JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Mike Kehoe has announced a new task force aimed at overhauling Missouri’s K-12 public education funding model.
The imitative aims to “modernize” the state’s current formula, last revised in 2005, to meet the needs of today’s students and schools.
A 16-member task force has been charged with reviewing Missouri’s K-12 school funding model and recommending changes in a final report to the governor by December 1, 2026. The report will propose a revised formula for how state funding is allocated to public and charter schools.
“To secure a better future for Missouri students and schools, we must rethink how we fund Missouri’s foundation formula,” said Kehoe via a news release. “We need a modernized funding model that rewards outcomes, encourages innovation, and ensures fairness for all Missouri students. These Task Force members bring the experience, perspective, and commitment needed to make responsible changes at business-speed. We look forward to reviewing their recommendations.”
According to the Saint Louis University PRIME Center, to calculate school funding, Missouri’s current funding formula has not seen significant revision in nearly two decades. The task force will evaluate how it can be updated to reflect change in education, demographics and economic conditions.
The task force will consist of several voices across the state, both from urban and rural communities. Members will include:
- Matt Davis, of Eldon
- Noah Devine, of Kansas City
- Emily LeRoy, of Hermann
- James “Jim” Meats, of Springfield
- Mike Podgursky, of Columbia
- Donald “Don” Thalhuber, of Columbia
- Michael “Jeremy” Tucker, of Liberty
- Chris Vas, of Kansas City
- Casey Wasser, of California
- David Wood, of Versailles
- Kerry Casey, of Chesterfield
- Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge, of Pasadena Hills
Casey and Westbrooks-Hodge both currently serve on the Missouri State Board of Education, according to the governor’s office.