Parents in Missouri can Now See How Much Missouri Public Schools Spend On Students
December 12, 2019
As Tran Nguyen reports for the Missourian, data released by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will allow parents to look up “per-student costs school building by school building” across all Missouri public schools. Previously, this information was only made available at the district level. The new move toward greater transparency “is part of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.” Across Columbia Public Schools, the data shows “a wide range in spending levels,” as “per-pupil expenses range from $6,500 to $14,300.” Enrollment, special needs, and resources are among the factors taken into consideration when determining per-student spending, with costs “based on equity, not equality.”