Funding

• The State of Missouri has allocated a one-time amount of $27 million to distribute to public school districts to support lead reduction in drinking water as mandated by the Get the Lead Out of School Drinking Water Act (RSMo 160.077). This Act sets standards for lead concentrations in school drinking water and requires a drinking water outlet inventory, sampling, remediation, and monitoring at drinking water outlets.

  The Department of Health and Senior Services has established eligibility and distribution criteria as required by state statute and funding authority. Following are the eligibility criteria for fund distribution.

  1. Funds are available to public school and affiliated early education programs receiving state funding.
  2. Each school district is eligible to receive a minimum award of $5,000.00
  3. The maximum eligible award per district is based on the student enrollment during the 2022-2023 school year. Disadvantaged school districts are to be prioritized for this funding opportunity; prioritization is achieved by funding disadvantaged schools at a higher proportion of the per-student funds.
     1. Disadvantaged school districts are eligible for $61.40 per student. A disadvantaged school district is defined in RSMo 160.077 as:
        • More than 70% of students in the district qualify for free and reduced lunch, OR
        • 25% or greater of households within a county that the school district serves are below federal poverty guidelines.
     2. All other school districts are eligible for $20.47 per student.

  Public schools can be reimbursed for eligible expenses incurred between March 3, 2021, and December 31, 2024. Public schools will be required to apply for reimbursement to receive such funds.