JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Tuesday signed wide-ranging legislation that calls for new public education spending and expanding an education voucher program that pays for private school expenses.
In announcing his decision, Parson, a Republican, emphasized a provision that will increase minimum teacher pay in state statute from $25,000 to $40,000 per year.
“Since the beginning of our administration, we’ve looked at ways to increase teacher pay and reward our educators for the hard work they do, and this legislation helps us continue that progress,†Parson said in a statement Tuesday.
Additional provisions include more state support for pre-kindergarten, increasing the number of teacher recruitment and retention scholarships, and changing how school aid is calculated so that a school’s enrollment and attendance are factored into the funding formula.
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The legislation also doubles an annual small schools grant from $15 million to $30 million, creates an Elementary Literacy Fund of no more than $5 million each year for elementary home-reading programs, and sends bonus state aid to districts maintaining a five-day school week.
“We ask a lot of our educators when it comes to teaching and caring for our children,†he said. “Together, this legislation supports Missouri students, teachers, and families with more educational opportunities to succeed — including additional investments in pre-K — while ensuring our teachers earn a better wage.â€
Parson, in the news release, did not mention a controversial addition to the education package that will allow independent charter schools to operate in Boone County, in mid-Missouri.
Local school districts and Democratic legislators representing Boone County called on Parson to veto the bill, criticizing the provision.
Seven mid-Missouri district superintendents in a letter to Parson on Friday said the charter school expansion was unnecessary and would drain resources from Boone County schools.
They also told the governor the law “will not survive†a legal fight.
The bill cleared the House last month with 82 votes, the minimum necessary for final passage. The legislation was originally focused on school choice, but Democrats initially blocked that bill in the Senate. Republicans later unveiled revamped legislation, including the teacher pay raises and bonus aid for districts with five-day weeks.
The MOScholars voucher program, originally approved in 2021, provides scholarships to families that can be used on private school expenses.
The original program contained geographic restrictions as a concession to rural lawmakers. But the expansion Parson signed into law Tuesday takes the program statewide and raises current household income limits on participation.
The legislation increases the income level to qualify for the MOScholars Empowerment Scholarship Accounts from 200% of the household income limit for free and reduced lunch to 300% — or $166,500 for a family of four.
A nonpartisan fiscal analysis predicts the entire piece of legislation could cost the state’s general coffers more than $450 million annually once fully implemented in fiscal year 2031.
“Today is a significant victory for education in Missouri. This is the product of hundreds of hours of hard work by numerous people,†said Rep. Phil Christofanelli, who carried the bill in the House and sponsored also signed Tuesday. “These bills will dramatically improve educational opportunities for all Missouri children, and I’m thrilled to have been a part of it.â€
The legislation is Sena