What is the primary source of funding for Missouri public schools?

The primary source of funding for Missouri public schools comes from state sales and income tax revenue. This funding is crucial because it constitutes a significant portion of the financial resources that schools rely on to operate.

Sales tax, collected on goods and services, as well as income tax from individuals, provides a stable revenue stream that helps support a wide range of educational programs, staff salaries, school maintenance, and necessary resources for students. The funding model emphasizes the importance of state-level contributions, as they can offer more consistent and equitable support compared to other funding sources.

Although property taxes contribute to local school funding, they are often supplemented by state funding to address disparities between wealthy and less affluent districts, ensuring all students have access to quality education regardless of their local tax base. Meanwhile, federal grants and donations from local communities can provide additional resources but do not constitute the primary funding mechanism for public education in Missouri.