MOScholars

Up to $7,145 per student for 2026-27, more for some students. The law sets each ceiling as a share of the state adequacy target, which the Missouri education department lists as $7,145 for 2026-27: up to 100% of it for most students, 125% for students eligible for free or reduced lunch, 160% for English learners and 175% for students with an IEP. Worked example (our arithmetic, not a figure the state publishes): 175% of $7,145 is about $12,503. These are ceilings: assistance organizations may award less, and the average award in 2025-26 was $6,831.

Students with an IEP (the Treasurer also accepts an IDEA service plan dated within 36 months), or from households up to 300% of the free and reduced lunch income standard who also attended public school full time for at least one semester in the past 12 months, are entering kindergarten or first grade, or have a sibling in the program. Returning students and siblings come first, then students with an IEP or dyslexia, then lower-income students.

Not always. The award is a set amount and every school sets its own price. Ask each school for tuition plus fees, then subtract the award. The calculator on this page does the sum for you.

Missouri keeps no statewide list of participating schools. Each school partners with an assistance organization, so ask the school which one it works with.

You apply through one of the state-approved Educational Assistance Organizations, not to the state directly.

Ask the school you want which Educational Assistance Organization (EAO) it partners with, or look up the certified EAOs and their partner schools on the Treasurer's EAO page. The 6 steps are listed under “Apply for MOScholars” on this page, with the documents to have ready.

No. You apply through the Educational Assistance Organization that partners with the school you want; the Treasurer lists the certified EAOs and their school lists.

Only if they have an IEP, are eligible to begin kindergarten or first grade, or are a sibling of a current scholarship student. Otherwise an income-qualified student must have attended public school full time for at least one semester in the previous 12 months.

No. The Treasurer's parent handbook says MOScholars funds are not taxable income to the parent.

Yes. You renew through your EAO, and to stay eligible the student must attend a qualified school, take an annual norm-referenced achievement test and the parent must complete the annual survey.

Renewing students can keep using rollover funds. If you withdraw from the program, the account is closed and the remaining money goes back to the EAO for other students.

Missouri law counts a family paced education (FPE) school as a qualified school, and some EAOs, such as Activate Missouri and the Missouri District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, say they serve FPE students.

A student with an IEP, or an individual service plan under IDEA, dated within 36 months of applying, at any income. Or a student in a household at or under 300% of the free and reduced lunch income standard who also attended public school full time for a semester in the past 12 months, is starting kindergarten or first grade, or has a sibling in the program.

Source: Missouri State Treasurer, MOScholars FAQs, undated page, read October 7, 2026.

Amounts are tied to the state adequacy target set by the Missouri education department. Most students can get up to that target, students eligible for free or reduced lunch up to 125% of it, English learners up to 160% and students with an IEP up to 175%. The assistance organization can award less.

Source: Missouri State Treasurer, MOScholars Parent Handbook, school year 2026-2027 (revised January 5, 2026), PDF dated January 5, 2026.

Tuition and fees at a qualified school, required textbooks, educational therapies, tutoring, curriculum, a Missouri private virtual school, test fees, approved technology, summer and after-school programs, public school classes and mileage to and from school.

Source: Missouri State Treasurer, MOScholars FAQs, undated page, read October 7, 2026.

Consumable supplies such as pens and paper, tuition at a private school outside Missouri, and payments to relatives of the student. The handbook also rules out household items, field trips, event tickets, sports equipment, furniture and musical instruments.

Source: Missouri State Treasurer, MOScholars Parent Handbook, school year 2026-2027 (revised January 5, 2026), PDF dated January 5, 2026.

No. The Treasurer says it does not reduce funding for the student's home district. Scholarships come from private donations that earn state tax credits.

Source: Missouri State Treasurer, MOScholars FAQs, undated page, read October 7, 2026.

You get an approval or denial email from the assistance organization. For 2026-27, approved students were told in spring 2026. Questions go to the organization you applied through.

Source: Missouri State Treasurer, MOScholars Parent Handbook, school year 2026-2027 (revised January 5, 2026), PDF dated January 5, 2026.

Yes. A parent can withdraw at any time by sending a notice to the assistance organization, and the remaining money goes back to it. The account can also be moved to another eligible parent or guardian with a change form.

Source: Missouri State Treasurer, MOScholars Parent Handbook, school year 2026-2027 (revised January 5, 2026), PDF dated January 5, 2026.