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SD public defense duties shift from counties to state; SCOTUS appears skeptical of restricting government communications with social media companies; Trump lawyers say he can't make bond; new scholarships aim to connect class of 2024 to high-demand jobs.

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The SCOTUS weighs government influence on social media, and who groups like the NRA can do business with. Biden signs an executive order to advance women's health research and the White House tells Israel it's responsible for the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

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Midwest regenerative farmers are rethinking chicken production, Medicare Advantage is squeezing the finances of rural hospitals and California's extreme swing from floods to drought has some thinking it's time to turn rural farm parcels into floodplains.

More State Funding Sought to Support MO Public Education

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Monday, February 8, 2016   

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The repeal of sections of the federal "No Child Left Behind" law has led state government and educators to examine how to proceed in light of the rollback on federal intervention.

Otto Fajen, legislative director of the Missouri National Education Association, believes there is optimism for action in the current legislative session.

"I would say probably the highest priority facing our schools today is going to be to make sure that we are improving the investment in all students, regardless of their zip code," says Fajen. "To make sure they have the tools and the time to learn."

A series of hearings on education legislation early in the session suggests a renewed emphasis on the topic.

The school formula is the mechanism by which the state pays for Missouri's free public schools, but Fajen says that formula is significantly underfunded.

"The budget experts with the Legislature tell me that the appropriation is about $500 million short of where it needs to be just to fund the formula as it stands, and so we would like to see some significant movement and increase toward completing the funding of that formula," Fajen says.

While it may not be feasible to fully fund the formula this session, he does believe substantial progress can be made toward the goal.

Targeted funding for specific programs is also needed, since students come to school in different places due to resources at home.

"If you have kids who are struggling to stay at grade level, we think the research is pretty clear," says Fajen. "That extra investment in extended learning time for the schools and the kids, that's going to be very helpful and a smart investment."

And Fajen notes early-childhood programs can also help students begin school at a good place, and not behind some of their peers.


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