A Primer on Missouri’s Foundation Formula for K-12 Public Education: 2017 Update

The foundation formula put into place during the 2006-2007 school year is the basis for public school funding in Missouri. The formula is an attempt to balance factors including the number of students in a district, the cost of living in various districts, available local revenue, and the number of students with special needs. The fairness of the formula is the subject of debate, but its complexity is unquestioned. James Shuls, Distinguished Fellow of Education Policy at the Show-Me Institute, has updated the primer he originally published in 2012 to clarify how state and local dollars work together in the funding formula. Click on the link below to read the entire primer.