Published on Feb. 10, 2025
The Missouri legislature is starting to vote on the 2026 budget, which includes funding for gifted education programs on House Bill 2. This funding, along with generous donations from the University of Missouri and alumni like yourselves, supports not just the three weeks in June, but MSA preparations year-round.
Currently, the proposed funding for 2026 falls well short of what it costs to run the Academy. In addition, there is always the possibility that the funding will be cut completely.
Can you help by contacting the state legislators and sharing why this program is important? Your voice can help keep MSA affordable and accessible for future scholars by advocating for Academy funding from the state. Here are a few ways you can help:
1. Send a letter — handwritten or email — OR consider a phone call, to your district’s Representative and all seven members of the Missouri House Subcommittee on Appropriations – Education. This will help even if you don’t live in Missouri anymore. Explain why it’s important for MSA to have adequate funding to continue educating this group of students!
Sample Letter:
The Honorable ______
House of Representatives
State Capitol Building
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Dear Representative _______________ :
I am writing to request you vote to fund the Missouri Scholars Academy and the Missouri Fine Arts Academy at $1,000,000.00 in the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s budget — House Bill 2.
**** Give your specific examples of why this funding is needed ****
Respectfully,
Your name
Missouri Hometown
You can find your Representative and their contact information here. If you are a non-resident, you can still contact the seven members of the Missouri House Subcommittee on Appropriations – Education.
| Name | Email and Phone | Party | Position |
| Bishop Davidson | Bishop.Davidson@house.mo.gov 573-751-2381 | R | Chair |
| Ed Lewis | Ed.Lewis@house.mo.gov 573-751-6566 | R | Vice Chair |
| Kathy Steinhoff | Kathy.Steinhoff@house.mo.gov 573-751-4189 | D | Ranking Minority Member |
| Darin Chappell | Darin.Chappell@house.mo.gov 573-751-3819 | R | |
| Mazzie Christensen | Mazzie.Christensen@house.mo.gov 573-751-4285 | R | |
| John Martin | John.Martin@house.mo.gov 573-751-1169 | R | |
| Raychel Proudie | Raychel.Proudie@house.mo.gov 573-751-0855 | D |
2. If possible, attend GAM Day at the Capitol on February 19 in Jefferson City. The Gifted Association of Missouri (GAM) advocates for funding for education programs including MSA.
Thank you for your help in this important effort. The only way to make up the gap in funding for MSA would be to charge a substantial scholar fee or through alumni donations. Sharing your experiences, and why this program was important to you, can make a difference in the future of the program.