Do We Support School Choice Funding?

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:11

On January 29, President Trump signed the "Expanding Educational Freedom and Opportunity for Families" Executive Order.

This order instructs that the "Secretary of Education shall issue guidance regarding how States can use Federal formula funds to support K-12 educational choice initiatives."

Government funding has no place in homeschooling.  

From our inception, Missouri Homeschool Alliance has consistently held the position that state funds have no place in private education options. We are equally opposed to federal funds targeted to families for private education.

Government funding of private education options does not increase school choice. Rather, it diminishes choice because oversight and regulation always follow government funding.

When all choices are funded and regulated by the government, there are no private choices. Government funding does not empower parents nor increase freedom. Rather, it entices parents into dependence on the government, and reduces freedom.

As the Secretary of Education confirmation unfolds, and more details emerge about the ramifications of the Executive Order, we will keep you updated on the potential impact on homeschooling in Missouri.

State funds should only support government-run schools.

At the State level, there is also a move amongst our legislators to try and fund homeschooling, or in some way to use tax dollars to incentivize families to make the choice to homeschool or place their child in private school. We are firmly aligned against this idea. Missouri has one of the best and most free homeschool statutes in the Nation. As a Missouri homeschool family, you are not required to register your child or report to anyone in any way. Tax credits or ESA money will change that. Of course, with government money always comes government oversight, and a risk of loss of freedom to all homeschoolers, not just those who “opt in” to the school choice programs.

We are standing ready, but we need your help!

Your MHA board of directors is already engaged in conversations with our legislators and will have a strong presence in Jefferson City again this year. But we can’t do this alone.

That’s why we are asking for your help. We are recruiting like-minded homeschool parents and mature teens across the state who believe in our cause of protecting parent-directed, privately funded homeschooling in Missouri. We have many volunteer jobs available, and we need all hands on deck this year. If you are interested in learning more about how you can join us in our mission, please email us with your contact information and the ways that you are best equipped to serve, and we will be in touch!

If you are not in a place where you can volunteer your time right now, please consider joining Missouri Homeschool Alliance. Your paid membership is only $5 per month, but goes far in helping to cover the costs of doing business as an organization and is MUCH APPRECIATED. We also offer a discounted rate for 6 month and 12 month memberships!

Most of all, we ask that you would pray for us. Ask that God would give us wisdom as we speak, and favor with those who need to hear our message. It’s easy to feel discouraged when we’re up against lobbyists who have so much money and power and influence, but then we must trust in Matthew 17:20, where Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Thank you for your support of Missouri Homeschool Alliance. We are truly so very grateful for you.