public schools

The Lee’s Summit School District will decide later this month whether to collect more in taxes or consider cutting staff members and programs. The budget shortfall is partly a result of less-than-expected state funding from Missouri — and it's far from the only district facing tough choices now.

The Justice Department is suing Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools in what it calls a “first-of-its-kind" lawsuit over its policies for transgender students. The school district said it's compliant with federal law.

Laws that require age verification to access certain websites and allow armed rangers in public schools, among others passed during Missouri's most recent legislative session, go into effect later this week.

On Monday, Aug. 10, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that aims to cut the number of routine immunizations for American children. Only states can require vaccinations for children to enter school or day care. But many health experts pushed back, saying the order would not make children's lives safer and further erodes vaccine trust for parents.

A parent-led coalition turning Missouri's upcoming income-tax repeal measure into a public education fight, warning that state aid is already falling short.

Preis will lead the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which oversees about 500 public school districts and charter school systems in the state.

School leaders in the Kansas City area are grappling with how to balance their budgets and continue serving students as they face declining enrollment, state funding shortfalls and property tax caps.

For the first time since 2017, the Missouri legislature's annual appropriation for public education will stay the same as the previous year, instead of increasing. The budget could hurt schools' ability to improve teacher recruitment and retention.

Included in the budget is $4.2 billion for the K-12 public school foundation formula, more than $376 million in school transportation dollars and $60 million for the state's private school voucher program.

Kansas City Public Schools has started some building projects funded by the $424 million general obligation bond, and is seeking more public input on the details of others. Its plan includes improving every school in the district, and building two new elementaries.

The judge ruled Missouri lawmakers could directly appropriate funds to the MOScholars program because state law does not “expressly prohibit” it. The Missouri National Education Association plans to appeal to the state Supreme Court.

The constitutional amendment would establish that access to public education is a "fundamental right." But organizers say the controversy over the Missouri Secretary of State's ballot language, which a judge ruled was unfair and had to be rewritten, delayed signature collection.