Missouri Releases Building Level Per-Pupil Expenditures

12/12/19

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announces that Building Level Per-Pupil Expenditure information is available for the first time on a Missouri school district’s 2019 Annual Report Card. This change is part of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and its focus on ensuring equitable resources and opportunities for every student at every school. Previously, per-pupil expenditures were only reported at the district level.

Expenditures at buildings can vary for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to:

  • The needs of the students in that school and the programs facilitated at that building.
  • The experience and education, and therefore the salaries, of staff members in that school, as well as the cost of living associated with that geographical area (i.e. metropolitan versus rural school districts).

These variables are important to note when attempting to compare expenditures between buildings, whether those buildings are within the same school district or belong to different districts.

Follow the link here to view the spreadsheet showing Building Level Per-Pupil Expenditure information for all Missouri school districts.