Mo. Senate approves planned education merger

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri senators have endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment that merges the state's two oversight boards for education.

The proposal would create a six-member State Board of Education to coordinate all public education. Missouri currently has separate boards overseeing K-12 public schools and higher education institutions.

Much of the new education board's power would be defined later by lawmakers.

Senators have spent much of the week discussing the proposal and endorsed it by voice vote Thursday. Missouri's existing education boards met Thursday. Several people expressed concerns about the potential merger.

If the proposal is also passed by the House, it would appear on the November ballot.

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Education proposal is SJR45.

On the Net:

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