Mo. House approves revision to school funding

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Missouri House narrowly voted Thursday to overhaul how the state distributes basic aid to school districts.

The legislation also would allow school districts to charge some families for using the Parents as Teachers early childhood education program and reduce what summer school classes the state would pay for.

The House approved the education policy changes 82-67. It now goes to the Senate, which already has approved its own version of legislation that takes similar steps.

Changes to the popular Parents as Teachers program have been spurred by Missouri's budget troubles. The operating budget approved by lawmakers for the budget year starting July 1 cut more than $13 million from the early childhood education program. And the state's revenue situation is not expected to improve much over the next year.

That has prompted lawmakers to prepare for even more budget cutting.

They have focused on a state formula approved in 2005 to distribute money to school districts. The formula was designed to be phased in gradually until the 2012-2013 school year. It also specifies that some school districts -- called "hold harmless" districts -- wouldn't have their state aid cut because they had willingly taxed themselves at a higher rate to pay for local education.

But the 2005 formula offers no guidance about what to do if the Legislature cannot provide all the money required. And the falling state revenue has lawmakers concerned that they might eventually need to cut education spending.

The House legislation would give lawmakers an extra four years -- or until the 2016-2017 school year -- to fully phase in the formula. It also sets up a system for distributing state school money if there is less money available than the formula requires.

Rep. Maynard Wallace, a former school superintendent, said the legislation is designed so that if the state must cut education spending, all school districts will share the burden of the shortfall.

"This is a plan to get through the time where we don't have the money to fund the formula," said Wallace, R-Thornfield.

But some House Democrats oppose waiting longer to implement the new funding formula. They also believe that the changes to the formula approved by the House will shield "hold harmless" districts from any budget trimming by the Legislature.

"'Hold harmless' does not mean hold harmless from the economy, but that is exactly what this bill does," said Rep. Rachel Bringer, D-Palmyra.

The bill also affects how school districts are reimbursed by the state for summer school classes. Under the legislation, the state would only pay for summer school classes in core academic subjects. The summer school restrictions would not apply this year.

__

School funding bill is HB2245

On the Net:

Legislature: http://www.moga.mo.gov