The bill proposes to repeal the existing section 166.700 of Missouri law and replace it with a new section that outlines the definitions and terms related to Missouri empowerment scholarships. The new section clarifies various terms such as "curriculum," "district," "educational assistance organization," "illegal alien," "parent," "private school," "program," "qualified school," and "qualified student." Notably, the definition of "qualified student" has been revised to exclude several previous criteria, including the requirement for an individualized education plan (IEP), income limitations, and prior public school attendance. The updated definition of "qualified student" now simply states that it includes any elementary or secondary school student who is a resident of Missouri and is not an illegal alien. This change streamlines the eligibility criteria for students seeking empowerment scholarships, potentially broadening access to these educational resources. The bill aims to enhance the framework for educational choice in Missouri by simplifying the requirements for students to qualify for scholarships.

Statutes affected:
Introduced (6335H.01): 166.700