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(KMAland) -- Nearly half of Missouri's public schools are in rural areas, and they serve more than one in five of the Show-Me State's students.

A new report said Michigan has the lowest professional-to-student ratio of all states and pointed to the particular staffing needs of rural schools. In Michigan's rural school districts, just one counselor or school psychologist serves an average of 571 students, one finding in a report from the National Rural Education Association. Allen Pratt, executive director of the association, said it may require more funding -- or using funding differently -- to improve adult-to-student ratios and serve kids better, especially in rural areas. ...

Nearly half of Missouri's public schools are in rural areas, and they serve more than one in five of the Show-Me State's students. But Missouri spends less than $6,000 dollars per rural pupil, which is only 81% of the rural U.S. average. ...

The latest report by the National Rural Education Association highlights Missouri's critical need for funding teacher salaries, as well as investing in pupils in rural schools.