UPDATE: Court Upholds Missouri School Choice Program

Chantal Fennell

August 25, 2025
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A Missouri court has rejected an attempt by the Missouri National Education Association to block additional funding for the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (MOScholars) program. This decision ensures that thousands of students with disabilities and children from low-income families will continue to have uninterrupted access to the program, which provides flexible education options tailored to their needs.

EdChoice attorneys represented three families who use or are seeking to use the program, playing a key role in defending MOScholars and securing this important ruling.

“Families across Missouri rely on MOScholars to provide the educational options their children need to thrive,” said Bryan Cleveland, attorney with EdChoice Legal Advocates. “Today’s ruling ensures that students with disabilities and children from low-income families can continue accessing programs that are tailored to their unique needs.”

The ruling ensures families can access program funds while the MNEA’s case proceeds through the courts.

Chantal Fennell

Vice President of Communications

Chantal is the Vice President of Communications at EdChoice, where she directs the organization’s communications efforts, and manages its brand and public relations.

Prior to joining the EdChoice team, Chantal served as the Director of Policy Advancement at the State Policy Network, where she worked with state-based organizations to advance policy reforms. Before that, Chantal worked as the communications manager at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Michigan, and as the Nevada Policy Research Institute’s communications director.

Prior to beginning her career in the policy advocacy movement, Chantal was a journalist in California, where she received awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Association for investigative reporting, economic reporting, and features writing. During her time as a reporter, Chantal authored an exposé that resulted in the creation of one of the nation’s first-ever curriculum for high school students with high-functioning autism.

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