JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI - Today, Governor Mike Parson signed House Bill 1552 into law, which expands access to virtual education options for students as well as providing increased funding for Missouri’s charter schools. The legislation is vital to continue the expansion of school choice efforts in the state.

Samoy Mainda is the parent leader for Missouri Chapter of the National Coalition for Public School Options. Her daughter has been unable to access virtual education, because the existing law allowed local school districts to override the desires of parents and/or limited access to only those families currently enrolled in traditional school districts.

“I speak on behalf of parents across the state when I say, ‘thank you, Governor Parson, for empowering parents to choose what’s best for our children,” Mainda said.  House Bill 1552 will greatly expand education freedom in our state by putting the decision-making authority where it belongs – in the hands of parents.”

House Bill 1552 includes important reforms that represent a compromise between virtual education providers and organizations representing public school districts, on how to reform the state’s virtual education program in a way that meets our student’s needs, honors taxpayers, and respects parents as knowing what’s best for their students.  Under this new law, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will create an enrollment process that respects parents and students and their decisions.

“I am hopeful that the changes enacted under HB 1552 will close the loopholes school districts have abused to deny thousands of families their right to choose the best education for their children,” Mainda said. “No family should ever have to endure the difficulties and trauma my family and many others have endured in our quest to give our children the best education possible.”

“We encourage DESE to move quickly to adopt rules consistent with the spirit of the law – and put parents first – and ensure these rules are in place in time for the upcoming school year,” Mainda continued.

In addition to important reforms for virtual education, House Bill 1552 contains an important change to how Missouri’s charter school are funded. Currently, if a student attends a charter school that school receives a lower amount of money for that student than if they were to attend their district school counterpart. This bill provides increased state funding for our state’s charter schools.