On July 1, 2022, the state of Missouri launched MOScholars—a new tax credit program to provide educational scholarships for qualifying K-12 students attending private institutions. The Missouri District of the LCMS is blessed to be an Educational Assistance Organization within this program, enabling us to use the tax dollars of participants to walk with students and their families as they seek to defray the cost of tuition at our Lutheran schools. The inaugural year was a success—providing 97 full and partial scholarships to students attending 24 LCMS schools. Thirty five percent of these recipients experienced their very first year in a Lutheran school, making MOScholars a wonderful tool for growing God’s Kingdom.

“When a family receives MOScholars scholarships, their life has been blessed beyond measure,” shares Brenda Spieler, principal at St. John’s Lutheran School in Arnold. “So many of our families desperately want their children to attend a Lutheran school to receive an excellent education and, most importantly, to hear the Good News of Christ. MOScholars gives these families that ability.”

Given the great blessing MOScholars has been for students at our schools, we are pleased to expand the list of those who could potentially benefit. Along with these original 97 recipients now in their second year of the program, we’ve added approximately 50 additional students to the scholarship waitlist for the 2023-24 school year. Would you, as a taxpayer to the state of Missouri, please consider taking part in this tax credit reservation process to provide scholarships for these 150 students?

To learn more about MOScholars and begin the process, head to mo.lcms.org/mo-scholars for easy access to the state treasurer’s official page. There you’ll find the specifics of the program and the online reservation form. Simply follow the prompts and select “Missouri District” when asked which institution you’d like to make use of your funds. When finished, send your reservation number and check to the Missouri District office. You will then receive the official documentation you’ll need to redeem those credits when filing your taxes.

“The state of Missouri has given us an opportunity to use our tax dollars to support Lutheran schools and their students throughout the state. The process is easy and most importantly makes a lasting eternal impact on a family,” concludes Principal Spieler. Leah Sieveking at the District office can be reached at 314-590-6211 or leah.sieveking@mo.lcms.org with any other questions. Thank you for your participation in MOScholars through the Missouri District.