Private schools promote donor-funded scholarships
Aug. 13—SMITHVILLE, Mo. — A new Missouri program sets aside a fund composed of $25 million backed by donors throughout the state to help pay for the costs of private educators, such as the Christian schools the Herzog Foundation supports.
As explained by its proponents, the MOScholars initiative is designed to promote school choice without diverting funds that would otherwise go to public districts. That is possible because the money involved comes from individual donors, with a $500 minimum contribution required. Donations are encouraged by allowing the cancellation of up to 50% of one's income tax liability in a given year.
That means, if the total amount owed (including paycheck deductions) is $1,600, $800 can be donated to the fund each year for an equivalent tax credit. Grants of up to $6,375 are distributed from the fund to qualified students to attend school. The fund is managed by Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick, with the Herzog Foundation among those managing applications and beneficiaries, in this case via www.herzogtomorrowfoundation.com. The $6,375 awards are reserved for students who are part of an individualized education program, and families with a low socioeconomic status, as shown by income levels. No preference is given to those who will attend a secular campus vs. a religious academy.
"The MOScholars program will have no negative impact on public school funding," said Elizabeth Roberts, communications director for the foundation. "And in fact, if a student does choose to leave a public school as a result of the MOScholars program, and go to a private school instead, that public school will still get to keep those students' funds for years to come, even after the student leaves the public school."
By "students' funds," Roberts made reference to the Missouri adequacy payment, in which the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education routes $6,375 per pupil, per year to a public agency to help defray the costs of education. The overall idea is to maintain "balance" between public and private education needs, to promote the concept of "school choice."
Ann Lachowitzer, president of the St. Joseph Catholic Academy, works with the Bright Futures Fund, an extension of MOScholars that is sponsored by the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph. That program, available via https://www.brightfuturesfund.org/moscholars.html, likewise offers $6,375 grants.
"Because of programs like this, I think we're going to see growth for everyone," Lachowitzer said. "We're going to see growth for Christian schools, for St. Paul Lutheran School, for smaller schools throughout the region, as well as our Catholic schools. I think that parents are becoming more familiar with their options in education, and they're making a decision on what is the best route for their child."
The Herzog Foundation, established in 2020 after the August 2019 death of benefactor Stanley M. Herzog, is putting the finishing touches on its new headquarters in Smithville, Missouri. Since its founding, it has provided more than 150 scholarships to students, including 91 beneficiaries from its MOScholars program it announced on Aug. 5.
"Our broad mission is to advance Christian education," Roberts said. "But when it comes to the MOScholars program, we are working with all kinds of schools. We're working with Christian schools, secular schools, wherever families would like to send their children, that is where we would like for them to go."
Marcus Clem can be reached at marcus.clem@newspressnow.com. Follow him on Twitter: @NPNowClem
