JEFFERSON CITY — The House on Thursday approved a proposal that would divert millions of dollars from St. Louis schools when fully implemented.
Legislation sponsored by Rep. Doug Richey, R-Excelsior Springs, would change the formula to calculate how traditional public schools and charter schools are funded, sending more money to charter schools.
The House voted 88-66 in favor.
Richey argued the bill evens the playing field between public schools and charter schools.
Under the current formula, “we have two children walking through the doorways of two different school buildings that are identical in every way … the student walking through the charter public doorway is receiving less,” he said.
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Opponents have argued public schools have expensive obligations not shared by charter schools, such as providing transportation for all students.
Charter schools are publicly funded and free to attend, but are regulated differently than traditional public schools. With few exceptions, charter schools in Missouri are allowed only in Kansas City and St. Louis.
Richey said Kansas City Public Schools now supports his plan after working out a compromise that addressed some concerns. The public school district in St. Louis does not.
Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, said the proposal does not respect St. Louis public schools.
“I would love to give more money to the charter schools, but not at the expense of the district,” he said.
A fiscal analysis of the proposal says public schools in St. Louis would lose more than $17 million when it is implemented.
Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis, urged House members to support the legislation and said he was frustrated with the narrative that those who vote for the bill don’t support public schools.
Aldridge has received pushback on social media for earlier support of the proposal.
“What about the kids in charter? What about the Black babies at KIPP?” he asked. “This ain’t no one-sided thing that we continue to make it seem to be.”
Aldridge said Richey had been willing to work with other legislators to reach a compromise and that the proposal now includes measures that make charter schools more accountable. It also delays implementation until 2024 for St. Louis.
The proposal is House Bill 137.