JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. • A Missouri state senator says religious groups should not be barred from receiving state funds to operate their schools.

Republican Scott Rupp, of Wentzville, is sponsoring legislation to abolish language in the Missouri Constitution that prohibits public funding for religious groups to operate schools.

Rupp says the ban is outdated and discriminates against religious institutions. He says religious schools could help educate students in unaccredited districts if they got state funding. Schools in Kansas City, St. Louis and Riverview Gardens in St. Louis County are unaccredited.

A spokeswoman for the Anti-Defamation League says the measure could force Missouri to pay for schools run by groups with discriminatory ideologies, such as white supremacist groups.

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