The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is proposing a 6.3 billion dollar budget for the next fiscal year – a 111 million dollar increase over the current year.
Department spokesman Tyler Madsen says the State Board of Education has given unanimous support to the proposal.
Missouri Net has reported that under the proposed budget, 3.5 billion would be used to fully fund the state aid program for Missouri’s K through 12 public schools.
The plan includes 172 million dollars to bus students to and from school – a roughly 65 million dollar increase over the current year.
It also asks for 22 million to provide childhood development services through the Parents as Teachers organization. The request would help 538 high-need families on a wait list for services.
The legislature will consider the budget next year.
