Mo. House rejects school funding formula changes

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Missouri House has rejected an effort by rural lawmakers to change which school districts would bear the brunt of cuts in state aid.

Missouri distributes money to districts according to a formula. About 150 school districts are carved out of the formula because it would cause them to lose state aid.

Legislation endorsed Wednesday by the House would spare those districts from receiving less money because of a $43 million shortfall in state funding this year.

Rural House members contended Wednesday that all districts should receive less than they otherwise would have because of the revenue shortfall. But the House voted 83-73 to reject an amendment that would have applied the funding cut to all districts.