The Missouri State Board of Education recently declined to seek around $300 million to fully fund its public school funding formula. The decision alarmed Missouri residents, who put the blame on the Republican Party, which controls the state’s budget.
As reported by The Missouri Independent, the decision followed a debate over whether to ask lawmakers to increase the budget. Ultimately, lawmakers decided against it because they did not expect additional funding, with budget reductions across departments as revenue growth slows and reserve funds are expected to decline. At the same time, the money required to keep schools running keeps rising.
Deputy Commissioner Kyle Kruse spoke on the matter, saying that “a narrow gate through which our requests need to pass in order to make the final budget,” and the request simply did not pass it.
In total, this could mean schools lose $300 million in funding, with Missouri currently providing $190 million less than the formula requires, while another $110 million increase is expected by fiscal 2028.
Republicans Blamed for Education Board’s Decision
The news did not sit well with Missouri residents on r/Missouri, who blamed the GOP for the state’s decision. Someone argued: “20+ years of Republican control, and the state is here in a total dysfunctional mess. These are not serious/qualified people.”
Others also laid the blame solely on the GOP: “Republicans are running wild, supporting parochial education and then shorting the budget. The Governor likes it this way.”
A user from another state also chimed in on the conversation: “You’re in a red state. You have dumb fucks for people. You vote for liberal policies, then vote hardline GOP who absolutely hate and will take away your freedoms. Your state sucks.”
Overall, residents seemed hopeless about the situation. One said, “Missouri Congress hates public education.” Others still believed it was possible to make things better: “We must do better. We must vote better. We must demand better.”
It remains to be seen how this lack of funding will affect Missouri’s schools in the near future, as costs cannot go down while funds are being depleted quickly.
