State Funding Sought for Religious Schools

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (CN) - A Missouri state senator says religious groups should be eligible for state funding to operate schools.

State Sen. Scott Rupp, R-Wentzville, introduced a bill that would abolish language in the state constitution that bans public funding for religious groups to operate schools.

Rupp claims the constitution's wording is outdated and the change could help educate students in the state's three unaccredited school districts.

Some schools in Kansas City, St. Louis and Riverview Gardens in St. Louis County are unaccredited.

The measure has drawn fire. A spokeswoman for the Anti-Defamation League told The Associated Press that the law could force Missouri to pay for schools run by groups with discriminatory ideologies, such as white supremacist groups.

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