14 Oct 2026 education funding, foundation formula, K-12 schools, Missouri education
While the cost of educating students continues to rise each year, the funding Missouri schools receive from the state to pay for teacher salaries and classroom supplies would remain flat under recent recommendations from the State Board of Education. If those recommendations are enacted into the next budget, there would be a $270 million gap between the cost of educating students and the amount school districts receive from the state. This means local public schools will need to make tough choices in the coming years to balance their budgets, like cutting teachers or support staff or student programs.
Missouri’s Foundation Formula is the calculation used by the state to determine how much state funding is needed to provide a baseline level of per student funding for all Missouri school districts. The cost of fully funding the Foundation Formula grows each year to keep pace with rising inflation. But for the first time in a decade, Missouri will no longer reimburse districts for the full amount required under Missouri’s Foundation Formula, based on current requests.
[….]
A $270 million shortfall in the Foundation Formula is a $315 gap per student .
Statewide, it is the equivalent of the average salary of over 4,500 teachers or over 8,100 support staff (such as bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, paraeducators, and office staff) across all of Missouri’s local school districts[1].
This could result in a gap of over $1,000 per student in the school districts that rely most heavily on state funding.
[….]
WARRENSBURG R-VI
The estimated shortfall in this school district is $1,125,390 each year or 1.8% of all spending.
That is a gap of $328 per student and is the equivalent of 19 teacher(s) or 34 support staff.
[….]
HOLDEN R-III
The estimated shortfall in this school district is $327,570 each year or 1.7% of all spending.
That is a gap of $274 per student and is the equivalent of 6 teacher(s) or 10 support staff.
[….]
– Missouri’s own formula for what schools need calls for a $388 million increase in funding in the next budget year. But in September, the State Board of Education instead opted to request flat funding.
– Based on that decision, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) does not even request full funding in its recently released departmental budget book.
– Schools were already underfunded by $190 million in the current state budget, with an additional cut to student transportation.
– What’s more, policymakers used one-time budget tricks to balance the budget in the current year. Because they used temporary measures this year, DESE needs $118 million in new general revenue funds just to reach the flat funding level requested next year.
[….]
And:
Missouri vs. national average
Where school funding comes from (FY25, share of total revenue).
National avg
Where US schools get funding
47% state
45% local
8% fed
Missouri
What MO schools rely on
33% state
49% local
18% fed
[….]
Missouri already gets 14 percentage points less from the state than the national average. Missouri ranks 49th out of 50 in state funding for public education, and this year the legislature undercut the foundation formula by $190 million. We are starting from a bad place — not what kids and teachers deserve….
[….]
“…Missouri ranks 49th out of 50 in state funding for public education…”
This arrived in today’s mail:
“…Brandon Phelps puts our kids, teachers, and classrooms first…”
Bullshit is right.
Brandon Phelps (r) is the incumbent in the 54th Legislative District. Taigan Plummer (D) is the Democratic Party candidate challenging him in the November General Election.
“…Missouri ranks 49th out of 50 in state funding for public education…”
The anti-choice, anti-trans bigots, anti-women’s health care PAC pushing Amendment 3 on the November ballot sent a slick mail piece to our houshold. It arrived in today’s mail:
We’ve already voted. We voted “NO” on Amendment 3.
Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission in support of the initiative to preserve and expand Missouri voters’ voices and to oppose the right wingnut gerrymandering of Missouri congressional districts:
C264301 10/21/2026 Protect Freedom and Democracy Stop the Ban PO Box 2187 St Louis MO 63158 10/19/2026 $250,000.00
[emphasis added]
Protect Freedom and Democracy – Active
MECID: C264301
620 E Armour Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64109
[….]
Supported/Opposed Ballot Measure
Measure Election Date Subject Political Subdivision Support/Oppose
HB1 Veto Referendum [Proposition A] 11/3/2026 Repeal the congressional redistricting map passed in HB 1 Statewide Oppose
Amendment 6 11/3/2026 Protect citizen initiative process Statewide Support
– expand the initiative and referendum petition process by making it a fundamental right;
– allow courts to revise ballot summaries through lawsuits;
– prohibit the legislature from weakening initiative or referendum powers;
– prohibit the legislature from changing or repealing laws enacted through the initiative process, or passing laws similar to those rejected by referendum, – without approval from at least 80% of both chambers; and
– preserve existing majority vote and signature requirements for initiative and referendum petitions?
State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.
Fair Ballot Language:
A “yes” vote will prohibit the people’s elected representatives from directly amending or changing any law enacted through the initiative process; require that any modifications to laws enacted through the initiative process be referred to the people by a vote of at least 80% of each chamber of the General Assembly; restrict the legislature from passing laws that limit the ability to pursue initiatives and referenda; maintain the current signature requirements of five percent of the individual legal voters in each of two-thirds of Missouri’s congressional districts for proposing a law; maintain the current signature requirement of eight percent of individual legal voters in each of two-thirds of Missouri’s congressional districts for proposing a constitutional amendment; and maintain the current requirement that a simple statewide majority of votes cast on a measure by individual legal voters is sufficient to enact any law or constitutional amendment.
