To the Editor:

Across Missouri, public schools are more than classrooms. In many rural communities, they are the heartbeat of the town. They host ballgames, concerts, science fairs, and graduations where generations of families gather.

Roughly 76 percent of Missouri is rural. The strength of our state is closely tied to the strength of rural communities and the public schools that serve them. In small towns, schools are often the largest employer and the center of community life. When a rural school struggles, the effects are felt in local businesses, property values, and whether young families choose to stay.

Yet recent legislative decisions are moving in a concerning direction. Lawmakers have shifted $50 million in general revenue into the MOScholars voucher program, which uses taxpayer dollars to fund private school tuition. More than 6,400 vouchers have been awarded, the majority concentrated in large urban areas.

This means rural taxpayers are helping fund private education elsewhere while their local public schools continue to meet fixed costs such as transportation, facilities, and special education services.

Missouri’s public education system should not be a tug-of-war between rural and urban communities. Strong public schools everywhere support workforce development, economic stability, and the future of our state.

Protecting rural schools means protecting Missouri’s future.

Sincerely,

Lafayette County Retired School Personnel