Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick announced six Educational Assistance Organizations (EAOs) have been certified for 2022.

A press release says an EAO is a nonprofit organization that- after approval by the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office- can receive qualified contributions from individuals and businesses to establish MOScholars scholarship accounts for qualified Missouri students.

The certified EAOs are:
· ACSI Children’s Tuition Fund;
· Agudath Israel of Missouri;
· Bright Futures Fund;
· Herzog Tomorrow Foundation;
· The Missouri District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod; and
· Today and Tomorrow Education Foundation

Per statute, the Treasurer’s Office can certify up to 10 EAOs per year, with no more than six having their principal place of business in any of: Greene, Jackson, St. Charles, St. Louis Counties or St. Louis City.

In 2021, the Missouri General Assembly passed HB349 and SB86 which established the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program or MOScholars. The law provides for state tax credits for contributions to nonprofit EAOs. Under the guidelines set forth in the governing statute, qualifying Missouri K-12 students may then apply for scholarships from participating EAOs to attend a K-12 institution other than their designated public school.

More information about the program can be found at <https://treasurer.mo.gov/MOScholars/>.