Cynthia Davis- Let's put our public money into private schools and homeschooling

Rep. Cynthia Davis, R-O'Fallon, offers thoughts on how to improve education by pouring tax dollars into private schools and homeschooling in her latest column:

We all want the best for our children. As the mother of seven I have experienced first hand the variety of learning styles and educational settings that allow children to achieve the greatest success. Whether you have children or not, our communities benefit when we show wise use of our tax dollars to turn out students who will eventually contribute their talents, skills and tax dollars to our culture. Interestingly, studies show that some of the schools who spend the most on education have the worst outcomes -as discussed in Forbes.com. And for another perspective check out the: Washington Post.

How can that be? There are other factors that make a difference in children’s lives—like having both a mom and a dad living in the home and the moral guidance transmitted to the children. Things that cost nothing -yet change everything.

To help make a difference, I have pre-filed two bills pertaining to education:

1.) One bill offers a real bargain for the taxpayers because it creates a tax credit of $1,000 per year for those who do not use the public school system. The state of Missouri spends an average of $ $9,338 per pupil. The state can spare itself that expense by offering a mere $1,000, there is a net savings of $ 8,338 per pupil because the state would no longer be responsible for educating those pupils. Multiplying that by all the children who might use this, the savings to the taxpayers could easily be in the millions.
2.) A straight tax deduction for tuition off your Missouri Income tax. This approach is not quite as helpful as a tax credit, but still rewards behavior that elevates all of us in the long run. This also provides a small benefit for those who pay their own way. If we value education, we can encourage more of it by not taxing the income that makes it possible to learn. This deduction is for all tuition kindergarten through college. Link here to read my House Bill 1240.

The state of Missouri also has a virtual school program called Missouri Virtual Instruction Program (MoVIP) which I helped to create in 2007. Some children need to learn at home with a computer for a variety of physical, emotional and psychological reasons. Unfortunately, the governor has chosen to withhold funding from the virtual school program which means the suspension of this school in the middle of the school year. Governor Nixon’s budget cuts may affect the MoVIP program
I share the concern of the families in this program because it is stressful to disrupt the educational program in midstream. One of the families living in O’Fallon told me of their hardship because their daughter was studying Latin and can’t continue without the virtual school program. I studied Latin when I was in high school and still benefit from having taken the classes. Link here to read about the The Missouri Virtual Instruction Program.

The decision to cut virtual school is not in the best interest of the children. We should all be puzzled over the governor’s decision since virtual schools cost the state an average of $ 4,800 per pupil and if those students are infused into our local school districts it could easily double the expense. However, do not be daunted. It is and will always still be the job of parents to see to it that their children are educated. The schools are here to help, but if all else fails, the parents ultimately are responsible for the final result of their educational decisions and the impact on their children’s lives. Missourians are fundamentally able to pull together and focus on what really matters. Hardships don’t have to stop our progress. Get insights to School Choice and the Common Good. The right question needs to be how we can support strengthening the greatest social welfare system ever in history—the family.