Children Have a Right to a Safe Place to Learn
The U.S. Department of Education recently reminded states that under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), students must be given...
Information Overload and Missouri School Report Cards
Have you ever started reading the warning label on an over-the-counter drug like aspirin or ibuprofen? Ever finished one? Probably...
Border War is Back On!
For a brief, shining moment, Missouri and Kansas called a truce. After decades of lobbing taxpayer-funded incentives across State Line...
Tornado Severely Damages Show-Me Institute Headquarters
On Friday, May 16, a devastating tornado struck the St. Louis area, claiming lives, damaging homes and businesses, and leaving...
The Testing Bogeyman Is Alive and Well in Missouri
A version of the following commentary appeared in the Columbia Daily Tribune. If we believe it’s essential for schools to teach...
Missouri Legislature Invests $50 Million in Families’ Futures Through MOScholars Program
In a landmark victory for school choice and family empowerment, the Missouri Legislature has approved $50 million in public funding...
Shutting Down Dissent in Sedalia
There have been numerous public concerns about government actions in Sedalia for the past year or so. I wrote about...
Retail Competition in the Energy Market
Missouri took a step toward reshaping part of its electricity market with the passage of House Bill 417 out of...
Medicaid’s Check-Up: Part 5
At this point in my Medicaid blog series, it should be abundantly clear that the program is in dire need...
Phones Down: The Negative Effects of the Internet on Student Learning
In the early days of the internet, it was widely seen as a gateway to opportunity. Many believed that the...
The Final Weeks of the 2025 Session
David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss: the final stretch of Missouri’s legislative session, including...
New State Board of Education Has a Long To-Do List
A version of this commentary appeared in the Columbia Missourian. Governor Kehoe has appointed four new members to the Missouri...
Royals May Stay at Kauffman Amid Stadium Inertia
A new story by Kansas City Business Journal’s Thomas Friestad suggests a growing likelihood that the Kansas City Royals will...
MOScholars Program Remains a Worthwhile Investment
UPDATE (May 9, 2025):The Missouri General Assembly has included $50 million in the state budget to expand the MOScholars program....
Legislating Lower Standards for Missouri’s Children?
A version of the following commentary appeared in the Springfield News-Leader. Missouri lawmakers are considering a change to the performance levels...
A Bad Deal for Missouri’s Children
A version of this commentary appeared in The Heartlander Tradeoffs and give-and-take are at the heart of politics. We’re told...
The Three-Legged Stool of Taxes with David Stokes
Susan Pendergrass speaks with David Stokes, Director of Municipal Policy at the Show-Me Institute, about A Free-Market Guide for Missouri...
Earmarks Come to St. Louis County
The St. Louis County Council just passed a bill to give $3.2 million in tax money to privately owned farms...
SB 4: Missouri’s Energy Challenge and the Push for CWIP Reform
Senate Bill 4 (SB 4) is a massive, 133-page omnibus bill that flew through the Missouri Legislature and has now...
A New Voice for Accountability, and School Choice in Missouri with Cory Koedel
Dr. Cory Koedel, the Show-Me Institute’s new director of education policy, joins Susan Pendergrass to discuss the biggest challenges facing...
