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St. Louis Public Schools presents 2026 legislative platform, pushes for full funding and local control
Summary
Interim Superintendent Dr. Myra Berry and lobbyist Steve Carroll presented the district's 2026 legislative platform at the annual legislative breakfast, urging full transportation funding, limits on charter expansion, opposition to expanded ESA voucher funding and preservation of local control.
Dr. Myra Berry, interim superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools, opened the district's annual legislative breakfast by asking state and city leaders to partner with the district to strengthen academic outcomes and provide safe, supportive environments for students.
Steve Carroll, president of Carroll Associates and the district's longtime lobbyist, laid out the board's 2026 legislative platform and prioritized several state-level actions the district will press during the legislative session in Jefferson City. "We strongly support local control and governance by the locally elected school board," Carroll said, and he urged lawmakers to fully fund the state transportation formula so school districts are not forced to find funding "out of the classroom."
The platform calls for full payment of the transportation formula (Carroll cited a 75% target) and criticized what he described as a DESE practice that can withhold roughly 30% of transportation funding for perceived inefficiencies tied to magnet transportation obligations. Carroll also said the district supports requiring a certificate of need and local board approval before new charter schools may open, citing legislation introduced last year as an example.
Carroll criticized recent expansions to the Education Savings Account (ESA) voucher program, saying the district opposes legislation that redirects taxpayer dollars from public education to private entities. He told attendees the district identified a $50,000,000 appropriation to the ESA program last year and said there is talk of increasing that to $100,000,000; he also said a lawsuit is pending over how the funds were allocated from general revenue. "We'll see if there's any new legislation to try to get around that this year," Carroll said.
On broader funding, Carroll said the district will engage the governor's task force rewriting the state foundation formula, which is expected to produce recommendations in December 2026; he urged the task force to account for students who are English learners, have high mobility or experience homelessness. Carroll noted that the legislature previously restored $400,000,000 tied to Senate Bill 727 after the governor initially withheld it, and said the district will monitor similar budget actions this session.
The platform also opposes state mandates on superintendent hours, working conditions and class sizes, favors nonpartisan April school board elections, and rejects open enrollment policies that encourage districts to compete for students at the expense of classroom resources. Carroll said the platform supports lowering the compulsory school-starting age from 7 to 5, arguing earlier enrollment fosters learning and family involvement.
Berry emphasized the district's commitment to transparency, stewardship and urgent action on student needs and invited legislators and attendees to continue working with the district as the session begins. The breakfast concluded with the moderator opening the floor for questions and comments.
Next steps: district representatives said they will carry the platform to Jefferson City for the upcoming legislative session and continue to work with legislators and the governor's task force on funding and policy changes.
