Gov. Nixon vetoing Missouri school transfer bill

Gov. Nixon said on Friday he will veto the school transfer law just passed by the state legislature.

“Senate Bill 493 fails to address the challenges resulting from the existing school transfer law and instead, would create even more problems by allowing public funds to be used for private schools and pulling the rug out from under students who have transferred,” said Gov. Nixon.

The governor has already voiced reservations about the idea of letting students in unaccredited districts transfer to nonreligious private schools at public expense. Senate Bill 493 would have also removed a requirement forcing an unaccredited district to cover transfer students’ transportation costs.

Nixon has said public money shouldn’t be spent for private education. He says funding for school districts already is limited and noted that Missouri’s formula for providing basic aid to districts is not fully funded.