Proponents of school choice again will have an ally in Jefferson City during the 2020 legislative session. The new Missouri House education committee chairman is focused on educational choice and says the committee’s aim is to ensure that every young person in Missouri has access to a quality education, according to Missourinet.
House Speaker Elijah Haahr (R-Springfield) has appointed Rep. Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport) to chair the Missouri House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee.
Rep. Chuck Basye (R-Rocheport)
Basye replaces former committee Chairwoman Rebecca Roeber of Lee’s Summit, who died in July after suffering serious injuries in a head-on collision in March on Highway 50 in west-central Missouri. Basye had served as Roeber’s vice-chair.
Parents should have as many options as possible for what they believe is best for their children, Basye said. “And whether that be the public school or a private school or a religious school or even a home-school environment, I think the parents should have that opportunity to choose what might be best for their children,” he said
Although Basye supports educational reform and educational choice options, he emphasizes that he is not opposed to public education. He attended St. Charles High School in eastern Missouri.
“I’m a product of public ed, my wife works for the Columbia public school system, my grandkids are all public-school children,” he said.
Basye said he believes State Rep. Mike O’Donnell (R-Oakville) will file charter school legislation next year. Charter school legislation was Roeber’s top priority. Current Missouri law limits charter schools to St. Louis, Kansas City and any unaccredited school districts.
State Rep. Dottie Bailey (R-Eureka) will serve as the committee vice chair in 2020, and State Rep. Judy Morgan (D-Kansas City) is the committee’s ranking Democrat. The 2020 session begins on January 8.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice