Today’s update highlights:

• order for schools to remain closed
• allocation of emergency aid bill funds

EDUCATION

• Not long after Governor Parson issued a statewide stay-at-home order, he has ordered all public and charter schools to remain closed through the end of the school year as well. Schools, however, are to continue with their curriculum remotely for the remainder of the school year. The Governor announced this decision was made in the best interest of both the students and the faculty as the state continues to battle a growing number of COVID-19 cases.

ECONOMY

• After much debate, Missouri lawmakers have officially approved a $6.2 billion emergency COVID-19 aid bill. This significant increase reflects the federal funds that state officials anticipate receiving from the plan passed by Congress in response to the pandemic. In addition, the bill also gives Governor Parson the authority to spend any federal funds as they become available, but the state also expects further guidance from the federal government on the same funding. So far the funding breakdown is expected to focus on cities and counties, the state’s emergency management agency, schools, universities, child care, and food banks.