Missouri Board Requests Lower School Funding
The state board's request for $6,750 per student falls short of the formula, impacting district-level budgets.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Administration
Live Poll
Should your state fully fund public schools according to the calculated formula regardless of cost?
The Missouri State Board of Education has requested $6,750 in per-student funding, opting to disregard the $7,145 amount suggested by the state foundation formula. This decision represents a $600 million reduction in funding that could impact district budgets across the state.
Why it matters
By capping funding at flat year-over-year levels rather than following the state adequacy target, the board is effectively tightening school budgets. This shift in financial support occurs as districts simultaneously prepare for the release of new A-F performance report cards.
The funding request sits $395 below the formula-calculated amount per student, contributing to a total $600 million reduction statewide. Additionally, only 29 districts now qualify as performance districts by scoring 90 percent or more on annual reports.
The players
Missouri State Board of Education
The state authority responsible for setting school funding requests and approving district performance standards.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The state agency that manages school finance formulas and oversees annual performance reporting for Missouri districts.
Washington School District
A local public school system currently preparing for the release of new A-F letter grades.
The details
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education calculates funding using a foundation formula linked to the State Adequacy Target, which represents what high-performing districts spend. However, the State Board of Education maintains final authority to request budget levels from the Governor. New, stricter standards for Annual Performance Reports implemented in 2022 have made it increasingly difficult for schools to maintain the performance designation required for higher funding tiers.
Timeline
Early 2000s: State lawmakers introduced the State Adequacy Target.
2022: New framework for Annual Performance Reports was implemented.
August 2026: New state policy for A-F school grading was approved.
October 21, 2026: Washington Board of Education met to discuss state funding.
2024-2025 school year: Data period for upcoming A-F report cards.
The Home Front
This budget request marks a departure from the previously established funding formula, signaling a tighter fiscal environment for Missouri schools. It follows the broader trend of stricter performance-based reporting, which has significantly reduced the number of schools hitting top funding tiers.
Parents should monitor upcoming communications from their local school board regarding the release of A-F grades. Families can also track budget discussions in Jefferson City to understand how potential state funding cuts might impact local academic programs.
The takeaway
School officials currently do not expect to receive full state funding as calculated by the formula. Families should stay informed by reviewing official district communications regarding the transition to the new A-F grading policy.
Further reading
For more on the upcoming report cards, visit the Administration section of our site.
More information
For more details, review the district info on new grading system.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Missourian.
Live Poll
Should your state fully fund public schools according to the calculated formula regardless of cost?
