JEFFERSON CITY — A proposal by a Missouri lawmaker would establish a new tax credit program that, if approved, would put money back in the pockets of families who homeschool their children or enroll them in private schools.

Under the bill, sponsored by Rep. Doug Richey, R-Excelsior Springs, beginning in January parents would be reimbursed 100% of eligible education expenses, up to the state adequacy target amount, which is the per-student spending target set by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

For the 2024-2025 school year, the state adequacy target is $6,760, according to the department. This would be the maximum allowable amount parents could claim for that year when they file their tax returns. Expenses include tuition and fees, textbooks, supplemental materials, tutoring and after-school programs.

“The closest thing you can come up with, in my estimation, where money follows the student with as little government intrusion as possible,” Richey said during a public hearing in the House Special Committee on Education Reform on Monday.

The program would exclude students enrolled in public and charter schools and those participating in the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program, or MOScholars, a K-12 program run by the state treasurer’s office and funded by private donations.

Dava-Leigh Brush, representing the Missouri Equity Education Partnership Action, testified in opposition to the bill. Brush said she opposes the bill because it doesn’t provide transparency or accountability in how taxpayer funds will be used.

“It’s also my tax money and I’d like to know how my tax money is being used,” Brush said.

Brush added that she is “steadfastly opposed” to any legislation that would reallocate public funds for private and non-public purposes.

Otto Fajen, legislative director for the Missouri National Education Association, said the estimated cost of the program is giving him cause for concern.

“Particularly the fact that the fiscal note looks like something that has a ‘B’ (for billion) in the beginning is very concerning,” Fajen said.

The bill’s fiscal note shows the program could cost the state roughly $900 million to $1.5 billion, depending on the number of qualified students choosing to use the program.

During testimony, Richey, who is running to replace Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, who is term-limited, offered to amend the language in reference to homeschooled children by creating a separate chapter and definition. He offered “family-paced education” as a possible term to include in the bill to better encompass children who are homeschooled without changing the state’s statute language.

Richey defined “family-paced education” as “families that are educating their children within the context of their family.”

Richey’s bill is part of a renewed push by Republicans this session to expand school choice and give parents more control over their children’s education.

The first bill to pass out of the House this session, sponsored by Rep. Brad Pollitt, R-Sedalia, would allow students to attend a public school outside of their resident district starting in the 2025-2026 school year.

Another bill by Sen. Andrew Koenig, R-Manchester, that would provide a tax credit for parents who homeschool or enroll their children in private schools cleared a Senate education committee last month.

Koenig’s bill is similar to Richey’s but does not exclude students participating in MOScholars and only applies if parents enroll their children outside of their home district.

Richey’s bill currently includes a six-year sunset provision, but he said he didn’t intend for it to be in the bill.