PRESS RELEASE
Treasurer Fitzpatrick Announces over 1,000 MOScholars Scholarships Awarded
Jefferson City, MO — Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick
today announced that over 1,000 scholarships have been awarded to students to
attend the school of their choice through the MOScholars program. The 1,029
awards come from six Educational Assistance Organizations (EAO) and provide
scholarships to students in all eligible regions of the state. “1,000 scholarships is an
important milestone for this program. MOScholars gives Missouri students with
special needs and from low-income households the opportunity to attend a school
that can best meet their educational needs—this is good news for our state,”
Treasurer Fitzpatrick said. “This program, the first of its kind in Missouri,
launched this year and has proven to be a great success for the students and families
of this state. I am grateful for the continued efforts of our partner EAOs,
their donors, and my staff to ensure eligible Missouri children and families
are able to access education that meets their needs.” Nearly $9 million in tax credits
have been reserved for contributions to EAOs. In 2021, the Missouri General
Assembly passed HB349 and SB86 which established the Missouri Empowerment
Scholarship Accounts Program, MOScholars. The law provides state tax credits
for contributions to approved, non-profit Educational Assistance Organizations
(EAOs). These EAOs use the contributions to award scholarships to Missouri
students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and students living in
low-income households. More information about the
program, tax credits, and a list of certified EAOs and eligibility
requirements, can be found at https://treasurer.mo.gov/MOScholars/.
