Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon addressed public school educators in Jefferson City Wednesday afternoon. He said Missouri’s AAA credit rating and recovering economy provide a unique opportunity for investment in Missouri students.
Nixon said if students are not prepared, Missouri’s economy will not survive. He said the challenge is making sure every Missouri student leaves the classroom ready to succeed, and that requires strategic investment from the state.
Nixon said he will be increasing funding in Missouri’s K-12 classrooms in order to fully fund the foundation formula.
“And to grow the economy and strengthen the middle class, there is no better investment you can make than in education," Nixon said. "That is how we built the greatest country in the world."
Columbia Public Schools Superintendent Chris Belcher said the education effort is absolutely necessary as Missouri is currently $600 million under-funded in the foundation formula. The formula is Missouri’s primary method of distributing money to public schools based on local property tax rates, student attendance and other factors.
Belcher said he wants to improve the achievement, opportunity and enrichment gaps among students in Columbia Public Schools.