neighborhoods, and communities where each of us has what we need for a safe and healthy life, from cradle to grave.
Our public schools educate our kids, but they also strengthen our communities for all of us. As a cornerstone of our democracy, every school should be fully funded with the resources to deliver quality education that prepares every child to reach their full potential.
Taking public funds and moving that money to private schools through tuition tax credit style voucher programs takes resources away from the 90 percent of Missouri’s children who attend public schools.
Public money must come with public accountability. All schools that seek public funding must have the same standards of accountability, transparency, and respect for the rights of students, staff, and parents.
We are not uniformly opposed to charter schools. But we do believe public money must have public accountability. By refusing to fall under the jurisdiction of locally elected school boards, we believe charter schools forfeit the right to public funding.
No matter what we look like, where we come from, or what’s in our wallets, all Missourians want our kids to get the best education possible. We urge you to vote against SB727.
Kay Mills, Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action
