School choice advocates at the 2022 School Choice Rally at the Capitol said Tuesday was a victory lap and a reminder more work is needed.
The rally, held in the Capitol Rotunda during the nationally celebrated school choice week, hosted students from at least seven private schools across the state. Speakers from school choice advocacy groups, private schools and the Legislature pointed to the last legislative session as a win in their remarks.
"Today, we rejoice in choice. Tomorrow, no matter the fight, for more children to have access to best options, we'll do it," said Kimberlee Gill, academic dean of Summit Christian Academy in Lee's Summit. "We've won the battle, we've saved a few. Tomorrow we're back at the dragons. More children need saving."
Gill said the pandemic had drawn parents' attention back to the education of their children.
"When education came home, the crumbling of culture became apparent, and parents that had been taught to drop their child at the schoolhouse door and let it be handled now understood, 'I need to get involved,'" she said. "Now understood that many have lost the opportunity to mold their children's hearts and minds."
Many of the legislators who were involved with school choice bills were present. The children presented them with necklaces as "choice champions."
Peter Franzen, associate executive director of the Children's Education Alliance of Missouri, opened the rally.
"In the years leading up to last year, we were here at the Capitol every legislative session, connecting with legislators, testifying at committees, so that parents could tell their personal stories about education with their kids and why school choice matters to them," he said.
"Seeing a new law passed is no small thing, and that's why ... we just wanted to stop and celebrate the great thing that we helped make a reality."
Franzen pointed to the passage of House Bill 349 last session, which established the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program, allowing people to claim a tax credit for up to 50 percent of their contributions to educational programs. The money would then go to student accounts for use on educational expenses.
Franzen called the program a "first step."
Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick shared the views on school choice had shifted through the years in the Legislature. When he entered the Legislature, he said, the bill would likely have failed. He added his own views on the issue had shifted after he began "looking at the data."
He said he became concerned about the number of students not proficient in math and science.
The Rotunda stairs were packed with children from various schools, all decked in yellow school choice scarves.
The remarks were followed by several student performances.
Outreach Christian Education students from the Kansas City area recited "The American's Creed" by William Tyler Page, while Brilliant Minds Private School students from Florissant performed a motivational chant.
They were followed by several choirs from Providence School of the Arts in Kansas City, Christian Fellowship School, of Columbia, and Blue Ridge Christian School, of Kansas City.
Northland Christian School bands from the Kansas City area played "Fanfare for the Unsung Hero."
Summit Christian Academy performed a speech by Patrick Henry, and Brilliant Minds Private School also performed a cultural dance.