The Politicians’ Guide
Step-by-step guide to Prop A.
STEP 1: THROW OUT THE CURRENT MAP.
Prop A repeals Missouri’s existing congressional map and replaces it with one drawn by politicians.
STEP 2: SPLIT UP KANSAS CITY.
Divide Kansas City among three congressional districts, stretching each one into Missouri.
STEP 3: GIVE POLITICIANS MORE POWER.
Put hundreds of thousands of Kansas City voters into formerly rural districts – weakening rural Missouri’s voice and taking away our power to vote politicians out when they fail us on immigration, taxes, and costs.
“Useless laws weaken the necessary laws.” – Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu (1689 – 1755)
In today’s mail:
….This session, the Legislature took bold action to secure our borders, strengthen our laws and protect our communities…”
Oh, really?
What about affordability – food and gas, access to health care, and supporting public schools?
2026 Legislative Session
Delivering Results To
Combat Illegal Immigration
This session, I fought to:
Enforce Immigration Laws
Sponsored SB 1265, fining sanctuary cities and empowering local law enforcement to enforce Federal immigration law.
Ban Illegal Aliens Utilizing Welfare
Sponsored SB 1616, preventing ineligible aliens from receiving SNAP or MO Healthnet benefits.
Require Citizenship To Vote & Receive Welfare Benefits
Sponsored SB 1772 to ensure citizenship is verified when individuals register to vote or apply for welfare benefits, including SNAP and MO Healthnet.
Wait, “delivering results”?
SB 1265 – Brattin, Rick
Creates new provisions relating to illegal aliens
Complete legislative action history for this bill:
Date Action Journal
03/31/2026 Hearing Conducted S Insurance and Banking Committee
01/27/2026 Second Read and Referred S Insurance and Banking Committee S240
01/07/2026 S First Read S75
12/01/2025 Prefiled
First, no human being is illegal.
Note the difference in the descriptions between the filed bill and the taxpayer funded mail piece.
The bill didn’t didn’t pass in the Senate. That’s not a delivered result.
Next:
SB 1616 – Brattin, Rick
Creates new provisions restricting the availability of public benefits to U.S. citizens
Complete legislative action history for this bill:
Date Action Journal
04/08/2026 Voted Do Pass S General Laws Committee
03/25/2026 Hearing Conducted S General Laws Committee
02/12/2026 Second Read and Referred S General Laws Committee S383
02/03/2026 S First Read S274
The bill didn’t didn’t pass in the Senate. That’s not a delivered result.
Next:
SB 1772 – Brattin, Rick
Modifies and creates new provisions relating to illegal immigrants
Complete legislative action history for this bill:
Date Action Journal
05/07/2026 Second Read and Referred S General Laws Committee S1608
02/26/2026 S First Read S483
The bill didn’t didn’t pass in the Senate. That’s not a delivered result.
It’s performative bullshit. On our dime.
Rick Brattin (r) [2025 file photo].
Rick Brattin (r) is a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in Missouri’s 5th Congressional District, apparently in an attempt to fail upward.
On November 8, 1775, The American Continental Congress authorized franking privileges to its members as a means of informing their constituents. The first U.S. Congress enacted a franking law in 1789. The franking privilege has remained a necessary and valuable tool of our representative government for more than 200 years.
[….]
….Mass mailings are required to bear disclaimer statements indicating the mailing was paid for at taxpayer’s expense. Members must also disclose on a quarterly basis the number of mass mailings sent during that period as well as their costs….
Mark Alford (r) [2024 file photo].
We received some mail from Mark Alford (r) today. We all paid for it.
“Rep. Mark Alford won’t be intimidated by the woke mob.”
Ask Mark Alford (r) about the Belton Police SWAT Team.
What an asshole. There were a lot of people at the coffee house town hall in Belton, Missouri, including a group of local high school students with their teacher. The students asked some of the most pointed questions.
“The heart of this country isn’t Washington, D,C., it’s Main Street….”
The location of the coffee house for the town hall on February 24th was/is (still) literally on Main Street in Belton.
So, the ‘woke mob’, including senior citizens and local high school students, was in Belton, Missouri? Right? On Main Street.
“Alford, perhaps given his years on television, appeared outwardly unperturbed and maintained a polished persona throughout the event.”
What Mark Alford (r) doesn’t tell you is that the reporter for the Kansas City Star didn’t arrive at the town hall until after it was well underway. Funny that.
“When I came to Congress, I promised….that I would restore the conservative values that this country was founded upon….”
“…due process…”
“Instead of cowering from the liberal mob, we will put an end to wasteful spending and refocus on real priorities – ensuring a strong national defense, caring for our veterans, and supporting Missouri’s farmers and small business owners.”
