State Treasurer Vivek Malek is sworn in on the steps of the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025.
JEFFERSON CITY 鈥 A new report says state Treasurer Vivek Malek did not conduct proper oversight of the state鈥檚 soon-to-expand private school voucher program.
Two weeks after Gov. Mike Kehoe signed legislation pumping an unprecedented $50 million in state funds into the MO Scholars program, Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick鈥檚 report said Malek failed to comply with a state regulation calling for annual reviews of the scholarships.
鈥淚mprovements are needed in the oversight and monitoring procedures of the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program,鈥 said Fitzpatrick, a Republican who formerly served as state treasurer.
Fitzpatrick said Malek, a political newcomer who was appointed to the post in January 2023 by former Gov. Mike Parson, should have hired outside auditors to review the program. The report also noted that Malek, also a Republican, 鈥渄id not have procedures in place to adequately review or monitor annual reports鈥 related to the program.
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鈥淲ithout properly reviewing and monitoring program reports 鈥 there is increased risk that errors and noncompliance with program requirements will go undetected,鈥 Fitzpatrick said.
Malek, in a formal response letter to Fitzpatrick, agreed with the findings and said procedures have been put in place to better monitor the scholarships.
Revelations of a lack of oversight come as Kehoe has traveled the state promoting a massive expansion of the vouchers.
Missouri legislators in 2021 created the MOScholars program that funds private school tuition through donations exchanged for state tax credits.
Rather than rely on donations, Kehoe pushed through legislation that carves out $50 million directly from the state budget for the program.
About 2,700 students received vouchers last year. State officials have said the additional funding created by the new law could go to 6,000 more students.
Its launch, however, may be delayed after the Missouri National Education Association and two of its members sued the state over the expansion.
The lawsuit argues the state鈥檚 Empowerment Scholarship Act 鈥渄oes not authorize distribution of general revenues for scholarships. No other Missouri statute provides this authority either.鈥
During a stop in 51黑料 last week, the Republican governor said he feels the state holds a strong position in the case and 鈥渨e鈥檒l let the courts work it out.鈥
In his response, Malek criticized Fitzpatrick鈥檚 office for expanding the audit to include findings that occurred in 2024, when the audit was supposed to only investigate issues for the year ending June 30, 2023.
However, he said he agrees with the findings 鈥渁nd has taken steps to address the matter.鈥
In June, following an open bidding process, the office hired Forvis Mazars, an accounting firm, to undertake the auditing duties. The contract runs for three years.
The company already has a contract with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for similar consulting services.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe speaks at a signing ceremony for House Bill 12, which injects $50 million into the state's MOScholars private school voucher program. The ceremony was held Friday, July 11, 2025 at St. Mary's South Side Catholic High School in 51黑料.
