Missouri enacted the MOScholars program in 2021, with the goal of enabling Missouri families to customize an education that works for each individual student. The program provides options for Missouri families, allowing them to seek an array of alternative educational services ranging from private schools to therapeutic education services. Current or prospective students who live in the Cape Girardeau City limits may qualify for up to $6,375 towards their tuition at St. Mary Cathedral School, St. Vincent De Paul School, or Notre Dame Regional High School if they meet the requirements outlined in the Parent Handbook that has been produced by the State Treasurer’s Office.

Qualified students must also meet one of the following criteria:

1. Have an approved “individualized education plan” developed under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The term “individualized education plan” means:
   • An individualized education program (IEP) as defined in 20 U.S.C. §1414(d)(I)(A)(i); or
   • An individual service plan (ISP) that is developed in cooperation with a local educational agency under the IDEA, specifically those provisions pertaining to parentally placed private school children found in 20 U.S.C. §1412(a)(10) and 34 CFR §300.132(b).
   • Any IEP or ISP that is proffered for program eligibility must be dated within thirty-six months of the date of the student’s application to the program. Students with ISPs that are not developed under the IDEA are not eligible.
2. Is a member of a household whose total annual income does not exceed an amount equal to 100% of the income standard used to qualify for free and reduced lunches, and meets at least one of the following:

• • Attended a public school as a full-time student for at least one semester during the previous twelve months; or
  • Is a child who is eligible to begin kindergarten or first grade.

If funding remains available after all students who meet these qualifications have been served, then the next category of qualified student is any student who:

1. Is a member of a household whose total annual income does not exceed 200% of the standard used to qualify for free and reduced lunches and meets at least one of the following qualifications:

• • Attended a public school as a full-time student for at least one (1) semester during the previous twelve (12) months; or
  • Is a child who is eligible to begin kindergarten or first grade.

Bright Futures Fund is the Education Assistance Organization (EAO) that is responsible for taking in scholarship applications and awarding the scholarships for St. Mary Cathedral School, St. Vincent De Paul School, Notre Dame Regional High School.  Here is what we recommend you do: Go to the Bright Futures Fund website (www.brightfuturesfund.org) to apply. You will find a pre-qualification (or pre-application) form that you must first fill out for the “Springfield, Joplin & Cape Girardeau Schools.” If you qualify for a MOScholars scholarship, the EAO will send you a follow-up email with a link to the actual MOScholars application. Fill out that application as soon as you can as the scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

As soon as you complete the application, please contact St. Mary Cathedral School, St. Vincent De Paul School or Notre Dame Regional High School and begin the enrollment process.  Bright Futures Fund will contact a school to verify that you are finalizing your enrollment with a school before they award the scholarship.  If a school does not have an enrollment application for your child open, they will be unable to verify that you are completing the enrollment process.

Alan Bruns: alanbruns@stmarycape.org

Kay Glastetter: kglastetter@svcape.eduk12.net

Tim Garner: timgarner@notredamecape.org

If you do not qualify, please help us spread the word about this unique opportunity by forwarding this page to families you believe would benefit from this program.