Mississippi lawmakers are at a standstill in creating a new funding formula for public schools, with the debate causing tensions during the final weeks of the legislative session. The House proposed a new formula called INSPIRE to replace the current Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP), which has been criticized for being underfunded and inadequate. However, the Senate blocked the proposal, leading to a lack of progress on the issue. Senate Education Committee Chairman Dennis DeBar emphasized the need for a formula that provides predictability, objectiveness, and stability for school districts and the state.
House Speaker Jason White criticized the Senate for preserving the status quo and failing to engage in meaningful discussions on the issue. The current funding formula, MAEP, has only been fully funded twice since its establishment in 1997, leading to concerns from education advocates about inadequate funding for public schools. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann affirmed that Senate leaders are open to discussing potential changes to the formula and stressed the importance of consulting with stakeholders, including parents and educators, before making any decisions.
House leaders have been advocating for the adoption of the INSPIRE formula, which aims to provide more equitable funding for schools based on student needs. This new formula would determine a per-student cost through collaboration with educators and administrators. House Education Committee Chairman Rob Roberson expressed the desire to continue discussions with the Senate to explore the possibility of implementing INSPIRE. The House believes that the current formula does not adequately address the funding needs of schools in high-poverty areas or those with a significant number of students with special needs or learning English as a second language.
The Senate attempted to revise MAEP last year but fell short in their efforts. Senators proposed changes to require local communities to contribute a slightly larger percentage of overall school funding. Additionally, the Senate bill addressed funding issues related to charter schools and student transfers. However, the House replaced the Senate’s proposed revisions with the INSPIRE formula. Despite the pushback from Senate Education Committee Chairman Dennis DeBar, the House’s INSPIRE formula was not considered before the deadline, leading to further delays in reaching a resolution on the issue.
As the legislative session nears its end in May, the fate of the school funding formula remains uncertain. Lawmakers are required to pass a separate bill to allocate funds for schools for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on July 1. The Senate is proposing an increase in school funding by over $200 million, but the lack of agreement on a new formula continues to hinder progress. The impasse between the House and Senate underscores the challenges of revising the education funding system in Mississippi and highlights the need for further collaboration and dialogue to address the funding needs of public schools in the state.
