By AP/KWMU
St. Louis – The Missouri House passed an education budget Thursday that would raise basic aid to school districts by more than five percent.
The measure, sent to the Senate, is viewed as progress by some lawmakers but criticized by others as too small.
The $4.8 billion bill funds the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. It has almost $2.2 billion in basic aid to public schools.
It's the first major budget bill to emerge from a committee of House and Senate negotiators.
Panel members are working on other issues such as Medicaid and a raise for Highway Patrol troopers.
The state constitution requires lawmakers to pass a budget by Friday.