ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Governor Mike Parson visited the St. Louis area Tuesday for two bill signings focusing on education and entertainment.

Parson signed House Bill 2, the state education bill, at Marquette High School. The bill details how funding for Missouri schools will be divided up for this fiscal year.

Figures from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education show the total education bill is approaching $9.8 billion. Some of the highlights in the bill include more than $233 million allocated to fully fund school districts’ transportation costs for students.

“I expect the administrations, I expect the principals, the school boards, to take it to a higher level. Because you have to know more today than what I had to know when I was in school by far,” Parson said. “You have to be better students, you have to be smarter, and the only way I can do that is to make sure we collect that, and make sure you’re getting that education you need. Because I will tell you the demand for jobs today is second to none.” 

More than $187 million in federal funds are being used for supply chain and inflation increases for school nutrition programs. $50 million is being used for grants to fund school safety improvements.

Eligible expenses can include physical security upgrades, training costs for teachers and staff, and school safety plan updates.

$29 million has been put aside for the construction and expansion of various career and technical centers, and close to $32 million is being used for career ladder funding for teachers.

After the signing at Marquette, Parson visited Gateway Studios and Production Services, also in Chesterfield, to sign Senate Bill 94, also known as the Show Mo Act.

The bill is meant to create thousands of new jobs across Missouri’s entertainment industry.

Correction: FOX 2 first reported budget numbers based on projections for 2023. This story has been updated with the correct information.