Missouri Governor Jay Nixon says he will sign the budget for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education this evening.
Gov. Nixon is promoting the fact that the budget provides a record amount of funding for K-12 schools, an increase of $5 million. Despite the increase, that number is short what's called for by the state’s funding formula.
The formula includes a target for the amount to be spent educating each student. That target was scheduled to increase but the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will keep it at the current rate.
Missouri lawmakers had said addressing the underfunded school formula was a priority but could not reach agreement about possible changes before adjourning last month.
Nixon will sign the bill after addressing delegates participating in the annual Boys State program at the University of Central Missouri.
