• Publications and Model Policy
    • Blueprint for Missouri
    • Model Policy
    • MOGE
    • Report
      • Case Study
      • Policy Study
      • Essay
    • The Missouri School Rankings Project
    • Testimony
    • Newsletter
  • Blog
    • Daily Blog
    • Podcasts and Radio
    • Video
    • Infographics
    • Commentary / Op-Eds
    • Events
  • Events
  • Donate
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Show-Me Institute Board of Directors
    • Fellows and Scholars
    • Our Authors
    • Jobs
  • Contact
  • Explore Topics
    • Education
      • Accountability
      • Education Finance
      • Performance
      • School Choice
      • The Missouri School Rankings Project
    • Health Care
      • Free-Market Reform
      • Medicaid
    • Corporate Welfare
      • Special Taxing Districts
      • Subsidies
      • Tax Credits
    • Labor
      • Government Unions
      • Public Pensions
    • State and Local Government
      • Budget and Spending
      • Courts
      • Criminal Justice
      • Municipal Policy
      • Property Rights
      • Transparency
      • Transportation
    • Economy
      • Business Climate
      • Energy
      • Minimum Wage
      • Privatization
      • Regulation
      • Taxes
      • Welfare
      • Workforce
Show Me InstituteShow Me Institute
Show Me InstituteShow Me Institute
Support the Show-Me Institute
  • Publications and Model Policy
    • Blueprint for Missouri
    • Model Policy
    • MOGE
    • Report
      • Case Study
      • Policy Study
      • Essay
    • The Missouri School Rankings Project
    • Testimony
    • Newsletter
  • Blog
    • Daily Blog
    • Podcasts and Radio
    • Video
    • Infographics
    • Commentary / Op-Eds
    • Events
  • Events
  • Donate
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Show-Me Institute Board of Directors
    • Fellows and Scholars
    • Our Authors
    • Jobs
  • Contact
  • Explore Topics
    • Education
      • Accountability
      • Education Finance
      • Performance
      • School Choice
      • The Missouri School Rankings Project
    • Health Care
      • Free-Market Reform
      • Medicaid
    • Corporate Welfare
      • Special Taxing Districts
      • Subsidies
      • Tax Credits
    • Labor
      • Government Unions
      • Public Pensions
    • State and Local Government
      • Budget and Spending
      • Courts
      • Criminal Justice
      • Municipal Policy
      • Property Rights
      • Transparency
      • Transportation
    • Economy
      • Business Climate
      • Energy
      • Minimum Wage
      • Privatization
      • Regulation
      • Taxes
      • Welfare
      • Workforce
×

Education / School Choice

Mississippi Does What Missouri Won’t for Students with Disabilities

By Abigail Burrola on Jun 24, 2019
Teacher helping student

wavebreakmedia / Shutterstock

Hundreds of students with disabilities in Mississippi have a much-needed opportunity:  the option to choose a school that serves their needs. In 2015, Mississippi enacted an Education Scholarship Account (ESA) program for special needs students. The program provides scholarships so students can attend a school of their choice. The program served just under 200 students in its first two years and about 350 students in 2018 and 2019.

Unfortunately, students with disabilities here in Missouri don’t have the same options. Just a year after Mississippi’s program was passed, Missouri passed an ESA program called Bryce’s Law for students with disabilities. But the program was not properly designed, so not one student has benefitted from it. In Missouri, unless a family can afford a private education, students with disabilities must remain in their assigned schools.

The difference between Missouri and Mississippi in educational freedom for students with disabilities grew even starker this year. The Mississippi state legislature recently approved an additional two million dollars of scholarship funding for the next school year. This funding will support scholarships for students who have been on the program’s wait list.  

Students with disabilities face unique obstacles. Finding a school with the right programs, services and resources is vital. States like Mississippi are supporting their students with disabilities through ESAs. Meanwhile, Missouri has a scholarship program with no scholarship money. Bryce’s Law will sunset at the end of this year, giving the legislature an opportunity to pass a properly funded scholarship program next year. Isn’t it time for Missouri to support students with disabilities by allowing them greater opportunities to get the education they need?  

 

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Email
  • Print
About the author

Abigail Burrola

More about this author >
Footer Logo
Support the Show-Me-Institute
Showmeinstitute.org is brought to you by Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity.
  • Publications
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Donate
  • About
  • Contact

Reprint permission for Show-Me Institute publications and commentaries is hereby granted, provided that proper credit is given to the author. We request, but do not require, that those who reprint our material notify us of publication for our records: [email protected].

Mission Statement
Advancing liberty with responsibility by promoting market solutions for Missouri public policy.

© Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved