State Board of Education shortchanges Missouri students by $300 million

The Missouri State Teachers Association is disappointed that the State Board of Education has chosen not to recommend fully funding Missouri’s school foundation formula.

On Tuesday, the State Board voted against fully funding Missouri’s school foundation formula, instead proposing to underfund students by almost $300 million. This comes during the same meeting the board voted to create an A-F vanity project, not required by law, with a proposed price tag of $6.5 million. These recommendations now go to the governor as he drafts his proposed budget for the 2027-28 school year.

 This is an unacceptable decision from a board entrusted with advocating for the needs of Missouri's public schools and the students they serve. The foundation formula is not a wish list. It is established in state law to determine the resources necessary to educate Missouri's students. The increase is not driven by a recalculation of the foundation formula. It is the result of formula changes the legislature made over the past several sessions. The State Board is being asked to fund obligations lawmakers created through their own policy choices, and the board is now asking the legislature not to fund the very items they placed into law. That sends exactly the wrong message to lawmakers, educators, parents, and communities across Missouri.

Gov. Mike Kehoe and his administration have repeatedly talked about improving educational outcomes and holding Missouri schools accountable.  But accountability must extend to state government as well. Missouri cannot demand more from students, teachers, and local school districts while the state fails to provide the minimum funding prescribed in state law. 

Our students deserve better. Our educators deserve better. The State Board had a choice, and its decision could impact every community across the state. Instead of standing up for students, the board failed its most basic duty. MSTA will continue to advocate and work with the legislature to ensure these misguided recommendations don’t result in underfunding students across the state.