An expensive military parade on June 14th. Check.
Cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Check.
Tariffs. Check.
‘Woke mob’, apparently:
“Protect the VA”
There are a few pro-forma steps involved in relying on the taxpayers’ largesse.
Apparently, Rick Brattin (r) is not pure enough for our new Fascist overlords. Not that we care.
This mail piece attacking Rick Brattin (r), from a right wingnut committee, arrived at rural addresses in the 31st Senate District this weekend:
Why is Rick Brattin on the fence
In the fight to protect American agriculture manufacturers and prevent outsourcing our food supply to China?
President Trump is cracking down on China & needs your help
Call state Sen. Rick Brattin [xxxxxxxx] & tell him to keep our food supply made in America
China wants to infiltrate our food supply
We need to keep Chinese Communist Party Chemicals out of our food
Urgent action required!
Paid for by Protecting America Initiative
1426 N. 3rd Street
Suite 310
Harrisburg, PA 1702
They beleave wier awl stoopit.
Squirrel!
A distraction from retaliatory tariffs on American agriculture, anyone?
Who did this?:
Our Mission
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is engaged in an active campaign to sabotage America. Their goal is nothing less than world dominance.
The Chinese government in Beijing is carrying out a sophisticated plan designed to exert control over America’s economy, food supply, lawmaking, and education. One crucial element of the CCP’s blueprint for domination is to infiltrate states across the country.
From buying up farmland to influencing state legislative outcomes by directly lobbying lawmakers, the Chinese government will stop at nothing to exert control in the United States.
China’s threat is comprehensive. The CCP’s focus is not just Washington, D.C. – they desire influence at the state and local levels as well. State officials must not allow foreign adversaries to take over local economies or write our laws.
The Protecting America Initiative is a coalition of concerned American citizens and public policy experts who are committed to stopping Chinese influence in the states. Our mission is to stop the threat of Communist China at the state level. By protecting American independence now, we will safeguard our American future for generations to come.
And:
Our Team
RICHARD GRENELL, Senior Advisor
Former Ambassador to Germany and Acting Director of National Intelligence in the Trump Administration
Richard Grenell is an American diplomat who most recently served as Acting Director of National Intelligence in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. Grenell served as the United States Ambassador to Germany from 2018 to 2020 and as the Special Presidential Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations from 2019 to 2021. Grenell also ran the U.S government’s global campaign to decriminalize homosexuality in the 69 countries where it is a crime to be gay. Grenell was named Acting Director of National Intelligence by President Trump in February 2020, officially making him the first openly gay person to serve in a President’s Cabinet. On April 26, 2018, Grenell was confirmed by the United States Senate by a vote of 56 to 42 as Ambassador to Germany and presented his credentials to the President of Germany on May 8, 2018. Grenell was a U.S. State Department spokesperson at the United Nations for 8 years during the George W. Bush administration and was a voting member of the United Nations Security Council. Grenell also was the foreign policy and national security spokesman for the 2012 GOP Presidential nominee. Grenell has been placed on the Iranian government’s sanctions list for his work in promoting human rights, something they call “promoting homosexuality”. Grenell received the U.S. National Security Medal, the nation’s highest security award, as well as the nation’s highest Medal of Honor from Kosovo and from Serbia. Grenell is the co-creator of an Artificial Intelligence technology for chronic patients which was formed from his 2013 diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Grenell has a B.A. from Evangel College and an M.P.A. from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Rick Brattin (r) [2013 Show Me Progress file photo].
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An official at the United States Postal Service confirmed Friday that four mail-processing machines have been removed at its Kansas City, Missouri, facility.
The removal of machines comes as part of changes made by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, according to a report from CNN.
The USPS official said that in addition to the four machines removed in Kansas City, the USPS had removed two machines in Springfield and one in Wichita “for efficiency and lower mail volume.”
[….]
“We are seeing the destruction of the postal service,” U.S. Rep Emanuel Cleaver II, a Missouri Democrat who represents KCMO, said. “I don’t think there are any questions about it.”
[….]
The St. Louis Post Dispatch reported Friday that Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft was notified in late July that the USPS may not be able to return all mail-in ballots to election authorities by the Nov. 3 election.
That delay could invalidate some ballots for the general election, when the country will elect a president and Missouri will elect a governor, among other races.
[….]
That was then, this is now.
A campaign piece, from Uniting Missouri, the PAC propping up Governor Mike Parson (r), arrived in our mail yesterday:
“Officials say you should return your mail or absentee ballot now to ensure it is received and counted in time.”
No shit, Sherlock. Who’s responsible for this state of affairs?
Wait a minute. In Donald Trump’s (r) world aren’t mail-in ballots rife with fraud?
This right wingnut mail piece is just oozing cognitive dissonance and gaslighting. Not that their target audience would notice.
