Funding SB 727: State Board of Education Takes First Step

While much of the publicity in the budget-making process comes during the legislative session, just like local school districts, the state’s budgeting process runs year-round. Each fall, departments compile budget requests and submit them to the Governor for ultimate inclusion in the Governor’s budget request that will be released during the state of the state address in January each year. This process allows departments to request more funding for any department initiatives or needs. Also included in these budget requests is funding for the  implementation of any legislation that is set to take effect during a given fiscal year.

Last month, during the State Board of Education meeting, the Missouri State Board of Education received an update on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s budget request both for the remainder of the current state fiscal year, but also the 2025-26 fiscal year which will be considered during the upcoming 2025 legislative session starting in January. In total, the State Board of Education approved a budget request of an additional $174 million for the current (2024-25) fiscal year. They are also requesting nearly $810 million increase for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

You can see a breakdown of all of the specific funding increases contained in the budget request here:

DESE Budget Request - FY25 Supplemental.pdf

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DESE Budget Request (FY26).pdf

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As you can see, much of the contents of the department’s budget request revolves around the funding of SB 727 that was passed earlier this year by the General Assembly.

SB 727 is set to have a profound impact on school district budgets in the state of Missouri in the coming years. Whether that impact is positive or negative will depend on whether the funding is made available from the state or if local taxpayers will be asked to shoulder the burden of implementing the provisions of the legislation. This is an important first step to ensuring the state lives up to the promises made earlier this year. Now that the budget request has been finalized, the budget request will now be sent to our newly elected Governor for consideration in the budget he develops for consideration by the General Assembly during the 2025.