JEFFERSON CITY — The state Senate gave first-round approval to a bill that would create a legislative committee between sessions to study the way in which elementary and secondary public schools receive state funding — otherwise known as the “foundation formula.”

Sponsor of the measure, Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-St. Louis County, said it could bring to light some of the issues within the formula and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, or DESE.

“If they (the people of St. Louis) knew the Department of Secondary Education was taking $3 million away from Special School District or $11.5 million away from St. Louis Public (Schools), people would be outraged and that’s exactly what’s happened,” Schmitt said.

Schmitt said with the foundation formula underfunded, DESE took state money away from certain schools in his district, such as Kirkwood and Parkway, without approval from the Legislature. He said these schools were funded mostly locally rather than from the state.

The full bill needs another vote in the Senate before heading to the House.