1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

As a public school advocate, I urge lawmakers to reject this dangerous bill, which prioritizes privatization over Missouri’s children and communities. HCS/SS/SB 63 (Brown) accelerates the defunding of public education while eroding accountability, deepening inequities, and putting students at risk. By exempting homeschool and FPE programs from recordkeeping and background checks, this bill abandons basic safeguards that protect children. Public schools are required to meet rigorous standards—licensed educators, anti-discrimination laws, and transparency—yet this legislation grants unregulated actors a free pass. How can we ensure students receive adequate education or safety without oversight? This creates a two-tiered system: one for marginalized students reliant on underfunded public schools, and another for privileged families who can afford to opt out while cherry-picking public resources. Allowing homeschool students to access taxpayer-funded extracurriculars—sports, arts, clubs—without contributing to the system is unjust. These programs rely on public dollars and overworked staff. Meanwhile, the bill’s 12-month eligibility ban for students fleeing disciplinary consequences incentivizes families to withdraw children facing accountability for misconduct, only to later exploit public resources. This privileges individualism over collective responsibility, undermining school safety and equity. The redefinition of recovery high schools to include private entities is equally alarming. Turning a lifeline for students with substance use disorders into a profit-driven venture mirrors the failures of for-profit charter schools, which too often cut costs, hire unqualified staff, and exclude high-need students. Education is a public good, not a commodity. This bill is part of a broader national agenda to dismantle public education. Missouri’s MOScholars program has already diverted $50 million from public schools to private interests, while rural districts struggle to afford textbooks and counselors. Homeschooling, while valid in some cases, is not a systemic solution. It disproportionately benefits wealthy, white families and leaves behind students with disabilities, English learners, and low-income children who depend on robust public systems. Public schools are the heart of our democracy, serving 90% of Missouri’s children. Instead of subsidizing privatization, lawmakers must invest in fully funded schools, equitable resources, and wraparound services for all. Reject HCS/SS/SB 63—stand with communities, not corporate interests.