MSTA frustrated as Missouri education board leaves millions in school funding unrequested 

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)-- Missouri’s State Board of Education is sticking with a $4.28 billion request for the state’s school funding formula — leaving about $270 million on the table that would be needed to fully fund it. 

The decision has Missouri’s State Teachers' Association disappointed. 

The State Board approved the fiscal year 2028 budget request Tuesday, but chose not to ask lawmakers for the roughly $300 million increase that could be needed next year to fully fund the formula. 

Missouri’s school funding formula is set in state law. Changes approved by lawmakers in 2024 are being phased in over several years, increasing the amount the formula calls for. 

This year, schools received about $190 million less than the formula required. Another roughly $110 million increase is expected for FY 2028, which could push the gap to around $300 million. 

DESE is also asking for less money overall. Its supplemental general revenue request was cut from $159 million to $73 million, while requests for new or increased funding dropped by nearly $75 million. 

Those cuts include $3 million for maintaining the state’s education data system and $4 million to continue Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which provides free books to young children. 

The budget does include funding for early childhood programs and high-need special education. 

It also includes required initiatives, such as oversight of school athletics, antisemitism reporting, elementary agriculture education, STEM career exploration and communication access services for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. 

DESE will submit the FY 2028 budget request to the Office of Administration by Oct. 1.