Missouri’s equation to fund K-12 public schools has not been significantly revised in 20 years. A new 16-member statewide task force has begun its work to change the foundation formula.
Gov. Mike Kehoe created the panel, which is made up of urban and rural, traditional and nontraditional, academia, legislators, and industry leaders.
“We want to make sure we coordinate a plan that has the better outcomes and the current model is just not sustainable,” Kehoe told task force members during a meeting Monday in Jefferson City.
The new state budget proposal includes more than $4 billion for public education.
“We want to make sure we coordinate a plan that has the better outcomes,” he said. “That’s my call to action is obviously to make sure that the kids get the tools they need to succeed, which starts with funding a system that’s fair, transparent and focused on results. You can have the best intentions, but if you don’t produce results, that’s what the world’s all about. I think the kids going through our school systems need to know that.”
State Education Commissioner Karla Eslinger said the task will not be easy.
“There has never been a time when you change the formula, the way in which you fund education, that you don’t have some people who are thinking it is the absolute best thing you’ve ever done and some people thinking you have just done the most, worst thing ever, right.”
Eslinger said she wants great schools for all children.
“We all have an interest in that foundational thing, which is education. It’s the driver of our economy that makes sure that we have opportunities for our children. The opportunity we have here to make a difference for the kids in this state is phenomenal,” said Eslinger.
Eslinger said she wants quality education for every Missouri child.
“I don’t care if it’s a charter. I don’t care if it’s a public, I don’t care. I don’t care if it’s ABC School of Wonderful. I don’t care. I just want great schools for all children,” she told task force members.
The Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force is responsible for making recommendations and submitting its final report to the governor by December 2026.
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