JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – By a bipartisan vote of 11-5, the Missouri House Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education has passed a bill expanding the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. The bill, HCS HB 350, is sponsored by State Representative Phil Christofanelli, the author of the ESA program which became law in 2021.
The expansion measure moving through the House increases the scholarship amount that students can receive, doubles the ESA program’s cap from 25 million to 50 million, and expands eligibility to children between the ages of three to five for use at private and public pre-school programs.
“Over one thousand students across the state already benefit from empowerment scholarships,” said Rep. Phil Christofanelli (R-St. Peters). “This bill will allow thousands more children to benefit from the program and will provide critical childcare and learning opportunities to parents in our workforce.”
The bill now heads to a House Rules Committee and then onto the House floor for further approval.
Rep. Phil Christofanelli is a Republican who represents parts of the city of Saint Peters and Saint Charles County in the Missouri House of Representatives. For more information, or to schedule an interview, please email Jaret Scharnhorst at Jaret.Scharnhorst@house.mo.gov.