Important Update on Missouri School Funding
We want to make families aware of an important state funding issue that could affect Missouri public schools, including our district.
What happened?
On September 15, 2026, the Missouri State Board of Education voted to recommend a FY2028 budget (the budget that will start July 1, 2027) that does not fully fund Missouri's Foundation Formula, the primary way the state provides funding to public school districts.
The recommendation is approximately $270 million below the amount needed to fully fund the formula statewide. For our school district, this could mean additional cuts to our budget. Keep in mind, the Governor has withheld $190 million from Missouri schools in this fiscal year, so we are already far in the weeds of underfunding.
What could this mean for our schools?
This is not a final cut, and it does not mean our school has already lost funding. However, if the foundation formula is ultimately funded below the amount called for by state law, school districts could receive less state funding than anticipated.
For schools, funding decisions affect the resources available for things families see every day, including:
Teachers and support staff
Class sizes
Academic programs and student services
Curriculum, technology, and classroom resources
Activities and opportunities for students
Field trip transportation
When state funding does not keep pace with what the formula calls for, districts may have to make difficult decisions about how to maintain these programs and services.
What happens next?
The State Board's vote is a recommendation, not the final decision.
The Governor and Missouri General Assembly will play key roles in determining the final FY2028 state budget. That means there is still time for families and community members to learn about the issue and make their voices heard. Superintendents will be joining numerous other school leaders across the state on October 20, 2026, in Jefferson City to present a unified advocacy effort to fund our schools appropriately.
What can parents do?
Stay informed. Follow updates from our district as the state budget process continues.
Ask questions. Learn how state funding affects our district, classrooms, teachers, and students.
Contact your state legislators. Parents who wish to share their views can contact their Missouri House and Senate representatives regarding funding for the foundation formula.
Why we're sharing this?
School funding decisions made at the state level ultimately affect opportunities available to students at the local level.
We will continue monitoring the FY2028 budget process and will keep families informed as decisions are made.
The important thing to remember: No final funding decision has been made yet. There is still an opportunity for parents and community members to be informed and engaged.